PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick Flare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Rudd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rudd's choice of entrance music: Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up. Chris Rudd will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Flare
vs
Rudd

173 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

171 cm
21
176 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Flare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chris Rudd!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, John Mangel and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flare avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rudd loads up on a big right hand but Flare slips the punch.
Flare checks the leg kick.
Rudd tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Flare paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rudd throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Flare stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rudd lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rudd throws and low kick but Flare moves out of range easily.

Flare clinches.
Flare wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rudd is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Flare gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Flare tries to break the clinch but Rudd is controlling the position.
Rudd has had enough of the clinch but Flare keeps him there for the moment.
Rudd tries to break the clinch but Flare is controlling the position.
Rudd is looking to break free of the clinch but Flare has double underhooks.

Flare pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Flare gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Flare's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rudd throws a right hand that Flare ducks under and follows up with a left that Flare also avoids with ease.
Flare misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Flare throws a combination that misses
and Rudd counters with a good, hard body kick but Flare shrugs it off.
Flare fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rudd scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Flare takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A punch combination from Rudd misses.
Rudd fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Flare looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Flare gets caught flat footed, as Rudd shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rudd wants to pass the guard but Flare is keeping the position.
Rudd wants to stand and escape but instead Flare has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Flare wants to pass the guard but Rudd is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flare is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rudd is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rudd has escaped and now he's on top!
Flare is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flare looking for the choke from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
I really don't envy Rudd right now.

Flare working for the choke.
Rudd controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Flare struggling to land strikes to the head as Rudd covers up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Flare is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Flare is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Rudd defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rudd has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Rudd preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Flare.
Rudd is trying to get back to his feet but Flare has full control of the position and if anything, Rudd has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Flare tightening his grip on Rudd, looking for the choke.
Rudd is trying to get back to his feet but Flare has full control of the position and if anything, Rudd has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Rudd dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rudd tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Flare counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Flare has gone for a leg lock! Rudd slips out almost immediately though and dives into Flare's guard.
Flare has a closed guard, preventing Rudd from standing up.
Flare is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rudd wanted to stand there but Flare had control of the position.

Flare pushes Rudd off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rudd just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rudd throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rudd should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Flare tries for a takedown but Rudd circles away easily

and Rudd counters with a takedown into side control.
Rick Flare overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Flare is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rudd off and has taken his back!

Rudd is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Flare looking for the choke from the back.

Flare is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rudd wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Rudd's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Rudd is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Rudd is trying to get to his feet but he's left his neck exposed and Flare manages to sink in a rear naked choke! Great counter grappling by Flare!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rick Flare!