PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Plutonio Napalm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tapater Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua has chosen Hordes Of Chaos as his entrance music. Tapater Rua has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Plutonio Napalm's chin.

Napalm
vs
Rua

165 cm
20
146 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

175 cm
25
140 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Plutonio Napalm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tapater Rua!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Napalm looks for a takedown but Rua sprawls well.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rua.

Rua closes the distance and pushes Napalm back into the cage.
Rua scores with a knee to the head.
Napalm is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rua taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Napalm has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Rua gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Rua is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rua thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Napalm's head.
Rua thows a huge punch but Napalm dodges it nicely.
Napalm makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Napalm.

Napalm is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rua is aware though and is defending well.
Napalm working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
Rua lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Napalm has momentary wrist control but Rua slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua trying to control but Napalm is working from the bottom.
Rua with a nice head shot there.
Rua with a nice head shot there.

Napalm escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Napalm had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rua defends it easily.
Napalm is breathing heavily.
Napalm utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua postures up in Napalm's guard and throws a big left but Napalm blocks it.

Napalm has his foot on Rua's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rua works his way back into a safe position though.
Rua lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Napalm throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rua passes Napalm's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rua is working for a kimura but Napalm is defending it quite comfortably.
Rua looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Napalm with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rua working over Napalm with some ground and pound. Napalm looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Napalm looking for submissions off his back.
Rua lands strikes from half guard.
Rua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Napalm wants to control but Rua is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Napalm looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua shoots and misses

and Napalm counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rua tries to strike from the bottom.
Rua throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Napalm tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but Napalm defends easily.

Napalm is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Napalm drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rua looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rua looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rua!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Napalm tries to bench press Rua off him but Rua keeps the position.

Rua is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Napalm is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Napalm is trying to improve his position.
Rua is working Napalm over with some ground and pound from side control.
Rua scoring with punches and elbows.
Napalm is looking for a sweep.
Napalm parries the strikes from Rua easily there. Rua is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Napalm to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Napalm sneaks back into half guard.
Rua working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tapater Rua will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Napalm swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Tapater Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rua rushes Napalm and presses him up against the cage.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Napalm blocks it with crossed arms.
Knees to the body from Rua.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section. Napalm lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rua using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Napalm takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rua lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rua is pressed up against the cage. Napalm has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rua down to the mat. Rua avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Napalm with a poor takedown

and Rua counters by moving into the clinch.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Rua with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Napalm has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rua is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Plutonio Napalm. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Napalm blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua scores a nice knee to the body.
Napalm tries for a takedown but Rua manages to get underhooks.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Napalm has Rua pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rua manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rua goes for a takedown in the clinch but Napalm prevents it.
Napalm has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rua avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Napalm is trying to drag Rua to the mat but Rua just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Napalm can't get the takedown.
Rua utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Napalm blocks with his arms.
Rua gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Napalm.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rua is trying to stall.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Napalm blocks it with crossed arms.
Napalm goes for a takedown attempt but Rua pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Napalm dives in and grabs Rua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes down on Napalm's head and hops out.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rua.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Napalm pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua clinches with his opponent.

Rua pulls guard successfully.

Napalm drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Napalm jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Napalm drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Napalm jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rua trying to keep a closed guard but Napalm is proving a slippery customer.
Rua throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rua throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rua trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rua thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Napalm 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 Napalm off to one side.

That's four 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.

Rua has taken the fight to the clinch.
Napalm tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rua with a knee to the head.
Rua lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Napalm's face.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Napalm has clasped his hands together around Rua's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rua is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Napalm off and has taken his back!
Rua connects with a big shot to the side of Napalm's head.
Napalm grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Rua misses with a punch to the head.
Rua doesn't have the hooks in and Napalm manages to turn into his guard.
Rua thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Napalm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tapater Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Napalm is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rua sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Rua moves into the clinch.
Napalm can't get the takedown.
Rua effectively controlling the action here.

Rua gets control of Napalm's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rua will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rua trying to keep a closed guard but Napalm is proving a slippery customer.
Plutonio Napalm overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rua throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Napalm is controlling him.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Napalm is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Rua is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Napalm is aware though and is defending well.

Napalm drops back looking for a leg! Rua is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rua manages to kick Napalm off! Napalm jumps back into Rua's guard.
Napalm sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rua's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Napalm is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rua doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Napalm.
Rua is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Napalm's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Napalm's back!

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.

Rua working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Napalm tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rua prevents Napalm from getting the reversal.

Rua is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Napalm to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Napalm shrugs it off.
Napalm wants to hold on but Rua pushes him away.
Napalm is desperately trying to improve his position but Rua has a good base and remains in mount.
Rua has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Napalm's face.
Napalm tries to reverse the position but Rua maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua lands a big elbow.
Rua unloading with bombs!
Napalm working to try and regain half guard.
Rua lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Napalm hang on?
Napalm sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Napalm wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.
Rua thows a huge punch but Napalm dodges it nicely.
Rua lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Napalm is pressing down on Rua's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua preventing the sweep.
Rua works over Napalm with some ground and pound from guard.
Tapater Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Napalm throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Napalm escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Napalm has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rua wants to control from the top but Napalm keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tapater Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rua winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tapater Rua!