PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Vaghi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Mauricio Rua enters the cage!

Vaghi
vs
Rua

186 cm
22
205 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Vaghi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua wants to clinch.

Vaghi feints and as Rua raises his hands in defense, Vaghi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vaghi wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Vaghi stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.
Vaghi trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vaghi's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaghi is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Vaghi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vaghi doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rua won't allow Vaghi to sweep him here.

Vaghi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rua is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Vaghi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rua's back instead.
Rua is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rua is trying to stand back up.
Vaghi keeps control of the position as Rua tries to break free.
Vaghi slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Rua breaks Vaghi's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Vaghi is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Rua passes Vaghi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vaghi is breathing heavily.
Rua thows a huge punch but Vaghi dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaghi is trying to maintain the position but Rua is very close to passing his half guard.
Rua passes to side control.
Rua is working Vaghi over with some ground and pound from side control.
Vaghi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Rua thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rua working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rua working the strikes but Vaghi uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Rua wants to work for an arm triangle but Vaghi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vaghi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rua.
Vaghi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rua is working away from the top position though.
Vaghi wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rua throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mauricio Rua will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rua takes the fight into the clinch.
Vaghi tries to pull guard but Rua holds him up against the cage and eventually Vaghi drops back down to his feet.
Vaghi has had enough of the clinch but Rua keeps him there for the moment.
Rua with a knee to the head.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaghi jumps guard but Rua stands there with Vaghi around his waist. Vaghi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Vaghi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rua just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Vaghi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Vaghi blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaghi wants to get back to striking at distance but Rua won't allow it.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vaghi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rua smiles and moves away.
Vaghi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rua wants to clinch up but Vaghi keeps it at a distance.
Ivan Vaghi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vaghi tries for a takedown but Rua sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rua fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vaghi sprawls well initially but Rua persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rua is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Vaghi!
Vaghi slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rua trying to mount his opponent but Vaghi defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaghi is trying to stand up here but Rua is controlling him well.
Rua throwing shots but Vaghi is blocking nicely.
Rua not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Rua stands up out of the half guard.
Rua is looking to clinch.

Vaghi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Vaghi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rua is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaghi lands a nice shot to the head.
Vaghi with good strikes from the mount here!
Vaghi blocks Rua's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Rua working to try and regain half guard.
Vaghi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rua flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Vaghi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rua looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

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.

Rua is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Vaghi gets his way!
Rua holding both Vaghi 's hands and preventing any damage.
Rua breaks Vaghi's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mauricio Rua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Vaghi tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rua counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rua.
Mauricio Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vaghi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rua passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Vaghi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rua is looking to advance position but Vaghi won't allow it.
Vaghi throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Rua manages to pass to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vaghi is looking to reverse the position.
Rua scores with punches from side control.
Rua is working Vaghi over with some ground and pound from side control.
Vaghi struggling a bit here.
Rua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vaghi sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vaghi keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Rua stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Vaghi to get to his feet.

Vaghi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Vaghi showed some decent athleticism there.
Vaghi is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to roll over but Vaghi keeps him under control.
Rua pushes Vaghi off looking to stand but Vaghi dives back in and keeps control.
Vaghi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Vaghi wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Ivan Vaghi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rua misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Vaghi lands with a punch from half guard.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vaghi misses with a takedown attempt - Rua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Vaghi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Vaghi pushes Rua off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rua winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

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