PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Lirette (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lirette has chosen Hear Me Now as his entrance music. Rafael Rua has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rua
vs
Lirette

187 cm
32
177 lbs
11 - 12 - 1

175 cm
27
170 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

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 11 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Lirette!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lirette tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Lirette has closed the distance and engaged Rua in a clinch.

Rua has Lirette pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rua pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lirette tumbling to the mat - Rua dives into Lirette's guard.

Rua is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Lirette has his foot on Rua's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rua works his way back into a safe position though.
Lirette keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Rua stands and throws Lirette's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rua will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Rua is trying to get an arm triangle but Lirette is defending well.
Lirette tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rua wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Rua is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lirette is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lirette regains half guard.
Lirette makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lirette.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lirette working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rua doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rua manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lirette looking to control.

Lirette throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rua passes Lirette's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rua passes to side control.

Rua tries for a kimura but Lirette is defending well.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rua looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Rua working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lirette knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lirette is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Rua is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lirette has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lirette is looking to regain half guard here but Rua keeps moving and retains side control.
Lirette regains half guard.

Rua wants to work for an arm triangle but Lirette is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lirette defends it well.

Rua is working for a submission of some sort.
Lirette trying to control here.

Rua is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Rua is trying to work for a kimura but Lirette is defending well.

Rua seems to be working for a kimura but Lirette defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lirette looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lirette looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Lirette is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.

Rua is working for a submission of some sort.

Rua is working for a submission of some sort.
Lirette wants to control but Rua is keeping busy and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rua seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Rua dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lirette tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lirette avoids a kick to the body.
Lirette is looking to clinch but Rua is avoiding it.
Rua waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lirette.
Rua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lirette was well out of range. Poor timing from Rua.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Lirette avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lirette steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rua.
Lirette looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lirette with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rua counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rua throws a nice looking combination but Lirette bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rafael Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lirette.
Rua misses with a wild combination.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Lirette moves out of range easily.
Lirette shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rua but Rua pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rafael Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis Lirette.
Rua misses with a hook to the body
and Lirette cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lirette will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lirette manages to avoid it.
Lirette looks for a takedown but Rua sprawls well.
Lirette is breathing heavily.
Rua misses with a wild combination.
Lirette throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lirette tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.
Lirette shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rua pinned against the cage. Rua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lirette shoots and misses
and Rua counters with a series of strikes. Lirette will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua misses the jab.
A head kick misses from Rua.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Rua cracks Lirette with an open hand slap.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws out a leg kick but Lirette moves out of range and Rua only half commits.
Rafael Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lirette avoids the body shot from Rua.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rua.
Lirette wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Lirette wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Rua with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lirette to score with a decent uppercut.
Rua misses with a low kick.

Lirette scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Rua looking for submissions off his back.

Lirette is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua looking for submissions off his back.

Rua is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lirette pulls his head out easily.

Lirette is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rua defends it well.
Rafael Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rua actively working from the bottom here.

Lirette is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rua looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lirette wants to work for an arm triangle but Rua is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Rua dominated that second round.
That's time! Rua's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lirette misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No joy there for Rua, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lirette keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rua.
Rua misses with a head kick.
No luck for Lirette with that takedown attempt.
Rua throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lirette sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lirette shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lirette's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rafael Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis Lirette.
Rua throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Lirette shoots in but no luck this time.
Rua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lirette was well out of range. Poor timing from Rua.
Lirette takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Lirette does no damage.
Rua misses with a head kick.
Lirette uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rua.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
Lirette misses with a takedown attempt
and Rua counters with a leg kick.
Rua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lirette slips under a jab.
Lirette shoots in but Rua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rua lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lirette at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a push kick but Lirette slaps the foot to one side.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Lirette.
Rua throws a nice looking combination but Lirette bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A big right from Rua misses.
Rua looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rua misses with a wild combination.
Lirette tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rua swivels and escapes.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rua throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lirette dives in and grabs Rua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes down on Lirette's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rua throws a hook but Lirette avoids it easily.
Rua misses with a low kick.
Lirette misses with a few strikes there.
Travis Lirette has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua throws an overhand right that lands on Lirette's shoulder, as Lirette tries to avoid the shot.
Lirette keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rua misses with a body shot.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Lirette fails with the takedown.

Lirette has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua has hold of one of Lirette's legs. Lirette is fighting the takedown attempt but Rua gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Lirette throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rua pushing down on Lirette's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rua is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rua is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lirette has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rua is looking for a kimura here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rua, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Rua!