PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Mara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Mara
vs
Rua

180 cm
27
180 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

178 cm
23
182 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matthew Mara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Renato Rua!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mara fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mara moves out of range of the body kick.
Mara takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rua throws a quick inside leg kick.

Rua shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rua showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mara regains full guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mara pulls Rua in to control the position.
Mara working a defensive guard here.
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mara controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.
Mara 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matthew Mara just wasn't active enough.
Rua misses with a low kick.
Rua throws a wild body kick that Mara sees coming a mile off.

Mara has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Mara softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mara looking to slow down the pace here.
Rua's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mara works on Rua's body with a couple of short punches.
Rua working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rua lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mara.
Nice body punch from Rua - that landed with a thud.
Rua blocks a body shot from Mara.
Rua tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mara is trying to stall.
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!
Mara misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mara's face.

Mara is rocked!

It looks like Matthew Mara has been cut.
Rua is pushing Mara up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Mara misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rua tries for a takedown but Mara manages to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mara.
Mara tries to work over Rua's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mara leaning his opponent against the cage.
Mara prevents Rua from breaking the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rua misses with a hook to the ribs.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rua swings wildly with an uppercut but Mara uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to slow down the pace here.
Mara misses with a punch to the body.
Mara throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rua is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mara pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rua stuns Mara with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Renato Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mara jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Rua closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mara's guard.
Mara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rua content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Mara is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mara checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rua misses the shot to the body.

Mara gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mara prevents a body shot from Rua.
Mara pushes Rua back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right hand to the body from Mara.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua tries to work over Mara's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Mara avoids the damage to the body.
Mara controlling the action here for a moment.
Mara lands a hook that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Rua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matthew Mara's cut.
That's time! Mara's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rua missing with a left hand there. Mara was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rua throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rua misses with a body kick.
Mara tries to clinch up.
Mara tries to clinch up.
Mara is looking to clinch but Rua is avoiding it.
Mara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua tries a low kick but Mara avoids it.
Mara tries to clinch up.
Rua connects with a body shot that sends Mara's belly button to the back.
Rua throws a leg kick which misses Mara's front leg but catches the back leg as Mara tries to avoid it.
Mara fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rua.
Rua throws a lazy right hand but Mara sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rua lands a nice shot to the body.
Mara tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mara takes the fight into the clinch.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mara's face.
Mara takes a shot to the head.
Mara swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mara misses with a body punch.
Mara trying to stall but Rua improves his position.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mara lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Mara is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Mara is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rua is keeping busy.
Rua misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mara swings wildly with an uppercut but Rua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Mara avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mara is defending well for now.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Mara is blocking nicely.
Rua letting Mara take a breather here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Mara is working Rua over against the cage.
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!
Mara is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rua blocks a body shot from Mara.
Mara working aggressively here.
Rua doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Mara - that landed with a thud.
Mara lands a hook that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Rua lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mara misses with a body punch.
Rua lands a knee to the head.
Rua lands a nice shot to the body.
Mara stalling.
Rua tries to break free but Mara pushes him back against the cage.
Mara trying to land knees to the body.
Mara misses with some punches.
Mara fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rua tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mara's elbow.

Rua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mara moves in looking to clinch but Rua pushes him off.
Rua gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mara counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rua!
Rua throws a low kick, looking for Mara's leg but Mara calmly moves out of range.
Mara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mara checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mara tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rua manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rua throws a body punch but Mara moves out of range.
Mara doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mara tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua lands with an overhand left.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rua looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Mara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rua cracks Mara with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Renato Rua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Matthew Mara's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rua lands a right hook to the body.
Rua takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rua throws a push kick but Mara slaps the foot to one side.
Mara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rua misses with a body kick.
Mara tries to clinch up.
Rua connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Renato Rua seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rua scores with a hook to the body. Mara takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mara takes one on the button.
Rua misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rua bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mara takes a swing at Rua's ribcage but misses.
Rua throws a front kick that sends Mara stumbling back into the cage.
Rua throws a leg kick
enabling Mara to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mara moves in looking to clinch but Rua pushes him off.
Mara avoids the head kick by Rua.
Rua tries to land a front kick but Mara steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mara doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Mara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rua throws a leg kick
and Mara counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rua swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mara.
Mara blocks a head kick by Rua.
Rua misses with a hook.
Mara takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mara.
Mara wants to clinch
and Rua counters with a nice body kick.
Matthew Mara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rua throws a leg kick but Mara checks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rua lands with a nice body punch.
Rua connects with a leg kick. Mara looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rua is looking to slow Mara down with leg kicks.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua wants to slow Mara down by chopping away at his legs.
Nice uppercut there from Rua.
Rua connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mara stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mara's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rua connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mara scrambles back to his feet.

Mara drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mara just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rua's brow.
Mara tries to throw a body punch but Rua avoids it by throwing Mara back against the cage.
Mara stalling in the clinch but Rua improves position.
A frustrated look appears on Rua's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mara goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Rua fails to land.
Mara lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rua obliges.
Rua tries to work over Mara's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mara throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ruas head.
Rua scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Matthew Mara has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mara wants to stall.
Rua tries a body shot but Mara blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to stall.
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mara is defending well for now.
Mara has a couple of punches blocked by Rua.
Mara can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
A short left from Rua.
Rua gets through Mara's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Mara.
Mara swings wildly with an uppercut but Rua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rua is trying to push Mara away but Mara has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mara has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua lands a hook that snaps the head of Mara backwards.
Rua blocks a body shot from Mara.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rua.
Mara misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rua 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Rua!
Renato Rua took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Yo baby!'.