PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byrd has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Byrd
vs
Rua

186 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Byrd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left and a right from Rua both land. Nice combination.
Byrd is breathing heavily.
Byrd misses with a combination

and Rua counters with a shoot takedown. Byrd fights it but they end up in guard.
Rua is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Byrd throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rua distracts Byrd with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rua postures up in Byrd's guard and throws a big left but Byrd blocks it.

Rua gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Rua darts in and clinches Byrd up against the cage.
Rua is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Byrd pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Rua is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Byrd can't fight it off and eventually Rua manages to take the fight to the floor. Byrd looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rua slips nicely into half guard.
Byrd missing with punches from the bottom.

Rua decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Byrd falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rua counters with a body kick that stops Byrd in his tracks momentarily.
Byrd throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rua counters by moving into the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Rua.
Rua scores a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua breaks the clinch.

Rua has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rua using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rua stalling.
Rua lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Byrd tries to break the clinch but Rua is controlling the position.
Rua misses with a knee strike.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Byrd misses with a double jab

and Rua counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Byrd's guard now.
Rua slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Rua decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Rua decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Byrd punching from the bottom.

Rua is looking for a kimura but Byrd is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rua to get the leverage.
Rua tries to stand but can't do so whilst Byrd controls his leg.
Rua works his way into full mount!
Rua lands a big shot there that rocks Byrd but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
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 is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Byrd swinging wilding here.

Rua closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rua lands in his opponent's guard.

Rua drops back looking for a leg! Byrd is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Byrd manages to kick Rua off! Rua jumps back into Byrd's guard.
Byrd throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Byrd keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.

Byrd looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Byrd is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rua slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rua in side control lands a decent elbow.
Byrd gets back to half guard.
Byrd misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua is looking for a kimura here.
Rua looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Byrd with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Byrd pushes Rua off looking to stand but Rua dives back in and keeps control.
Rua lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rua missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rua throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Byrd regains full guard. Nicely done.

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.
Rua stands up over Byrd, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Byrd had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rua is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Byrd Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rua's back instead.
Rua turns into Byrd and is now in his guard.

Rua decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Byrd misses with a combination
and Rua counters with a nice low kick that buckles Byrd's knee momentarily.
Rua throws a one two combo.
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Byrd pinned against the cage. Byrd gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Byrd circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua fails to land the takedown.
Paul Byrd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nauricio Rua.
Byrd circles away from the clinch attempt.
Byrd throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rua counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Byrd's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rua wants to stand but Byrd has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Byrd will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rua stands up and waves to Byrd to follow him.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Byrd.
Byrd throws a series of punches but Rua avoids them all with ease.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua is looking to slow Byrd down with leg kicks.
Byrd throws a combination that misses
and Rua counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rua bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Byrd's head.
Rua tries to clinch but Byrd is having none of it.

Rua instigates a clinch.

Byrd lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nauricio Rua dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rua moves into the clinch.
Rua controlling the action here for a moment.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Paul Byrd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Byrd falls off balance throwing a combination

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

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Byrd gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Rua decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Byrd swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rua counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Byrd's guard now.
Rua slips nicely into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua blocks the strikes from Byrd.
Byrd regains full guard. Nicely done.
Byrd bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rua's guard.
Byrd preventing the sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Rua had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Byrd is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rua Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Byrd's back instead.
Rua throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Byrd is looking for a way out.

Rua is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Byrd defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Byrd is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Byrd looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Rua working for the choke.
Rua missing with strikes.
Rua softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Rua connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Byrd to escape the position.

Byrd is rocked!

Rua is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Byrd with him. Byrd is trying to defend but Rua has an arm under the chin now! Byrd grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nauricio Rua!