PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kishion Matthew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rua
vs
Matthew

183 cm
22
212 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kishion Matthew!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthew swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Matthew throws a solid leg kick but Rua takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Matthew.
Rua misses the shot to the body.
Rua wants to clinch.
Matthew shoots in but Rua avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Matthew has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Matthew tries to land a knee to the head but Rua blocks with his arms.
Matthew wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Matthew misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Matthew is controlling him.
Matthew misses with a knee to the head.
Matthew with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Mauricio Rua has been cut.

Matthew breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rua tries to clinch
and Matthew counters with a nice uppercut.
Rua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthew manages to avoid it.
Kishion Matthew seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua clinches.

Rua's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matthew tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rua counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Matthew has a takedown stuffed.

Matthew gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rua wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matthew has him pressed against the cage.
Matthew with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Rua breaks the clinch.
Rua swings away with a body shot that misses

so Matthew counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Matthew from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthew looks gassed!
Rua pulls Matthew in close to his closed guard and prevents Matthew from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rua has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Mauricio Rua just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.
Matthew misses with a double jab.
Matthew throws a nice head kick!
Mauricio Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matthew tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rua counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Matthew is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Matthew!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matthew closes the distance and clinches.
Matthew has Rua pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rua manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kishion Matthew.
Matthew misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matthew moves away.

Matthew drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.
Matthew tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Matthew looking for a takedown.
Matthew tries for a takedown but Rua manages to get underhooks.
Matthew has Rua pressed against the cage, preventing Rua from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Matthew is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rua pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rua.
Rua keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Matthew's efforts to push away.
Matthew tries to land a knee to the head but Rua blocks with his arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kishion Matthew will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
That's time! Rua's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matthew fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Matthew swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua looks to score with a jab to the body but Matthew is just out of range.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matthew circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matthew scores with a head kick.

Rua clinches up against the cage.
Matthew trying to control the position but instead, Rua has worked for underhooks and has pushed Matthew into the cage.
Matthew goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rua prevents it.
Matthew fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matthew stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthew is trying to break the clinch but Rua is controlling him.
Matthew scores a nice knee to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rua as Matthew tries to tie him up.
Matthew is breathing heavily.
Rua tries to break free but Matthew pushes him back against the cage.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Matthew is controlling him.
Matthew goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rua prevents it.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kishion Matthew.

Matthew turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Matthew manages to end up in side control.
Rua manages to work his way to half guard, despite Matthew's best efforts.
Rua is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matthew is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthew wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Rua keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rua has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matthew is working away from the top position though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua tries to clinch up but Matthew circles away and keeps his distance.

Matthew rushes Rua and presses him up against the cage.
Matthew is trying to break the clinch but Rua is controlling him.
Matthew keeps control of Rua as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matthew tries to pull guard but Rua won't allow it.
Matthew tries to score a body lock takedown but Rua shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Matthew is trying to force a seperation but Rua has the dominant position.
Matthew wants a takedown but no success here.

Rua manages to break the clinch.

Rua clinches.
Rua can't break the clinch.
Matthew wants a takedown.

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matthew misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rua counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rua wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matthew circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Matthew avoids the body shot from Rua.
Rua thows a body shot but no joy.
Matthew keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matthew tries to clinch

and Rua counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Matthew looking to slow down the pace here.
Rua blocks a body shot from Matthew.
Matthew is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rua wants to break the clinch but can't.
Matthew tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rua just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthew lands a knee to the head.
Matthew looking to slow down the pace here.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Matthew takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matthew tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthew looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Matthew misses with a knee to the head.

Rua's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rua displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Matthew.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kishion Matthew.
Matthew throws a leg kick
and Rua counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Matthew thinking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rua. Matthew does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rua is looking to wear down Matthew with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Matthew tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rua moves into the clinch.

Rua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua scores with a shot to the body.
Rua scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Matthew doesn't seem bothered though.
Matthew throws a push kick but Rua slaps the foot to one side.
Rua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rua swings for the body but Matthew moves out of range.

Rua moves into range and clinches up with Matthew.
Rua wants to get back to striking at distance but Matthew won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rua instigates a clinch.
Rua tries to circle away but Matthew has him pinned against the cage.
Matthew pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Matthew pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Matthew pushes him off.
Rua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthew was well out of range. Poor timing from Rua.
Matthew tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Matthew keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua looks to score with a jab to the body but Matthew is just out of range.
Rua misses with a jab to the body
and Matthew counters with a nice body shot.
Rua swings for the body but Matthew moves out of range.
Matthew fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matthew throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthew tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rua counters by moving into the clinch.
Rua is looking to break free of the clinch but Matthew has double underhooks.

Matthew pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Matthew shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rua is trying to defend but Matthew finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Matthew wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.
Rua wants to control but Matthew is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Matthew is working for a submission of some sort.

Matthew is trying to work for a kimura but Rua is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthew has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Rua works to full guard.
Rua is controlling Matthew's posture.
Rua looking to control.
Matthew is looking to work some ground and pound but Rua has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rua 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:28

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