PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Augustine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua's entrance music is Roy Jones - Can't be touched . A fine choice. Augustine has chosen The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog as his entrance music. Tim Augustine has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mauricio Rua's chin.

Rua
vs
Augustine

185 cm
26
205 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

193 cm
33
216 lbs
23 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tim Augustine!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Augustine looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rua is fending him off so far but Augustine persists. Nope, Rua circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua leaves Augustine with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Augustine shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Augustine's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Augustine.
Rua takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Augustine defends it nicely.
Rua is trying hard to land a takedown here. Augustine sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Augustine misses with a straight right.
Rua takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Augustine closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rua is looking for a sweep.
Rua sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua is trying to get back to full guard.
Augustine not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Augustine is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rua has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rua manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Augustine has gone for a leg lock! Rua slips out almost immediately though and dives into Augustine's guard.
Augustine wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Augustine is keeping the position for now.
Augustine being controlled here, momentarily.
Augustine throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Augustine keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Augustine is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rua content to stall in guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mauricio Rua.

Augustine closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Augustine lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua wants to sweep but no luck.

Rua has his foot on Augustine's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Augustine works his way back into a safe position though.
Rua throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Augustine is looking to work some ground and pound but Rua has wrist control.

Augustine avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Augustine working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Augustine throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Augustine throwing strikes from guard but Rua blocks nicely.
Rua has momentary wrist control but Augustine slips an elbow through the middle.
Rua is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Augustine prevents Rua from getting back to his feet.

Augustine drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rua dives on top into guard.
Rua wants to control from the top but Augustine keeps moving.

Rua thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Augustine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Augustine is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rua wants to control from the top but Augustine keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua has gone for a leg lock! Augustine slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rua's guard.
Augustine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rua avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
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!
Augustine cracks Rua with a solid left hand.

Augustine 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.
Augustine won't allow Rua to sweep him here.
Augustine throwing strikes from guard but Rua blocks nicely.
Rua wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Augustine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rua is looking for a triangle but Augustine pushes his legs off easily.
Augustine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tim Augustine will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rua looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Augustine moves away from the strike by Rua.
Rua stuffs the takedown attempt from Augustine. Augustine gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua throws a head kick but Augustine moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Augustine. Rua does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Augustine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Augustine.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Augustine.
Rua looks for a takedown but Augustine sprawls well.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Augustine moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua lands an overhand right.
Augustine ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rua throws a lazy right hand but Augustine sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rua looks to land a right hand but Augustine moved out of range.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Augustine as he avoids it easily.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Augustine as he jumps to the side.
Augustine leaves Rua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Augustine shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rua as he avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Rua as Augustine shoots in.
Rua throws a body punch but Augustine moves out of range.
Rua misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Augustine fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rua to the ground. Augustine is now in Rua's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rua is on top in guard.
Augustine keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua won't allow Augustine to sweep him here.
Rua advances position into side control!
Augustine tries to improve position but can't.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Augustine is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rua is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Augustine knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rua works to advance to full mount. Augustine defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Augustine is trying to escape the mount.

Rua jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Augustine manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Rua tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Rua looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Augustine tries to buck Rua off but Rua is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Augustine manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rua's best efforts.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Augustine is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Augustine looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Augustine wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.
Rua landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Augustine tries to roll over but Rua keeps him under control.
Mauricio Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Augustine is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rua's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rua's back!
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.
Augustine is trying to stick to Rua's back but Rua is turning into Augustine. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Augustine's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rua.
Rua slips nicely into half guard.
Augustine is looking for a sweep. Rua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mauricio Rua will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rua shoots in and bounces Augustine off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Augustine looking for a sweep. Not yet Augustine, not yet.

Augustine is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rua defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua passes Augustine's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Augustine keeps working.
Augustine gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
Augustine manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rua bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is pushing down on Augustine's leg trying to pass to half guard. Augustine is fighting to maintain full guard but Rua has managed to sneak the leg through.

Rua looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Augustine tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Augustine manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rua wants to control from the top but Augustine keeps moving.

Augustine throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rua takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Rua works over Augustine with some ground and pound from guard.
Augustine looking for a sweep. Not yet Augustine, not yet.

Augustine throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Augustine takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rua wants to control from the top but Augustine keeps moving.

Rua thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Rua is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Augustine is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Augustine has escaped and now he's on top!
Augustine postures up.
Augustine must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Augustine keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rua's head.
Augustine lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Augustine cracks Rua with a solid left hand.

Rua working for a triangle but Augustine defends it easily.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but Augustine defends easily.
Rua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Augustine's guard.
Augustine wants to sweep but no luck.

Augustine 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Augustine will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rua works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Augustine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rua working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rua wants to control but Augustine is keeping him busy.
Augustine tries to roll over but Rua keeps him under control.

Rua is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Augustine is just riding it out for now. Rua eventually gives up the hold.

Augustine looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rua 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Rua!
Mauricio Rua retains his light heavyweight title!
Mauricio Rua seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.