PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Borisov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergei Borisov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mauricio Rua's chin.

Borisov
vs
Rua

195 cm
23
206 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergei Borisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua has his takedown stuffed

and Borisov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Borisov.
Rua looking to control.
Rua looking for a sweep. Not yet Rua, not yet.
Borisov stays in close to Rua's body and controls the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rua trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mauricio Rua.
Rua misses with a body kick.
Rua tries for a takedown but Borisov circles away easily

and Borisov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borisov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.
Borisov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Borisov trying to control from half guard but Rua is working away.

Rua is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Borisov pulls his head out easily.
Borisov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rua pushes Borisov off looking to stand but Borisov dives back in and keeps control.

That's two 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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Borisov in particular looking to stall.
Rua misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Borisov trying to pass the guard but Rua defending well.
Borisov wants to take a breather but Rua is having none of it.

Sergei Borisov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rua with a poor takedown

and Borisov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sergei Borisov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.

Borisov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rua has managed to free his arm - good work.
Borisov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rua is staying active underneath Borisov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rua wants to control but Borisov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Sergei Borisov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Borisov just misses with a punch to the body.

Borisov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Rua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Borisov won't allow Rua to sweep him here.
Borisov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borisov is stalling in the full guard.
Rua keeping full guard, as Borisov tries to pass.
Rua looking to control.
Rua manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Borisov manages to get himself to full guard.
Rua passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Borisov can't do much from the bottom here.
Borisov is not content to let Rua control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Borisov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Borisov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rua tries for a takedown but Borisov circles away easily
and Borisov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rua wants to clinch but Borisov slips to the side

and Borisov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rua's guard.
Rua can't keep his opponent in guard - Borisov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rua has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Borisov is working away from the top position though.
Rua tries to kick Borisov off but Borisov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Borisov 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 Borisov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Borisov 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 wants to get back to his feet.
Borisov is just content to waste time from the top position. Rua takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Rua is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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.
Borisov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Rua throwing shots but Borisov is blocking nicely.
Rua is just content to waste time from the top position. Borisov takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Rua wants to control from the top but Borisov keeps moving.
Rua is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Borisov pulls Rua in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rua postures up in Borisov's guard and throws a big left but Borisov blocks it.
Borisov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua throws a right and a left that Borisov avoids nicely.
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Borisov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rua wants to sweep but no luck.
Rua is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Borisov is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borisov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Rua escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Borisov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Borisov from controlling successfully.

Borisov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rua has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Borisov has managed to get both his arms back between Rua's legs - danger averted.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Borisov is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Borisov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rua throws a right and a left that Borisov avoids nicely.
Rua looks to land a combination but Borisov avoids it well.
Rua bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Borisov circles away.
Rua wants to clinch up but Borisov keeps it at a distance.
Rua pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua with a poor takedown

and Borisov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rua!
Rua is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rua manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rua is trying to stand up here but Borisov is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borisov prevents Rua from improving his position.
Borisov is taking a breather. Rua says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Borisov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rua for as long as he can get away with.

Borisov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Borisov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rua makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rua.
Sergei Borisov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rua is looking to stand up but Borisov isn't so interested in that idea.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Borisov from controlling successfully.
Rua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Borisov works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is staying active underneath Borisov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Borisov wants to work for an arm triangle but Rua is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rua wants to control but Borisov is keeping busy.
Well, if Borisov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Borisov trying to control the action but Rua is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Borisov moves out of range as Rua throws a body kick.

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.
No joy there for Rua, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rua clinches up with Borisov and pushes him back against the ropes.
Rua gets through Borisov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Borisov prevents the takedown attempt.
Borisov tries to circle away but Rua has him pinned against the ropes.
Rua looking for a takedown.
Sergei Borisov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.
Borisov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rua pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Borisov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rua's guard.
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Borisov looking to pass the guard.
Sergei Borisov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Borisov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Borisov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Borisov, 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Sergei Borisov!
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight for Sergei Borisov!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Sergei Borisov!

Sergei Borisov wins by unanimous decision!