PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between miguel ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Renato Rua is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

ortiz
vs
Rua

183 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, miguel ortiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renato Rua!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua throws a head kick but ortiz moves out of range.
Rua shoots for a takedown but ortiz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
ortiz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rua with a lazy takedown attempt

and ortiz counters with a shoot takedown. Rua fights it but they end up in guard.
ortiz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as ortiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua is trying to control the position but ortiz postures up.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
ortiz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rua is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rua working for a triangle but ortiz defends it easily.
ortiz with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from ortiz.
Rua with a poor takedown

and ortiz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rua!
miguel ortiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renato Rua.
ortiz is breathing heavily.
Rua is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rua is wriggling around trying to escape.
ortiz looking to ground and pound but Rua is blocking nicely.
ortiz avoids the attempt from Rua to control.

ortiz swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rua is now in ortiz's guard. A big mistake from ortiz there, giving up the dominant position!

Rua drops back looking for a leg! ortiz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and ortiz manages to kick Rua off! Rua jumps back into ortiz's guard.
ortiz trying to keep a closed guard but Rua is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

ortiz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rua being controlled here momentarily.
Rua pushing down on ortiz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rua thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed ortiz's head.
Rua wants to free his trapped foot but ortiz is holding on for dear life with his legs.

ortiz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

ortiz actively working from the bottom here.

ortiz with the active half guard here but Rua passes nicely into side control.
ortiz struggling a bit here.
ortiz is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rua has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua tries to clinch but ortiz is having none of it.
ortiz fails with the takedown.

Rua has closed the distance and engaged ortiz in a clinch.
Rua jumps guard but ortiz stands there with Rua around his waist. Rua gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rua tries to pull guard but ortiz won't allow it.

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

ortiz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

ortiz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rua doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time ortiz.
ortiz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
ortiz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

miguel ortiz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and ortiz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rua is looking to improve his position.
ortiz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
ortiz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
ortiz trying to control the pace.
ortiz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
ortiz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
ortiz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ortiz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown by ortiz or perhaps it was just good defense by Rua which made him look bad.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua with a lazy takedown attempt

and ortiz counters by clinching up.

ortiz tightens his grip and picks Rua up, before dumping him to the ground. Rua manages to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
ortiz throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as ortiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
ortiz trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
ortiz looking to pass the guard.
ortiz postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ortiz scoring with punches to the head and body.

Rua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but ortiz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua misses with a takedown

and ortiz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
miguel ortiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renato Rua.
ortiz content to control rather than advance.
ortiz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
ortiz stalling away here and it's allowed Rua to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
ortiz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ortiz stands up over Rua, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
ortiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
ortiz thows a big elbow that misses.
ortiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
ortiz dodges the punch combination from Rua.
miguel ortiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
ortiz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rua defends it nicely.

Rua moves into the clinch successfully.
ortiz lands a nice knee to the body.
ortiz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rua has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rua tries for a takedown but ortiz manages to get underhooks.

ortiz breaks the clinch.
ortiz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.
Horrible takedown by ortiz or perhaps it was just good defense by Rua which made him look bad.
Rua wants to clinch

and ortiz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rua's guard.
Rua looking for a sweep. Not yet Rua, not yet.
ortiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
ortiz postures up in Rua's guard and throws a big left but Rua blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
ortiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
ortiz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

miguel ortiz dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rua instigates a clinch.
Rua changes levels and goes for a takedown here. ortiz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
ortiz blocks a head kick by Rua.
ortiz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and ortiz counters with a shoot takedown. Rua fights it but they end up in guard.
Rua looking for a sweep. Not yet Rua, not yet.
Rua is trying to control the position from the bottom.
ortiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
ortiz postures up in Rua's guard and throws a big left but Rua blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ortiz looking to pass the guard.
Rua is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
ortiz throwing strikes but missing.
ortiz won't allow Rua to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
ortiz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for miguel ortiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

ortiz throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rua was covering up waiting for the punch and ortiz finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ortiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
ortiz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
ortiz stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.
ortiz throwing strikes from guard but Rua blocks nicely.
Rua avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

ortiz feints and as Rua raises his hands in defense, ortiz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
ortiz throwing strikes but missing.
Rua throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
ortiz chips away with some ground and pound.
Rua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from ortiz.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells ortiz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

ortiz drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rua manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now ortiz has Rua in his guard.
miguel ortiz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
ortiz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

ortiz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
ortiz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rua is controlling him.

Rua got a little sloppy there for a moment and ortiz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rua has managed to get both his arms back between ortiz's legs - danger averted.
ortiz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
ortiz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Renato Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
ortiz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

And that's the end of the fight!
miguel ortiz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for ortiz, 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... miguel ortiz!