PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Herbie Robson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Robson
vs
Rua

181 cm
20
212 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

194 cm
24
212 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Herbie Robson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Rua.
Robson swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Robson misses.
Robson throws an overhand right that lands on Rua's shoulder, as Rua tries to avoid the shot.
Rua defending well as Robson loads up on a big left hand.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Robson as he avoids it easily.
Rua connects with a good right hand that stumbles Robson. Robson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Robson scores with a takedown into Rua's guard.
Robson passes Rua's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Robson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rua pushes Robson off looking to stand but Robson dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua tries to roll over but Robson keeps him under control.
Robson working over Rua with some ground and pound. Rua looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rua has hold of Robson's hands but Robson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Robson has control of the leg.

Robson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rua tries to roll over but Robson keeps him under control.
Robson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to roll over but Robson keeps him under control.
Rua punching from the bottom.
Robson passes the guard and advances to mount!

Robson goes for an armbar but Rua turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rua.

Robson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rua defends it easily.
Rua scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rua's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rua's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rua lands a couple of elbows.
Rua works over Robson with some ground and pound from guard.
Robson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
Rua landing some decent shots from guard.
Robson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Robson has momentary wrist control but Rua slips an elbow through the middle.

Robson is looking for a triangle but Rua pushes his legs off easily.
Robson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rua with a nice head shot there.
Robson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Robson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rua scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua works over Robson with some ground and pound from guard.
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.
Robson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rua throws a big right hand that misses.
Rua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Robson has momentary wrist control but Rua slips an elbow through the middle.
Robson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rua throwing strikes from guard but Robson blocks nicely.
Robson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rua avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Robson moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rua tries to stall but Robson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rua doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Robson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rua pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rua keeps the fight on the outside.
Robson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Robson swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Robson slips a jab from Rua.
Robson tries to clinch up but Rua circles away and keeps his distance.
A combination from Rua does no damage.
Rua shoots in and drives through. Robson sprawls well.
Rua with a poor takedown

and Robson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rua's guard.
Robson cracks Rua with a solid left hand.
Robson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Robson looking to pass the guard.
Robson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rua has his feet on Robson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Rua lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Robson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Robson keeps the fight on the outside.
Robson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rua.

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

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Robson moves out of range of the strikes.
Rua waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Robson.
Rua moves out of range as Robson throws a body kick.
Robson moves out of range as Rua strikes.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rua.
Rua slips a jab and a cross from Robson.
Robson throws a series of punches but Rua avoids them all with ease.
Nice body punch from Robson.
Robson tries to clinch up but Rua circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua takes one on the button.

It looks like Mauricio Rua has been cut.
Robson looks to score with a jab to the body but Rua is just out of range.
Robson throws a series of punches but Rua moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Rua throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Robson takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Rua swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rua misses with a punch on the inside.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua misses with the head strike.
Rua stops a takedown attempt from Robson.
Robson tries to stall but Rua uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Robson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rua has Robson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Robson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Herbie Robson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.
Robson prevents Rua from breaking the clinch.
Rua gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Robson.
Rua lands a right hand.
Robson keeps control of Rua as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rua throws a head punch that misses.
Robson is working for takedown but Rua is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rua lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Robson backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua has a couple of punches blocked by Robson.
Rua has a couple of punches blocked by Robson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rua tries to score a body lock takedown but Robson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Robson blocking some punches.

Robson is trying to trip Rua. He has hold of a leg but Rua is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Robson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Rua trying to control the position.
Robson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Robson throws a big right hand that misses.
Rua pulls Robson in close to his closed guard and prevents Robson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rua is looking to stand up but Robson isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua is trying to control the position but Robson postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.
Robson tries a head kick but it misses.
Rua avoids the body shot from Robson.
Robson slips a jab and a cross from Rua.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Robson drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Robson.
Rua lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Robson or not.
Robson managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Rua doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Robson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rua is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herbie Robson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Robson is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Robson circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua tried to score with a low kick but Robson checks it.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Robson.

Rua feints and as Robson raises his hands in defense, Rua changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Robson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Robson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Robson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rua tries to hold on but Robson postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Robson has control of Rua's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rua regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robson avoids the attempt from Rua to control.
Rua regains half guard.
Robson is keen to just control but Rua is a slippery customer.
Rua trying to control here.
Robson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rua is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rua is staying active underneath Robson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rua is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Robson seems to be looking for submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Robson wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Robson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Herbie Robson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Robson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Robson throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rua swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Rua looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Robson!
Robson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rua with the ground and pound from mount.
Rua breaks from Robson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Robson working to try and regain half guard.
Rua scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Robson?
Rua fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Robson is desperately trying to improve his position but Rua has a good base and remains in mount.
Rua putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Robson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Robson wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position.
Rua controlling Robson's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rua is on top in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Robson 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.
Rua must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rua distracts Robson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

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