PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ribeiro
vs
Rua

176 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

[MMABR]:Klinch
CBK MMA Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Ribeiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rua fails with the takedown.

Ribeiro shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Ribeiro stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Ribeiro shoots in and drives through. Rua sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ribeiro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ribeiro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua shoots and misses

and Ribeiro counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ribeiro.
Thiago Ribeiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but Ribeiro defends easily.

Rua is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ribeiro is aware though and is defending well.
Ribeiro throws a strike but Rua rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rua is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
Ribeiro bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rua's guard.
Rua is trying to keep Ribeiro in close.
Ribeiro controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ribeiro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ribeiro looking to sit in guard and control but Rua gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ribeiro is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ribeiro wants to control the position but Rua says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Rua trying to mount his opponent but Ribeiro defends it.

Rua is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ribeiro defends it well.
Ribeiro knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rua on the ground.
Rua is trying to control the action in half guard but Ribeiro is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ribeiro wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Ribeiro dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ribeiro shoots in for a takedown but Rua shows good takedown defense.

Ribeiro drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ribeiro is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rua avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rua is on top in guard.
Ribeiro is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rua looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua has gone for a leg lock! Ribeiro slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rua's guard.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ribeiro has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rua is proving hard to escape from.

Rua working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ribeiro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ribeiro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Ribeiro from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is pushing down on Rua's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rua is fighting to maintain full guard but Ribeiro has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.
Ribeiro trying to control from half guard but Rua is working away.
Ribeiro prevents Rua from improving his position.
Rua is staying active underneath Ribeiro, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Thiago Ribeiro just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Rua clinches but Ribeiro breaks the clinch

and Ribeiro counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ribeiro is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rua manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rua seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Ribeiro is holding on tight.

Rua is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ribeiro has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ribeiro!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Ribeiro dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Ribeiro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ribeiro tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Rua with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ribeiro counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ribeiro.

Ribeiro gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ribeiro swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.

Ribeiro scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ribeiro controlling the pace.
Ribeiro thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rua's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro tries to pass to full mount but Rua defends it.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.
Rua keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rua is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rua is pressing down on Ribeiro's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ribeiro wants to stand but Rua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rua being controlled here, momentarily.
Ribeiro wants to get up but he can't break Rua's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rua wants to sweep here but Ribeiro controlling him for the moment.
Ribeiro is looking to work some ground and pound but Rua has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rua, up you get!
Thiago Ribeiro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ribeiro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rua swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua blocks a head kick by Ribeiro.

Ribeiro looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ribeiro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ribeiro stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rua can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ribeiro controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Ribeiro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ribeiro, 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Ribeiro!