PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ari Sybert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickson Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sybert's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Victory. Rua is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by drop the world. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sybert
vs
Rua

186 cm
21
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
200 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ari Sybert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rickson Rua!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sybert avoids it really well and circles away.
Sybert misses with a lunging right hand

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sybert is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sybert wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
Sybert looking to control.
Sybert avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rua cracks Sybert with a solid left hand.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Sybert preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is looking to work some ground and pound but Sybert has wrist control.
Rua is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sybert keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sybert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Rua is looking to work some ground and pound but Sybert has wrist control.
Rua preventing the sweep.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sybert is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sybert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sybert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rua working some strikes from top position.
Rua slips nicely into half guard.
Nice strikes from Rua there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua working over Sybert with some ground and pound. Sybert looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sybert avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.
Rua working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua throwing shots but Sybert is blocking nicely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sybert avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.
Sybert regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Rua.
Rua wants to control from the top but Sybert keeps moving.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sybert is on top in guard.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sybert passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rua.

Rua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Sybert avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rua is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sybert defends well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rua is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Rua dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua shoots in but Sybert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sybert throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Sybert cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Sybert throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Rua drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like Rickson Rua has been cut.
Sybert jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sybert ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rua moves away.
Sybert misses with a wild combination.
Good work by Rua as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sybert throws a head kick that misses.
Rua shoots in but Sybert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sybert misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua shoots in but Sybert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ari Sybert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Rua.
Sybert just misses with a punch to the body.
Sybert misses with a lunging right hand

and Rua decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sybert's guard.
Rua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sybert's head.
Rua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rickson Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sybert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rua passes Sybert's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua trying to control the action but Sybert is working from the bottom.
Rua prevents Sybert from improving his position.
Sybert is not content to let Rua control the position.
Rua might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sybert kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sybert keeps working.
Rua with the ground and pound but Sybert uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sybert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rua throws an elbow that misses. Sybert uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rua's guard. Nice move by Sybert!

Rua throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Sybert avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sybert uses it to pass to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sybert's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rua works his way to full guard. Good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rua is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sybert is aware though and is defending well.
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 wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rickson Rua's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sybert tried to score with a low kick but Rua checks it.
Sybert misses with a double jab.
Sybert lands with an uppercut that bounces Rua off the cage and back into range.
Sybert tries a head kick but it misses.
Ari Sybert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sybert throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sybert slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sybert looks to throw the jab but Rua is out of range.
Sybert misses with a hook

and Rua counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sybert keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sybert swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sybert utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua postures up and lands a big shot to Sybert's brow.
Sybert preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rua throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sybert utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rua throws a strike but Sybert rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ari Sybert has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sybert can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sybert passes into side control.
Rua tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sybert trying to control the action but Rua is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sybert is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rua is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rua gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickson Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rua winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rickson Rua!
During a confident post fight interview, Rickson Rua thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.