PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tito Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renzo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ortiz
vs
Rua

225 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 8 - 0

185 cm
20
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tito Ortiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Renzo Rua!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rua avoids the head kick by Ortiz.
Rua avoids the head kick by Ortiz.
Rua avoids the head kick by Ortiz.

Rua closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rua lands in his opponent's guard.
Ortiz has control of Rua's left arm, preventing Rua from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua prevents Ortiz from getting back to his feet.
Ortiz keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Ortiz seems keen to control Rua's posture.
Ortiz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rua sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ortiz's guard.
Rua throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Ortiz actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.
Ortiz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ortiz.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ortiz is on top in guard.

Rua escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ortiz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rua wants to control the position but Ortiz says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Rua looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ortiz prevents Rua from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ortiz controlling the action here.
Rua tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Ortiz has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Rua is desperately trying to improve his position but Ortiz has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz landing punches.
Rua tries to improve his position but instead Ortiz has taken his back!
Rua can't escape the position.
Rua looks gassed!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Ortiz gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Ortiz is hanging on to Rua's back as he tries to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ortiz is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Rua has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Rua looking very determined here, making life difficult for Ortiz.
Ortiz biding his time, looking for the opening.
Ortiz is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Rua. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Ortiz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rua tries to escape the position.
Ortiz trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Rua doesn't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tito Ortiz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ortiz defends it nicely.
A head kick by Ortiz misses

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rua must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ruais looking to pass into half guard but Ortiz pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Ortiz is in guard.
Rua wants to control the position but Ortiz says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Rua has hold of Ortiz's hands but Ortiz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rua moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rua wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ortiz is now in half guard.
Rua tries to roll over but Ortiz keeps him under control.
Still in half guard, Ortiz seems content to control.

Ortiz seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ortiz stands up from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rua drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rua wants to control but Ortiz is keeping him busy.
Ortiz gets back to half guard.
Ortiz trying to control here.

Rua is working for a kimura here but Ortiz manages to reverse the position and he's now in Rua's guard.

Rua is working an open guard so Ortiz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz throws a head kick that misses.
Tito Ortiz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Rua jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ortiz is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ortiz and Rua has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Rua tries for a kimura but Ortiz is defending well.

Rua is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ortiz has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rua swings around for an armbar but Ortiz sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rua's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ortiz passes into side control.
Rua looking for a sweep but Ortiz has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Rua is in a horrible position here. Ortiz smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ortiz controlling from mount.
Rua tries to get back to half guard but can't.

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.
Ortiz content just to control the position here.
Ortiz lands a heavy elbow.
Rua is trying to stand but he's just given Ortiz his back.
Ortiz has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Rua.
Rua tries to escape but Ortiz has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tito Ortiz will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ortiz throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Tito Ortiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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

Ortiz scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ortiz throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Ortiz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Rua gets a takedown into half guard.
Rua wants to pass to mount but Ortiz is defending the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ortiz moves into full guard.
Ortiz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ortiz keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Ortiz keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Rua working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ortiz is keeping the position for now.
Ortiz keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Ortiz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ortiz tries to get out of the position.

Ortiz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tito Ortiz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ortiz is adopting a defensive guard.
Ortiz controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Rua 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Rua uses his free foot to push down on Ortiz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ortiz.

Rua get's back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rua.
Ortiz stuffs the takedown.
Tito Ortiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renzo Rua.
Ortiz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Ortiz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rua wants to control from the top but Ortiz keeps moving.
Ortiz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ortiz controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.
Ortiz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Renzo Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renzo Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ortiz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tito Ortiz!