PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Imanari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshihiro Imanari told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rua
vs
Imanari

180 cm
27
168 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

172 cm
27
165 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gabriel Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoshihiro Imanari!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imanari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Imanari wants to slow Rua down by chopping away at his legs.
Rua misses with a series of wild punches.
Imanari wants to clinch.
Rua feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Imanaris jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Imanari tries to keep at a distance but Rua has taken the fight into the clinch.
Imanari taking a breather.
Rua lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua swings wildly with an uppercut but Imanari uses good head movement to avoid it.
Imanari is looking to break free of the clinch but Rua has double underhooks.
Imanari blocking some punches.
A short left from Imanari.
Imanari blocking some punches.
A short body shot lands from Rua as the two fighters clinch.
Rua lands a body shot in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Rua.
Imanari controlling the action here for a moment.
Imanari being controlled against the cage.
Rua keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Imanari's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with the head strike.
Imanari can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
Rua pushes Imanari back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
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 uppercut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rua.
Rua stalls.
Imanari misses with a punch to the body.

Imanari tightens his grip and picks Rua up, before dumping him to the ground. Rua manages to land in guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Imanari trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Imanari from controlling successfully.
Imanari loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rua is pulling down on Imanari's head. It's preventing any offense from Imanari, at least for the moment.
Rua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Imanari shoots in for a takedown but Rua shows good takedown defense.
Rua looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rua. Imanari does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Imanari paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Imanari's head backwards.
Imanari avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Imanari lands a jab to the nose.
Rua bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Imanari's head backwards.
The crowd cheers as Rua lands an impressive looking overhand right. Imanari doesn't seem phased though.
Rua misses with a hook

and Imanari counters with a single leg into guard. Rua didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Rua dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rua steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Imanari.
Imanari misses with a two punch combination.
Rua misses with a series of wild punches.

Imanari moves into the clinch successfully.
Imanari's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Imanari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rua has a couple of punches blocked by Imanari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Imanari lands a body shot.
Imanari lands a body shot.
Rua lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rua.
Imanari misses with a hook to the ribs.

Imanari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gabriel Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua avoids the body shot from Imanari.
Rua misses with a body shot.
Imanari throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Imanari takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Imanari misses
and Rua counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Imanari ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rua moves away.
Rua is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rua thows a body shot but no joy.
Imanari takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
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 avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rua misses with a body shot.
Imanari gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua moves out of range of the body kick.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Imanari moves out of range easily.
Imanari misses with a series of wild punches.
Yoshihiro Imanari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua walks into a stiff left hand from Imanari.

Imanari instigates a clinch.
Imanari takes a shot to the head.
Rua tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Imanari is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rua lands a hook that snaps the head of Imanari backwards.
Rua manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Imanari tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rua's elbow.
Imanari trying to stall but Rua improves his position.
Rua is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Imanari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua lands with a short shot to the head.
Imanari's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Imanari is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
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 Gabriel Rua will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua thows a leg kick but Imanari checks it
letting Imanari counter with a right hand.

Rua pushes Imanari up against the cage in a clinch.
Imanari manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Imanari misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Imanari stalling in the clinch.

Imanari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Imanari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Imanari pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Rua misses its intended target.
Imanari tries to land a front kick but Rua steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Imanari tries to clinch up.
Imanari darts in looking for a takedown but Rua gets double underhooks and turns Imanari into the cage.
A short right from Rua on the inside.
Rua swings wildly with an uppercut but Imanari uses good head movement to avoid it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rua - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A short right from Rua on the inside.
Rua tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rua.
Gabriel Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanari lands an uppercut.
Imanari is trying to break the clinch but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Rua - that landed with a thud.
Rua lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Imanari turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Imanari throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Imanari swings around for an armbar but Rua sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Imanari's guard.
Rua is looking to advance position but Imanari has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Rua wants to hold on but Imanari pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Yoshihiro Imanari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Imanari jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rua manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Rua holding on.
Rua is trying to control Imanari's posture but Imanari avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rua is trying to control Imanari's posture but Imanari avoids it.
Imanari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Imanari in side control, throwing shots but Rua defends.

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 Gabriel Rua.
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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Rua!
Gabriel Rua took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.