PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barny Bucket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barny Bucket told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rua
vs
Bucket

180 cm
21
174 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

188 cm
27
183 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Barny Bucket!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Russell Pearce and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bucket clinches.
Rua throws an elbow but it misses.
A frustrated look appears on Bucket's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rua is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rua landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bucket fails to pull guard.
Rua working Bucket over with knees to the body.
Bucket misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A bit of stalling here from Rua.
Bucket has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rua lands an elbow just above Bucket 's eye.
Bucket looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rua lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Barny Bucket has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bucket avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Bucket wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bucket avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bucket has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Bucket's ribcage.

Bucket escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rua scores with a takedown into Bucket's guard.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rua wants to control from the top but Bucket keeps moving.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rua works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rua trying to control from half guard but Bucket is working away.
Bucket really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rua. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bucket is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bucket wants to control but Rua is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua is trying to control the action in half guard but Bucket is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Rua is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bucket wants to control the action here but instead Rua manages to pass to full mount!

Rua looking to secure an arm triangle but Bucket defends it well.

Rua is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Bucket can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rua can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bucket is looking to escape.
Bucket wants to control but Rua is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to take Bucket's back here but Bucket is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Rua controlling from mount.
Rua trying to control but Bucket is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rua looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Rua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Barny Bucket's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rua throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Bucket counter with a right hand.
Bucket's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rua under the eye.
Rua fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bucket looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bucket throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.

Bucket gets a clinch.
Bucket wants to break free but Rua has control.
Bucket wants to break free but Rua has control.

Bucket manages to break the clinch.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Bucket.
Rua throws a one two combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bucket looks to land a right hand but Rua moved out of range.
Bucket throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Bucket throws a lazy uppercut
and Rua counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bucket scores with a jab.
Bucket throws a lazy uppercut
and Rua connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bucket misses with a two punch combination.
Gabriel Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good standup being displayed there by Rua as he connects with a hook.
Rua throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Bucket.
Some wild striking there from Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bucket thows a body shot but no joy.
Bucket displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rua.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bucket.
Rua keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rua scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bucket doesn't seem bothered though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rua. Bucket shrugs it off though.
Bucket catches Rua with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bucket changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bucket throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Rua slips a jab and a cross from Bucket.

Rua rushes Bucket and presses him up against the cage.
Come on Rua - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Bucket tries to circle away but Rua has him pinned against the cage.
Rua scores with a knee to the head.
Bucket is trying to break the clinch but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Bucket wants to get back to striking at distance but Rua won't allow it.
Rua lands an elbow inside.
Bucket wants to take the fight to the mat but Rua manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Bucket's ribcage.
Bucket has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Gabriel Rua has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rua.
Rua is working Bucket over against the cage.
Bucket wants to take the fight to the mat but Rua manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gabriel Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barny Bucket.
Rua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rua.
Rua throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Buckets head.
Rua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua struggles to land a body shot inside as Bucket controls his hands.
Rua stalling.
Rua trying to stall but Bucket improves his position.
Rua keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bucket's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Rua dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Barny Bucket's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rua wants to clinch up but Bucket keeps it at a distance.
Rua slips a jab from Bucket.
Gabriel Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bucket.
Bucket throws the left hand but Rua avoids the punch easily.
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rua throws a low kick but Bucket moves out of range easily.
Rua misses with a body shot.
Bucket misses with a wild combination.
Rua throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bucket walks into a straight right hand from Rua.
Rua tries to bum rush Bucket with a series of wild strikes but Bucket uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A cross from Bucket lands.
Bucket shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rua as he jumps to the side.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.
Rua lands with a nice combination. Bucket backs away looking to recover.
Rua scores with a jab to the jaw.

Bucket gets caught napping as Rua dives in and scores a takedown. Bucket manages to retain guard.
Gabriel Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bucket has Rua pulled in close to control his posture.
Bucket looking to control but Rua passes into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua is pressing down on Bucket's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bucket is holding on for now.
Rua is thwarting Bucket's attempts to control the position.
Rua sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua moves into full mount! Bucket won't be happy about that!
Rua avoids the attempt from Bucket to control.
Rua controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bucket is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Rua wants to control the pace but Bucket is squirming around nicely.

Rua is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bucket is surviving well by controlling Rua's body position as best he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bucket tries to buck Rua off but he can't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Rua!
An intense looking Gabriel Rua took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Whenever Cunha is ready, Im here, taking the title off Tari is my destiny. I am the most complete 170lb fighter in the Immortals.'.