PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Big Box (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mauricio Rua is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Box
vs
Rua

190 cm
24
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
208 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 St Petersburg, Big Box!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Box will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Box misses with a series of wild punches.
Box wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Rua throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.

Rua shoots in and gets a takedown into Box's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Box throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rua controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rua passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Rua keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Box looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rua looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Box with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Box is refusing to be controlled, as Rua sits in half guard.
Rua might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Box kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mauricio Rua.
Rua throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Box lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rua's sensitive parts.

Rua shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Box is trying to defend but Rua finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Box makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Box.
Box is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Box is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Box is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Box keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mauricio Rua has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rua connects with a high kick.

Box tries to sprawl but Rua drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Box pushes Rua off looking to stand but Rua dives back in and keeps control.
Rua tries to pass to full mount but Box defends it.
Box is in trouble now - Rua has advanced to mount!
Rua prevents Box from getting the reversal.
Box has given up his back here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Box is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Rua has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Box taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mauricio Rua!