PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Rainier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua has chosen Dick in a Box as his entrance music. Anderson Rua will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rainier
vs
Rua

195 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

168 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kyle Rainier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anderson Rua!
The judges for this bout are , and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rainier throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rua's waist but Rua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rainier off to one side.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rainier is trying to stand up.
Rainier keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rainier really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rua lands a heavy elbow.
Rua landing strikes from the mount.
Rainier sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rainier is refusing to be controlled, as Rua sits in half guard.
Rua working Rainier over with strikes.
Rua thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rainier's head.

Rua stands up and beckons Rainier to join him on the feet.
Rainier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rainier misses with a two punch combination.

Rua feints and as Rainier raises his hands in defense, Rua changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rainier keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rainier keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rainier looking for a sweep. Not yet Rainier, not yet.
Rainier is breathing heavily.
Rua slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rainier keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua looking to sit in guard and control but Rainier gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rainier is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rainier tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Rua.
Rainier looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Rainier closes the distance and clinches up with Rua, looking for a takedown. Rainier pushes Rua against the cage but Rua circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rainier tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.
Rua throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rua scores with a three punch combo!

Rua has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rainier goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rua prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle Rainier. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua throws a front kick that sends Rainier stumbling back into the cage.
Rua moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rua holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rainier changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rua fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rua gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rainier is controlling him.
Rua throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rainier sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rainier scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rainier is controlling him.
Rainier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rainier stands up and waves to Rua to follow him.
Rainier wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Rainier throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rua thows a body kick. Rainier tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rainier misses with a series of wild punches.
Rainier fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rainier forces Rua back against the cage and clinches.
Rua can't break the clinch.
Rua jumps guard but Rainier stands there with Rua around his waist. Rua gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Rua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua tries to clinch but Rainier moves out of range.

Rainier decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.
Rua taking some punishment here, with Rainier in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control but Rainier postures up.

Rainier decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Rua shoots in and bounces Rainier off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rua content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rua forces his way into half guard.
Rua is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rainier is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rainier's head.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Rua dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rua gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rainier counters with a shoot takedown. Rua fights it but they end up in guard.
Rainier throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rainier prevents Rua from getting back to his feet.
Rua thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rua wants to get back to his feet but Rainier is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rainier stands up over Rua, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rainier scoring with some ground and pound.

Rua escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rainier gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rainier landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rainier won't allow Rua to sweep him here.
Rainier scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rua looking for a sweep. Not yet Rua, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rainier can't escape the position.
Rainier is working hard here to advance position.
Rua throwing strikes here but Rainier is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Rua wants to control the pace but Rainier is squirming around nicely.
Rainier working to try and regain half guard.
Rainier trying to punch from the bottom. They're landing but they're really not going to hurt Rua.
Rua landing strikes from the mount.
Rainier slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Rainier pushes Rua off and gets back to his feet.
Rainier doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Rainier avoids the head kick by Rua.
Rua is looking to clinch but Rainier is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rainier tries to clinch

and Rua counters by clinching up.
Rua wants to break free but Rainier has control.
Rua gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rainier.
Rainier is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rainier stops a takedown attempt from Rua.
Rainier gets underhooks to prevent Rua's takedown attempt.
Kyle Rainier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Rua.
Rua wants a takedown.

Rua breaks from the clinch.
Rainier tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rainier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rainier swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Rainier darts in and clinches Rua up against the cage.

Rainier jumps guard and drags Rua to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rainier keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rainier keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rainier wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Rainier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua postures up and lands a big shot to Rainier's brow.
Rainier wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rua bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rua tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Rua in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rainier on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Rainier has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Rainier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rua decides to stand back up. Rua steps back and let's Rainier get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua keeps Rainier at a distance using the push kick.
Rainier lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Anderson Rua has been cut.
Rainier tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rua counters with a nice uppercut.

Rainier shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rua's guard.
Rainier forces his way into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rainier escapes and gets back to his feet.
Rainier takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kyle Rainier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rainier takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rua.
Rainier stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rua.
Rainier wants to clinch but Rua slips to the side
letting Rua counter with a right hand.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.
Rua scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rainier tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rua counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rainier's knee momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rua scores with a takedown into Rainier's guard.
Rainier manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rua manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Rainier dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Anderson Rua's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rainier throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rua counters with a nice body kick.
Rua throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rainier takes a kick to the side of the head.

Rainier decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rua is trying to stand.
Rainier will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rainier slips a nice elbow through Rua's hands, connecting with Rua's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua is looking to improve his position.
Rua trying to control here.
Rainier misses with a head shot. Rua uses the momentum to regain guard.
Rua is trying to control the position but Rainier postures up.
Kyle Rainier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rainier 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 Rainier's back instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Rainier hold on?
Rua is working the ground and pound. Can Rainier escape?
Rua is hanging on to Rainier's back as he tries to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Rua.
Rainier is trying to get back to his feet but Rua has full control of the position and if anything, Rainier has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Rua is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Rainier defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Rainier prevents Rua from getting a body triangle.
Rainier is in bad spot here.
Rainier turns into Rua and is now in his guard.
Rua wants to sweep but no luck.
Rainier forces his way into half guard.
Rua is looking to improve his position.
Rua has hold of Rainier's hands but Rainier slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rua has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rainier is working away from the top position though.
Rainier winds up and cracks Rua with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua manages to get to full guard.
Rainier working some strikes from top position.
Rua is looking to stand up but Rainier isn't so interested in that idea.

Rua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Rua has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rainier off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rainier doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rua counters with a one-two to the body.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rua lands a heavy elbow.
Rainier regains half guard.

Rainier has one foot on Rua's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rainier lands a glancing blow to the side of Rua's head.
Rua shoots in but Rainier avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rainier shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rua but Rua pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A head kick misses from Rua.
Rainier throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rua counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rainier misses with a hook. Rua ducked under it nicely.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Rainier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rua swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rua changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rainier looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rua tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rainier is not content to let Rua control the position.
Rainier is trying to control Rua's posture but Rua avoids it.
Rainier tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rua is working Rainier over with some ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Rainier's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rainier is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rua is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rainier sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Rainier is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua misses with a head kick.
Rainier misses with a combination
and Rua makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rainier lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Rainier clinches up with Rua and pushes him back against the cage.
Rainier drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rua gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle Rainier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua lands with a short shot to the head.
Rua tries to break the clinch but Rainier is controlling the position.

Rainier breaks from the clinch.

Rainier scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rainier trying to control the action but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kyle Rainier.
I think Rainier has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Rainier!