PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Semba Rua (ranked 2752 p4p, 2461 weight class) and Rich Voss (ranked 377 p4p, 340 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rua
vs
Voss

184 cm
22
180
7 - 4 - 0

181 cm
22
176
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Semba Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rich Voss!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Voss.
Voss shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rua pinned against the cage. Rua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rua misses with a hook. Voss ducked under it nicely.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
Rua keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rua with a jab.
Rua connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Voss shoots in but no luck this time.
Voss has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Semba Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Voss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Voss decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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 wants to improve his position but Voss is controlling well.
Voss not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voss wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Voss prevents Rua from improving his position.
Voss passes to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rua sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Voss is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Voss throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rua is staying active underneath Voss, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rua wants to sweep but Voss has passed to side control!
Rua looking for a sweep but Voss has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Voss can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rua is looking to escape.
Rua gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voss wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Voss prevents Rua from improving his position.
Voss is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rua manages to get to full guard.
Rua is trying to control the position but Voss postures up.
Voss with a nice head shot there.
Voss with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rua is trying to control the position but Voss postures up.
Voss preventing the sweep.
Voss trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Voss wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Voss passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voss is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Voss sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rua defending well though.
Rua is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rua moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rua is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Voss slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Voss is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rua preventing the sweep.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control but Voss is working from the bottom.

Rua is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Voss is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Voss has escaped and now he's on top!

Voss has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rua looking to control.
Voss works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Voss is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Voss lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rua is looking for a sweep. Voss is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Voss is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Voss maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Rua could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Voss has cracked it and Rua is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Voss!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rich Voss!
During a confident post fight interview, Rich Voss thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.