PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Gurgel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Gurgel
vs
Rua

185 cm
26
222 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Gurgel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gurgel lands a high kick!
Gurgel lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rua fails with the takedown
and Gurgel counters with a flying knee. Nice.

It looks like Mauricio Rua has been cut.

Gurgel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Gurgel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gurgel pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rua back to the cage. Gurgel follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Gurgel throws a front kick that sends Rua stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gurgel falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rua decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gurgel's guard.
Gurgel keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Gurgel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rua on the ground.

Rua postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gurgel is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rua, into his guard.
Rua trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurgel preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Mauricio Rua has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Gurgel darts in and clinches Rua up against the cage.
Gurgel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gurgel comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gurgel lands a knee to the body.
Rua can't break the clinch.
Gurgel stalling against the cage.

Gurgel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gurgel clinches up against the cage.
Rua tries to score a body lock takedown but Gurgel shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gurgel crunches a lovely knee into Rua's ribcage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Gurgel is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rua looks gassed!
Gurgel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Gurgel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gurgel throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Gurgel closes the distance and clinches.

Gurgel breaks from the clinch.

Gurgel closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gurgel.
Rua trying to stall but Gurgel improves his position.
Rua changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gurgel fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Paulo Gurgel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.

Gurgel has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gurgel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gurgel.
A knee to the head by Gurgel.
Gurgel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gurgel displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rua up against the cage.
Rua drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gurgel lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Gurgel - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Gurgel manages to break the clinch.
Rua takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rua tries for a takedown but Gurgel circles away easily
and Gurgel counters with a head kick.
Gurgel scores with a one two! Rua had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Gurgel gets a clinch.

Gurgel manages to break the clinch.
Rua takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Gurgel clinches up against the cage.

Gurgel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
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 keep at a distance but Gurgel has taken the fight into the clinch.

Gurgel breaks the clinch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Gurgel as Rua shoots in.
Paulo Gurgel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gurgel scores with a one two! Rua had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A nice combination there by Gurgel.

Gurgel has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Gurgel gets underhooks to prevent Rua's takedown attempt.

Gurgel breaks the clinch.
Gurgel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown. Gurgel tries to sprawl out of it but Rua keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gurgel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua misses with a takedown
and Gurgel counters with a nice body shot.
Gurgel scores with a three punch combo!

Rua gets tackled into the cage by Gurgel. Gurgel maintains the clinch.

Gurgel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Gurgel closes the distance and pushes Rua back into the cage.
Rua is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gurgel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Gurgel manages to break the clinch.
Rua moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Gurgel shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rua eats them both and turns towards Gurgel to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gurgel counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rua is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rua takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Gurgel looks to land a combination. Rua sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gurgel throws a head kick that Rua semi-blocks.

Gurgel clinches with his opponent.
Rua wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Gurgel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gurgel moves into range and clinches up with Rua.

Gurgel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gurgel avoids it really well and circles away.
Rua takes a head kick and keeps coming.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rua.

Gurgel closes the distance and pushes Rua back into the cage.
Gurgel stalling the fight.
Rua looking for a takedown.

Gurgel manages to break the clinch.

Gurgel instigates a clinch.
Rua fails to pull guard.

Gurgel breaks the clinch.
Gurgel is working the combinations to good effect here.
Gurgel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rua counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Rua drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Rua as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Gurgel screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Rua! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Mauricio Rua!