PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donovan Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rua
vs
Ray

195 cm
20
170 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

178 cm
20
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leo Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Donovan Ray!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua misses with a takedown attempt

and Ray moves into the clinch.

Ray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Ray.
Rua closes the distance but Ray moves to the side
and Ray counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Leo Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua tries to clinch

and Ray counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ray.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ray takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Ray has picked Rua up - he's going for a ride! Ray dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rua preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Ray is looking to advance position but Rua won't allow it.
Well, if Ray 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.
Ray throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rua really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is looking for a sweep. Ray is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ray seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Ray stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Ray keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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

Ray pulls Rua into guard.
Ray has Rua pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ray pushes Rua off and scrambles back to his feet.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Rua tries to clinch up
and Ray counters with a head kick.
Rua tries to clinch up

and Ray counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ray.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Ray has the dominant position.
Rua tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua tries to break free but Ray pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray stalling against the cage.
Ray stops a takedown attempt from Rua.
Ray lands with a right to the head.
Rua fails to pull guard.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Ray has the dominant position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ray takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Ray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ray but Ray pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ray circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ray counters by clinching up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ray wants a takedown but no success here.
Ray is leaning against Rua and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ray drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rua pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rua defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ray.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ray as he avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Rua or perhaps it was just good defense by Ray which made him look bad.
Rua with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ray moves into the clinch.
Rua jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ray walks away with a smile on his face. Rua gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rua misses with a head kick.
Rua slips under a jab from Ray.
Ray ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Rua slips a jab from Ray.

Ray shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rua is trying to defend but Ray finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ray prevents Rua from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rua gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ray counters by clinching up.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ray.
Rua tries to break free but Ray pushes him back against the cage.

Ray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick
and Ray counters with a series of strikes. Rua will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rua throws a lazy head kick
and Ray counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rua misses with a low kick.
Rua darts in trying to clinch

and Ray counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rua!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ray controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ray.
Rua tries to lock up and control but Ray gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rua tries to control Ray's body but Ray pushes him off. Rua squirms to his side and now Ray has his back!
A lull in the action here.
Rua is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ray tries to get the hooks in deep but Rua pushed the leg off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ray missing with strikes from the back.

Rua fending off the submission attempt from Ray.
Ray throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Ray is riding his opponent, not letting Rua buck him off.
Ray throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to control his opponent's hands but Ray gets his hands free.
Even with his hooks in, Ray manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Ray thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Ray wants to control but Rua is keeping busy.
I really don't envy Rua right now.
Rua rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.
Ray trying to control the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ray is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Donovan Ray.
Ray shoots in looking for a takedown. Rua tries to sprawl out of it but Ray keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rua manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ray connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rua. Rua circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rua looks to score with a jab to the body but Ray is just out of range.
Rua closes the distance but Ray moves to the side

and Ray counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ray looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donovan Ray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Donovan Ray has been cut.
Rua wants to clinch but Ray slips to the side

and Ray counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ray.

Ray breaks the clinch.
Rua wants to clinch

and Ray counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ray.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ray must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ray makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ray in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rua throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ray wants to get up but he can't break Rua's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rua trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Rua uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua rushes Ray and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Ray breaks from the clinch.
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ray moves into the clinch.

Rua manages to break the clinch.
Ray tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua tries to clinch but Ray moves away

and Ray holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ray breaks the clinch.
Ray will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Ray avoids the head kick by Rua.
Ray uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rua.
Donovan Ray is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray misses with an uppercut

and Rua counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Ray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Ray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Leo Rua just wasn't active enough.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Ray counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Leo Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ray trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ray manages to get himself to full guard.
Rua postures up in Ray's guard and throws a big left but Ray blocks it.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Ray looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rua controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ray can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua tries to clinch up
and Ray counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ray tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua lands a knee to the head.
Rua tries to circle away but Ray has him pinned against the cage.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ray has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leo Rua.
Well Ray has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donovan Ray!