PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Padrone Shinobi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, drop the world. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Rua
vs
Shinobi

185 cm
27
200 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

195 cm
29
192 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rickson Rua!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Padrone Shinobi!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shinobi is trying to defend but Rua finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rua scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shinobi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rua.
Rua is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rua looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shinobi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rua is trying to control. Shinobi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shinobi is in trouble now - Rua has advanced to mount!
Shinobi is looking to get to half guard.
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 scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rua looking to finish Shinobi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Shinobi!
Rua with a couple of short strikes.
Shinobi is squirming around, avoiding Rua's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinobi is trying desperately to improve position.
Shinobi regains half guard.

Rua is looking for a kimura but Shinobi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rua to get the leverage.
Shinobi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Shinobi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Shinobi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.
Shinobi has hold of Rua's hands but Rua slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rua lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Shinobi has hold of Rua's hands but Rua slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Shinobi actively working from the bottom here.
Rua not doing much here.
Rua has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to control the action in half guard but Shinobi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rua working the head and body with strikes.

Shinobi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rua scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rua lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Shinobi looking for submissions off his back.

Rua is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rua looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Rua seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Shinobi is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Rickson Rua!
Rickson Rua retains his middleweight title!
Rickson Rua managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Knockout Nutrition (150Q $25), into his post fight interview.