PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maurisio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Desecrator (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rua
vs
Desecrator

185 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maurisio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Desecrator!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Desecrator shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Desecrator is trying to control. Rua wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Desecrator trying to control from Rua's half guard. Rua has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Desecrator trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rua's guard.
Desecrator wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

Rua pushes Desecrator off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Rua shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Desecrator manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Desecrator is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desecrator pulls Rua in close to prevent any damage.
Desecrator not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Desecrator is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rua is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Desecrator's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Desecrator's back!
Desecrator covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Rua throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Rua is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Desecrator trying to control the action but Rua just sinks the hooks in.
Desecrator rolls, trying to escape but Rua keeps control of the position.
Desecrator is trying to stand back up.
Desecrator trying to control the action but Rua just sinks the hooks in.
Rua is trying to control but Desecrator is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Desecrator tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rua is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rua putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Desecrator tries to hold on but Rua pushes him away.
Desecrator tries to buck Rua off but Rua takes his back!
Rua lands punches and elbows.
Rua is trying to stick to Desecrator's back but Desecrator is turning into Rua. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rua's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Desecrator.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurisio Rua dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Desecrator misses with a takedown

and Rua counters with a single leg into guard. Desecrator didn't expect that.
Rua has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rua trying to control but Desecrator is working from the bottom.

Rua got a little sloppy there for a moment and Desecrator has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rua has managed to get both his arms back between Desecrator's legs - danger averted.
Rua trying to control but Desecrator is working from the bottom.
Desecrator is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Maurisio Rua just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Desecrator scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Desecrator wants to stand up but Rua is controlling the position.
Desecrator stops Rua from getting back to his feet.
Rua avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Desecrator.
Desecrator is just content to waste time from the top position. Rua takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Desecrator trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is adopting a defensive guard.
Desecrator looking to sit in guard and control but Rua gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rua got a little sloppy there for a moment and Desecrator has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rua has managed to get both his arms back between Desecrator's legs - danger averted.
Rua sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Desecrator's guard.
Maurisio Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua passes to full mount!
Desecrator has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
A lull in the action here.
Rua has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Desecrator's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Desecrator rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rua tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Desecrator.
Rua wants to take a breather but Desecrator is having none of it.
Desecrator gets back to full guard.
Rua wants to control from the top but Desecrator keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurisio Rua dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua tries for a takedown but Desecrator circles away easily

so Desecrator counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rua is trying to keep Desecrator in close.

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

Desecrator drops back looking for a leg! Rua is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rua manages to kick Desecrator off! Desecrator jumps back into Rua's guard.
Desecrator trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Desecrator accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Desecrator tries to stand but Rua is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Desecrator scores with a jab to the body.
Jab from Desecrator.

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.

Desecrator closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Desecrator lands in his opponent's guard.
Rua thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Desecrator trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua trying to keep a closed guard but Desecrator is proving a slippery customer.
Desecrator looking to sit in guard and control but Rua gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Desecrator is keeping the position for now.
Desecrator keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Desecrator closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rua closes the distance and clinches up with Desecrator, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes Desecrator against the cage but Desecrator circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Desecrator misses with a double jab

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into side control. Desecrator won't be happy with that.
Desecrator struggling a bit here.
Desecrator is pushing Rua's head away, looking to escape. Rua manages to hold on to the position though.

Rua stands up.
Desecrator shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.

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 Maurisio Rua.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rua, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

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