PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samuel NBomga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samuel NBomga could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mauricio Rua's chin.

NBomga
vs
Rua

190 cm
21
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
22
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Samuel NBomga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua throws a head kick that misses
and Rua takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rua misses with a takedown
and NBomga counters with a stiff right hand.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rua holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

NBomga has Rua pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. NBomga pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rua tumbling to the mat - NBomga dives into Rua's guard.

Rua has his foot on NBomga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. NBomga works his way back into a safe position though.
NBomga trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua seems keen to control NBomga's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

NBomga avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
NBomga trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
NBomga has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
NBomga advances to half guard.
NBomga trying to control from Rua's half guard. Rua has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but NBomga defends easily.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rua keeping full guard, as NBomga tries to pass.
NBomga trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rua is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rua looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
NBomga tries to clinch

and Rua counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in NBomga's guard now.
NBomga is pulling down on Rua's head to control his posture.

Rua drops back, looking for a kneebar! NBomga looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. NBomga looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from NBomga!
Rua looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NBomga trying to control the position but Rua is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mauricio Rua will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

NBomga shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
NBomga trying to control but Rua is having none of it.
Rua is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rua wants to hold on but NBomga pushes him away.
Rua is squirming around, avoiding NBomga's attempts to control the action.
Rua wants to control but NBomga is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NBomga landing shots from mount.
Rua bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
NBomga wants to control the position but Rua says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Rua is working for a submission of some sort.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Rua uses his free foot to push down on NBomga's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for NBomga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
NBomga wants to hold on but Rua pushes him away.
NBomga swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Rua prevents NBomga from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Rua is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, NBomga has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Rua is working for a guillotine from mount but NBomga frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua goes for an armbar but NBomga turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from NBomga.

Rua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
NBomga trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
NBomga wanted to stand there but Rua had control of the position.
NBomga preventing the sweep.
NBomga distracts Rua with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
NBomga looking to pass the guard.
NBomga wants to stand but Rua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel NBomga dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. NBomga is trying to defend but Rua finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Rua is looking for a kimura here.
NBomga is staying active underneath Rua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Rua seems to be looking for submissions.
NBomga wants to sweep but Rua has passed to side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
NBomga is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Rua looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rua stalling away here and it's allowed NBomga to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's two 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 pushing down on NBomga's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

NBomga is defending against the submission attempts here by Rua.
NBomga wants to get back to his feet.
Mauricio Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
NBomga wants to control but Rua passes into side.

Rua is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. NBomga looks calm but he's in trouble here. Rua gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. NBomga is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Rua lets go of the hold and NBomga can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mauricio Rua!