PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Helder Ninja Passos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murilo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ninja Passos comes to the cage accompanied by Uppercut-2Pac. On his way into the cage it seems that Helder Ninja Passos has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Helder Ninja Passos seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ninja Passos
vs
Rua

200 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

180 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Helder Ninja Passos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murilo Rua!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua moves into the clinch successfully.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Rua dodges an elbow strike from Ninja Passos.
Rua avoids the elbow strike from Ninja Passos, against the cage.
Rua should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ninja Passos takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Helder Ninja Passos has been cut.
Ninja Passos with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ninja Passos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rua has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rua trying to control the position but instead, Ninja Passos has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rua into the cage.
Rua landing knees to the body.
Ninja Passos swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rua throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rua lands a nice knee to the body.
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 lands an elbow just above Ninja Passos 's eye.

Rua gets control of Ninja Passos's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rua will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ninja Passos passes into half guard.
Rua is pressing down on Ninja Passos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua trying to strike off his back.
Ninja Passos throws a big right hand that misses.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ninja Passos is controlling him.

Ninja Passos stands up and waves to Rua to follow him.
Ninja Passos is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninja Passos tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.

Rua moves into the clinch.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Ninja Passos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ninja Passos fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ninja Passos moves into the clinch.
Rua wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ninja Passos has him pressed against the cage.
Ninja Passos trying to land knees to the body.

Ninja Passos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ninja Passos wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Ninja Passos misses with a wild combination.
Nice sprawl there from Ninja Passos as Rua shoots in.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ninja Passos defends it nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rua rushes Ninja Passos and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja Passos tries a knee to the head but Rua blocks it.
Rua misses with an elbow strike.
Ninja Passos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rua can't get the takedown.
Helder Ninja Passos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murilo Rua.
Ninja Passos can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
Ninja Passos swings wildly with an uppercut but Rua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ninja Passos letting Rua take a breather here.
Come on Ninja Passos - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ninja Passos.
Ninja Passos landing knees to the body.
Ninja Passos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ninja Passos's defenses.
Rua is trying to stall.
Ninja Passos avoids a wild elbow strike from Rua.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rua looking to slow down the pace here.
Ninja Passos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rua blocks it with crossed arms.
Ninja Passos with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ninja Passos managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Rua tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ninja Passos looking to throw knees to the head but Rua is blocking nicely.
Ninja Passos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rua's face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ninja Passos is trying to break the clinch but Rua is controlling him.
Ninja Passos looking to stall.
Rua wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Murilo Rua will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Helder Ninja Passos's cut.
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.

Rua closes the distance and pushes Ninja Passos back into the cage.
Rua fails to pull guard.

Ninja Passos manages to break the clinch.

Ninja Passos closes the distance and clinches.
Rua missing with knees to the body.

Ninja Passos manages to break the clinch.
A head kick from Ninja Passos lands but Rua takes it in his stride.
Ninja Passos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rua as he jumps to the side.
Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ninja Passos tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ninja Passos to the ground. Ninja Passos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ninja Passos tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ninja Passos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rua sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ninja Passos somewhat.
Ninja Passos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Ninja Passos clinches up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ninja Passos breaks the clinch.

Ninja Passos closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is trying to stall.
Ninja Passos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rua blocks it with crossed arms.
Ninja Passos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rua's face.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Ninja Passos.
Rua is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rua is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ninja Passos to keep the fight standing.
Helder Ninja Passos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murilo Rua.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rua misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rua is trying to pull guard but Ninja Passos has him pressed against the cage.
Rua tries to pull guard but Ninja Passos holds him up against the cage and eventually Rua drops back down to his feet.
Ninja Passos prevents Rua from breaking the clinch.
Ninja Passos tries to land a knee to the head but Rua blocks with his arms.
Rua trying to stall but Ninja Passos improves his position.
Ninja Passos looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ninja Passos scores with a hook to the body.
Ninja Passos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

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

Rua clinches with his opponent.
Ninja Passos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rua blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rua throws an elbow but misses.

Ninja Passos breaks the clinch.
Ninja Passos misses with a head kick.
Ninja Passos tries to clinch there but Rua circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rua closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rua is trying to stall.
Ninja Passos is trying to maintain a safe position but Rua gets an underhook and turns Ninja Passos into the cage.
Rua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rua misses with an elbow over the top.

Ninja Passos manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Ninja Passos.
Ninja Passos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.

Ninja Passos has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua taking a breather.
Ninja Passos dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rua lands a nice uppercut.
Rua is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ninja Passos is keeping busy.
Ninja Passos stalling in the clinch but Rua improves position.
Murilo Rua seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua tries to pull guard but Ninja Passos holds him up against the cage and eventually Rua drops back down to his feet.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rua throws an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninja Passos misses with an elbow strike.
Rua working aggressively here.
Rua blocks an elbow strike from Ninja Passos.
Ninja Passos digs a right hand underneath Rua's ribcage. Rua let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ninja Passos is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ninja Passos is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rua is trying to pull guard but Ninja Passos turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ninja Passos tries to land a knee to the head but Rua blocks with his arms.
Rua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua jumps guard but Ninja Passos stands there with Rua around his waist. Rua gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Ninja Passos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ninja Passos moves in looking to clinch but Rua pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helder Ninja Passos dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Helder Ninja Passos's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ninja Passos throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.

Ninja Passos gets tackled into the cage by Rua. Rua maintains the clinch.
Ninja Passos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua has had enough of the clinch but Ninja Passos keeps him there for the moment.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Ninja Passos is blocking nicely.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Ninja Passos just leaning against Rua, taking a breather.
Ninja Passos misses with a knee strike.
Rua tries to pull guard but Ninja Passos won't allow it.
Ninja Passos stalling.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Ninja Passos for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Ninja Passos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rua blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Ninja Passos.
Ninja Passos blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ninja Passos's brow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua scores with a nice hook to the head.

Rua manages to break the clinch.
Ninja Passos is looking to clinch.
Helder Ninja Passos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ninja Passos.
Ninja Passos takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Ninja Passos shows good takedown defense.
Ninja Passos tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ninja Passos stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Helder Ninja Passos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murilo Rua.
Ninja Passos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rua as he avoids it easily.

Rua tries to keep at a distance but Ninja Passos has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ninja Passos putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rua in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ninja Passos with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ninja Passos comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rua manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to stall.
Ninja Passos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rua.
Rua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ninja Passos is trying to stall.
Rua tries to pull guard but Ninja Passos holds him up against the cage and eventually Rua drops back down to his feet.
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ninja Passos is defending well for now.
Rua lands an elbow that stopped Ninja Passos in his tracks for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja Passos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ninja Passos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rua's face.
Ninja Passos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rua blocks it with crossed arms.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ninja Passos lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ninja Passos landing knees to the body.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Ninja Passos avoids the damage to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Ninja Passos.

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Ninja Passos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.

Ninja Passos clinches up against the cage.
Ninja Passos with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ninja Passos with a knee to the head.
Rua throws an elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninja Passos looking to throw knees to the head but Rua is blocking nicely.
Ninja Passos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ninja Passos comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rua throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ninja Passos tries to circle away but Rua has him pinned against the cage.
Ninja Passos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Ninja Passos's ribcage.
Rua lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua tries to pull guard but Ninja Passos forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ninja Passos tries to land a knee to the head but Rua blocks with his arms.
Rua looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ninja Passos tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
Ninja Passos displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rua up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ninja Passos tries a knee to the head but Rua blocks it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

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 Helder Ninja Passos.
I think Ninja Passos has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helder Ninja Passos!
After the fight, Helder Ninja Passos was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.