PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taylor Sheehan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rua
vs
Sheehan

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Taylor Sheehan!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sheehan looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rua.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rua pushes Sheehan up against the cage in a clinch.
Sheehan should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Rua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rua has closed the distance and engaged Sheehan in a clinch.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Danga de danga de dang - Rua scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Taylor Sheehan has been cut.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Sheehan circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rua!
Rua moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A head kick from Rua lands but Sheehan takes it in his stride.
Rua feints and then cracks Sheehan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sheehan down.
Danga de danga de dang - Rua scores with a four punch combination!
Both fighters circling a little - Rua finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rua turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Rua.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Sheehan circles away.

Sheehan clinches up with Rua and pushes him back against the cage.
Sheehan is trying to break free.
Sheehan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Rua scores a nice knee to the body.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sheehan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Sheehan breaks the clinch.

Rua moves into the clinch successfully.
Rua blocks an uppercut.

Rua breaks from the clinch.
Rua lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rua throws a head kick but Sheehan moves out of range.
Rua lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Sheehan closes the distance and clinches.
Sheehan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sheehan is trying to break free.
Rua wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rua breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheehan throws a nice looking combination but Rua bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rua pushes Sheehan up against the cage in a clinch.
Sheehan lands with a light punch inside.
Rua blocks a body shot from Sheehan.

Rua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A solid body kick from Rua.
Sheehan takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sheehan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sheehan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sheehan shoots in looking for a takedown. Rua tries to sprawl out of it but Sheehan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rua manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua looks to clinch

and Sheehan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sheehan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua has his foot on Sheehan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sheehan works his way back into a safe position though.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sheehan is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rua Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sheehan's back instead.

Rua has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Sheehan! Can he survive? No! He's out! Rua gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mauricio Rua!