PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wandeco Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Kolobnev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua comes to the cage accompanied by For Whom The Bell Tolls.. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rua
vs
Kolobnev

183 cm
28
201 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
178 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Wandeco Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Igor Kolobnev!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kolobnev scores with a push kick.
Rua wants to clinch up but Kolobnev keeps it at a distance.
Rua throws a right hand that Kolobnev ducks under and follows up with a left that Kolobnev also avoids with ease.
Rua tries to clinch there but Kolobnev circles away.
Rua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kolobnev goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Wandeco Rua has been cut.
Rua lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kolobnev at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Kolobnev moves out of range easily.
Rua blocks a head kick by Kolobnev.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kolobnev.
Rua tries to clinch but Kolobnev is having none of it.
Kolobnev tries to land a front kick but Rua steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rua tries to clinch but Kolobnev is having none of it.
No joy there for Rua, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kolobnev blocks a head kick by Rua.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Kolobnev pushes him off.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kolobnev paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolobnev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kolobnev.
Rua throws a push kick but Kolobnev slaps the foot to one side.
Kolobnev throws a wild body kick that Rua sees coming a mile off.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kolobnev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kolobnev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua moves out of range of the body kick from Kolobnev.
Kolobnev throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Rua tries to clinch
and Kolobnev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rua tries to clinch but Kolobnev moves out of range.
Kolobnev misses with a low kick.
Rua throws the kick towards the body but Kolobnev avoids it.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Kolobnev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kolobnev throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua throws a head kick but Kolobnev moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kolobnev.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Kolobnev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kolobnev takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kolobnev throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kolobnev lands a jab to Rua's midsection.
Kolobnev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Rua has closed the distance and engaged Kolobnev in a clinch.
Rua is leaning against Kolobnev and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rua obliges.
Kolobnev looks gassed!
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kolobnev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rua lands a good knee to the midsection. Kolobnev won't want to take too many of those.
The referee calls for Rua to work.
Kolobnev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rua has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kolobnev's face.
Rua displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kolobnev up against the cage.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kolobnev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kolobnev is defending well for now.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kolobnev.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Kolobnev throws a head punch that misses.
Kolobnev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kolobnev.
Kolobnev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kolobnev is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolobnev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rua is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kolobnev tries a body shot but Rua blocks it.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Kolobnev's ribcage.
Kolobnev stalling in the clinch but Rua improves position.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Kolobnev blocks with his arms.
Rua lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Kolobnev blocks it.
Rua working Kolobnev over with knees to the body.
Rua landing knees to the head.
Rua stalling the fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua lands a nice knee to the body.
Kolobnev stalling in the clinch.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kolobnev avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wandeco Rua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wandeco Rua's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rua clinches up against the cage.
Kolobnev is trying to maintain a safe position but Rua gets an underhook and turns Kolobnev into the cage.
Kolobnev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua is trying to maintain a safe position but Kolobnev gets an underhook and turns Rua into the cage.
Kolobnev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Kolobnev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kolobnev is looking to break free of the clinch but Rua has double underhooks.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Kolobnev blocks with his arms.
Rua lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kolobnev is defending well for now.
Rua throws a head punch that misses.
Rua dodges an elbow strike from Kolobnev.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kolobnev blocks it with crossed arms.
Kolobnev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rua is looking to control Kolobnev's arms but Kolobnev gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rua has his back to the cage.
Wandeco Rua has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rua prevents a body shot from Kolobnev.
Rua has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A hook to the body from Rua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolobnev stalling in the clinch.
Kolobnev misses with a hook to the ribs.

Kolobnev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wandeco Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kolobnev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kolobnev swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Kolobnev pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rua is out of range and Kolobnev settles back down.
Kolobnev looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Kolobnev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rua swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kolobnev.
Rua tries to clinch but Kolobnev is having none of it.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kolobnev misses with a head kick.

Rua moves into the clinch.
Kolobnev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kolobnev being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kolobnev effectively controlling the action here.
Rua avoiding damage.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kolobnev blocks it with crossed arms.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rua takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kolobnev misses with some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kolobnev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kolobnev misses with a body punch.
Stalling in the clinch from Rua.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Kolobnev avoids the damage to the body.
Kolobnev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rua's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolobnev is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rua is keeping busy.
Rua connects with a knee to the head.

Kolobnev manages to break the clinch.
Rua throws a right hand that Kolobnev ducks under and follows up with a left that Kolobnev also avoids with ease.
Kolobnev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wandeco Rua is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua throws a body punch but Kolobnev moves out of range.

Rua drives through and clinches with Kolobnev against the cage.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Knees to the body from Rua.
Kolobnev is breathing heavily.
Kolobnev is trying to stall.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kolobnev avoids it.
Kolobnev can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolobnev tries to break the clinch but Rua is controlling the position.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Kolobnev blocks with his arms.
Rua scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kolobnev landing knees to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kolobnev avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Kolobnev stalls.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kolobnev misses with an elbow over the top.
Kolobnev can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rua slowing the pace effectively.
Kolobnev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rua throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kolobnevs head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wandeco Rua dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wandeco Rua's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua tries to clinch but Kolobnev moves out of range.
Kolobnev wants to slow Rua down by chopping away at his legs.
Kolobnev throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Rua feints a jab promting Kolobnev to slip. Rua then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kolobnev slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Rua throws a nice looking combination but Kolobnev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kolobnev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kolobnev swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Kolobnev avoids the head kick by Rua.

Rua pushes Kolobnev up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rua lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua stalling the fight.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kolobnev avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Rua will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kolobnev up against the cage.
Kolobnev lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kolobnev scores with a knee to the head.
Kolobnev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kolobnev being controlled against the cage.
Kolobnev throws an elbow but it misses.
Kolobnev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rua landing knees to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua connects with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kolobnev.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Kolobnev's ribcage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Kolobnev's ribcage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rua obliges.
Rua blocks a body shot from Kolobnev.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Kolobnev blocks it.
A knee to the head by Rua.

Kolobnev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Donk. Kolobnev catches Rua right on the button with a cross.
Kolobnev has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Kolobnev lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rua takes a step back to recover.
Rua is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kolobnev can do to turn this around?
Rua tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kolobnev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Igor Kolobnev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolobnev cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Rua avoids the head kick by Kolobnev.
Rua moves out of range of the body kick from Kolobnev.
Kolobnev throws a push kick but Rua slaps the foot to one side.
Kolobnev moves out of range of the body kick.
Wandeco Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kolobnev is looking to land body kicks.
Kolobnev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kolobnev misses with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Kolobnev. Those never looked like landing.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rua.
Kolobnev blocks a head kick by Rua.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kolobnev. That's going to slow Rua down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolobnev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kolobnev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Rua.
Kolobnev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rua.
Rua is looking to clinch.

Rua takes the fight into the clinch.
Kolobnev can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
Rua wants to stall.
Kolobnev trying to control the position but instead, Rua has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kolobnev into the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kolobnev avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Kolobnev tries to work over Rua's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Kolobnev blocks with his arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wandeco Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rua has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wandeco Rua!
An out of breath Wandeco Rua thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.