PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alejandro Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Truman Roosevelt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roosevelt has chosen Gravel Pit by Wu Tang Clan as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rua
vs
Roosevelt

175 cm
22
154 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

174 cm
31
127 lbs
20 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alejandro Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Truman Roosevelt!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Roosevelt pinned against the cage. Roosevelt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Roosevelt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Roosevelt closes the distance and pushes Rua back into the cage.
Roosevelt drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rua pulls his leg out and moves away.
Roosevelt tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Roosevelt looks for the body kick but Rua saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roosevelt thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rua scores with a nice right hand.
Roosevelt misses with an uppercut
letting Rua counter with a right hand.
Roosevelt lands with a thumping leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Roosevelt shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Roosevelt shows good takedown defense.
Roosevelt avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Roosevelt but Roosevelt pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Roosevelt swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rua.

Rua closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Roosevelt did well to prevent Rua getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rua is looking to stall here but Roosevelt recovers full guard.
Rua prevents Roosevelt from getting back to his feet.

Roosevelt kicks Rua off and gets to his feet.
Roosevelt scores with the left hand. Rua knows he should have avoided that one.
Roosevelt tries to clinch there but Rua circles away.
Roosevelt wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roosevelt lands a really nice looking cross but Rua seems unphased.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Roosevelt falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rua counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Roosevelt's guard now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rua drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Roosevelt manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rua has Roosevelt in his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but Roosevelt defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alejandro Rua will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Roosevelt is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Roosevelt circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Roosevelt but Roosevelt pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Roosevelt is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Roosevelt is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Roosevelt circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua throws a series of punches but Roosevelt moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Roosevelt.
Roosevelt scores with a jab to the body.
Rua with a lazy takedown attempt
and Roosevelt counters with a body kick that stops Rua in his tracks momentarily.
Roosevelt lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Roosevelt throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Roosevelt doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Roosevelt but Roosevelt pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a takedown
and Roosevelt makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rua checks a leg kick.
Roosevelt tries to clinch up but Rua circles away and keeps his distance.
Roosevelt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Roosevelt tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt - Roosevelt sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Roosevelt throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rua's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Roosevelt pinned against the cage. Roosevelt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Truman Roosevelt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roosevelt wants to clinch.
Rua gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Roosevelt counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Roosevelt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Roosevelt tries to clinch but Rua moves away
and Rua connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Roosevelt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rua defending well as Roosevelt loads up on a big left hand.
Rua shoots in but Roosevelt avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Roosevelt as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Truman Roosevelt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Rua throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Roosevelt tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rua is in Roosevelt's guard.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Roosevelt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
Rua trying to control but Roosevelt is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua prevents Roosevelt from getting back to his feet.

Alejandro Rua has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Roosevelt changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Roosevelt misses with a looping right.
Truman Roosevelt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Roosevelt.
Rua lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rua.
Rua drops his hands momentarily and Roosevelt takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots in but Roosevelt avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Roosevelt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Truman Roosevelt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Roosevelt lands a jab to the head.
Rua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Roosevelt circles away.
Roosevelt falls off balance throwing a combination

so Rua counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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 is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Roosevelt is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Roosevelt has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rua is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Roosevelt defends well.
Roosevelt works over Rua with some ground and pound from guard.
Roosevelt lands a couple of digs.
Roosevelt postures up in Rua's guard and throws a big left but Rua blocks it.
Roosevelt working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rua's head.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roosevelt defends it easily.

Rua has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Roosevelt doesn't defend quickly enough and Rua has managed to lock this one up! Can Roosevelt escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Rua on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Alejandro Rua!