PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jason Young (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gabriel Rua has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Young
vs
Rua

178 cm
30
165 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

180 cm
24
168 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Jason Young!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Rua!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Young swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Young throws a combination that misses
and Rua counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rua lands with a right hand.
Young throws the left hand but Rua avoids the punch easily.
Young tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rua swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A left lands for Rua.
Young throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Rua keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rua throws a low kick but Young moves out of range easily.
Young fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.

Rua clinches up with Young and pushes him back against the cage.
Young goes for a takedown attempt but Rua pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Young tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Young stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rua.
Rua lands a jab to Young's midsection.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Young throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young throws the kick towards the body but Rua avoids it.
Young misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua tries to clinch but Young moves out of range.

Rua instigates a clinch.
Young pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rua keeps control of Young as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Young keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rua's efforts to push away.

Young escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Young blocks a low kick nicely.
Young dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rua. That did some damage!
Rua wants to slow Young down by chopping away at his legs.
Young misses with a head kick.
Young goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Young thows a body shot but no joy.
Jason Young seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Young momentarily.
Gabriel Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Young misses with a double jab.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Young.
Rua keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Young tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Young fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Young. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua connects with the punch.
Young's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rua connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Young scrambles back to his feet.
Rua smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rua throws a shot to the body.
Rua scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Young feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Young defends it easily.
Young has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rua pulls Young in close to prevent any damage.
Young keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rua's head.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Young is one step ahead there.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Young from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to sweep but no luck.
Young trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rua is trying to control the position but Young postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Young throws out a loose jab but Rua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Young tries for a takedown but Rua sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Young blocks the body kick.
Young looks for a takedown but Rua sprawls well.
Young tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Rua dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua throws a right and a left that both miss.
Young tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Rua jabs at Young's body.
Young uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rua.
Rua fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rua delivers a nice body kick.
Rua throws a jab when Young was well out of range.
Rua connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Young misses with a wild body shot.
Young takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rua lunges at Young with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Young's hand.
Jason Young is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Young closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Young throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Young circles away.
Gabriel Rua seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Young has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Young there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young wants to clinch.
Rua lands with an uppercut that bounces Young off the cage and back into range.
Young slips a jab from Rua.
Young throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Young will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Young misses with a two punch combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Young with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rua counters with a thumping low kick.
Rua delivers a nice body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua blocks a jab.
Rua lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Young backs up against the cage.
Young changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rua tries to avoid it but Young manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rua to the ground. Rua escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rua scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Young misses with the combination.
Young gets cracked there but stands up to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Young is rocked!
Rua misses with a looping left.
A left lands for Rua.
Oh Young is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rua jabs Young to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Young seems to have got his legs back now.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Rua as he connects with a hook.
A slapping leg kick lands for Young.
Rua lands with a cross.
Rua misses with a few strikes there.
Young takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Young misses with a jab, cross combination.
Young lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua closes the distance and clinches.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Young avoids the damage to the body.
Young looking to slow down the pace here.
Rua lands a body shot.
Young takes an elbow to the temple.

Young breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Young with a hook.
Rua scores with a leg kick.

Young shoots in and bounces Rua off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rua looking to control.
Young is looking to work some ground and pound but Rua has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Young got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rua has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Young has managed to get both his arms back between Rua's legs - danger averted.
Rua can't keep his opponent in guard - Young advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rua wants to improve his position but Young is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua gets full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua keeping full guard, as Young tries to pass.
Young is looking to advance position but Rua has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rua lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Young moves away.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Young misses with a two punch combination.
Young misses with the combination.
Rua fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rua avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rua swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rua works the jab nicely.
Rua listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Young throws a leg kick which misses Rua's front leg but catches the back leg as Rua tries to avoid it.
Rua scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Young.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Young throws a body punch but Rua moves out of range.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Young shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rua defends it nicely.
Rua lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rua with a jab.
Rua turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rua closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Young tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rua was well out of range. Poor timing from Young.
Sloppy strikes from Rua. Those never looked like landing.
Rua paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Young sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Young fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice uppercut there from Rua.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Young has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rua.
Young lands with a nice body kick.
Rua with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rua avoids a punch combination nicely.
Young lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rua backs up against the cage.
Young slips a jab and a cross from Rua.
Nice sprawl there from Rua as Young shoots in.
A punch lands to the side of Young 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rua looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Young shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Young's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Young. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua thuds his right hand into Young's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Young.
Young throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rua's waist but Rua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Young off to one side.
Rua scores with a punch to the head.
Rua lands a nice hook to Young's body. Young takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Young takes a jab right on the kisser.
A jab from Rua finds it's way through Young's defenses.
Rua lands a nice shot to the body.
Rua throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Young on the side of the head.
Young fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rua fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Young looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rua scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jason Young has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rua darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rua throws a combination. Young tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Young is looking to wear down Rua with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rua.
Young is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Young falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rua counters with a nice low kick that buckles Young's knee momentarily.
Young takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Young on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Young throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua wants to clinch up but Young keeps it at a distance.
Young throws the kick towards the body but Rua avoids it.
Young has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rua finds it's way round the side to connect with Young's head.
Young looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rua digs a good hook to Young's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rua winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Rua!
Gabriel Rua got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'