PBP Commentary

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

Rua
vs
Cent

170 cm
22
153 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

164 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 8 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maurcio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Jaaron Cent!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rua.
Rua lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Cent looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cent with a poor takedown

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

Cent throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rua knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cent on the ground.
Cent has a closed guard, preventing Rua from standing up.

Cent looking for subs off his back but Rua has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cent looks gassed!
Cent is staying active underneath Rua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rua in particular looking to stall.

Cent looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Cent is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.
Cent 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.
Rua missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Cent actively working from the bottom here.

Rua is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cent doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rua.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua throws a series of strikes that have Cent backpedaling.
Maurcio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cent counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maurcio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cent is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rua sees it coming and defends easily.
Rua is looking to control Cent's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rua avoid being mounted?
Rua tries to roll over but Cent keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cent is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rua tries to roll over but Cent keeps him under control.

Cent 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 Cent.

Cent is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rua defends it well.
Rua is looking to control Cent's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rua avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

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 is not successful on this occasion.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cent pinned against the cage. Cent gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rua looks for a takedown but Cent sprawls well.
Cent fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maurcio Rua will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua fails with the takedown

and Cent counters with a shoot takedown. Rua fights it but they end up in guard.
Cent in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Cent thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cent accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cent thows a big elbow that misses.
Cent stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.

Rua is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cent is aware though and is defending well.
Cent throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rua throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cent keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maurcio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cent fails with the takedown.
Rua throws a combination. Cent tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Cent moves out of range easily.

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.
Rua with a lazy takedown attempt

so Cent counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cent.

Cent thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Cent drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cent jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cent pushes down on Rua's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Cent is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Cent has control of the leg.

Cent seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to control Cent's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rua avoid being mounted?
Cent not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Cent is trying to work for a kimura but Rua is defending well.
Rua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cent.

Rua is defending against the submission attempts here by Cent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rua is defending against the submission attempts here by Cent.

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 is looking to improve his position.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Cent is very close to passing his half guard.
Jaaron Cent has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cent thows a huge punch but Rua dodges it nicely.
Cent lands with a punch from half guard.
Rua wants to control but Cent is keeping busy and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cent fails with a takedown attempt.
Rua jabs at Cent's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaaron Cent showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cent looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cent thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rua's head.
Rua keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rua wants to control but Cent is keeping busy.

Cent is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rua looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rua avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cent.
Cent throwing shots but Rua is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cent counters with a takedown into side control.
Rua defending against the ground and pound.

Cent is trying to get an arm triangle but Rua is defending well.
Rua wants to control but Cent postures up.
Cent working the head and body with strikes.
Rua tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cent wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Cent is trying to get an arm triangle but Rua is defending well.

Cent working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cent misses with the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Rua's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Cent tries for a kimura but Rua is defending well.

Cent is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rua is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Cent working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua pushes Cent away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cent gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Cent scoring with punches and elbows.
Cent tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rua is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Rua's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Cent looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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.
Cent working away.
Rua is looking to regain half guard here but Cent keeps moving and retains side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cent fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rua scores with a three punch combo!
Rua has his takedown stuffed

and Cent counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rua!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaaron Cent comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cent has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaaron Cent!