PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between William Ralph Dean (ranked 1896 p4p, 233 weight class) and John Ruth (ranked 854 p4p, 110 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ralph Dean
vs
Ruth

188 cm
29
198 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

178 cm
35
195 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, William Ralph Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, John Ruth!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dean throws a big shot that misses.

Ruth shoots in and gets a takedown into Dean's guard.
Dean wants to stand and escape but Ruth is having none of it.
Dean being controlled here, momentarily.
Ruth trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dean is looking to stand up but Ruth isn't so interested in that idea.
Ruth advances to half guard.
Dean tries to kick Ruth off but Ruth keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ruth content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dean won't allow Ruth to pass to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dean wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Ruth seems content to control.
Ruth looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean is trying to stand.
Ruth content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dean pushes Ruth off looking to stand but Ruth dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dean slips under a jab.
William Ralph Dean is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ruth connects with a good right hand that stumbles Dean. Dean circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Dean clinches up with Ruth and pushes him back against the cage.
Ruth keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dean's efforts to push away.
Dean lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruth blocks a body shot from Dean.
Dean is working Ruth over against the cage.

Dean breaks from the clinch.
Dean loads up on a big right hand but Ruth slips the punch.

Dean tries to sprawl but Ruth drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ruth perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ruth prevents Dean from standing back up.
Ruth looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Dean is trying to escape back to his feet but Ruth uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dean is pushing Ruth's head away, looking to escape. Ruth manages to hold on to the position though.
Ruth just content to control the position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Dean wants to get back to his feet but Ruth drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruth remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
It looks like Ruth might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Dean is trying to buck Ruth off.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Dean wants to get back to his feet.
Dean seems a little lost for a moment, as Ruth dominates the positioning.
Ruth prevents Dean from escaping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dean takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean takes a swing at Ruth's ribcage but misses.
Dean sizes up Ruth with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Dean keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ruth.
Ruth jabs Dean to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ruth ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dean moves away.
Ruth connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ruth rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dean counters with a two punch combo.
Ruth throws a big shot that misses.
John Ruth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dean ducks under a wild hook from Ruth.
A little feinted left hand from Dean on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ruth misses with a right hand
and Dean connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Ruth closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Ruth.
Dean tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dean lands a nice uppercut.
Dean scores with a shot to the side of Ruth's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ruth lands a glancing blow to the side of Dean's head.
John Ruth seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed right hand from Dean misses the target.
A little jabbing left from Ruth on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Dean defending well as Ruth loads up on a big left hand.
Ruth moves out of range as Dean strikes.
Ruth misses with a left hand
and Dean counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ruth scores with a hook to the body. Dean takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ruth misses the body punch
and Dean cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dean throws a shot from downtown. Ruth moves away and avoids it.
Dean uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ruth.
Ruth bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruth misses with a left hand
and Dean connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ruth swings widly with a right hand
and Dean connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dean throws a lazy right hand but Ruth sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dean ducks under a wild hook from Ruth.
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!
Jab by Ruth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Dean misses with a left hand
and Ruth connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Donk. Ruth catches Dean right on the button with a cross.
Dean rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ruth connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dean is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ruth turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ruth misses with a body shot.
Ruth throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ruth takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ruth throws the left hand but Dean avoids the punch easily.
Ruth looks to land a right hand but Dean moved out of range.
Ruth throws a lazy right hand but Dean sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dean was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ruth uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dean.
Ruth lands a glancing blow to the side of Dean's head.
Nice straight punches there by Ruth. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ruth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Dean moves into range and clinches up with Ruth.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ruth creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ruth lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dean looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dean misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ruth has a couple of punches blocked by Dean.
Ruth misses with the head strike.
Dean lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Dean looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Ruth pulls guard successfully.
Ruth is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ruth looking for a sweep. Not yet Ruth, not yet.
Ruth trying to keep a closed guard but Dean is proving a slippery customer.
Dean preventing the sweep.

Ruth looking for a guillotine here but Dean defends easily.
Dean wanted to stand there but Ruth had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean won't allow Ruth to sweep him here.
Ruth has a closed guard, preventing Dean from standing up.
Dean wants to stand and escape but instead Ruth has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Dean wants to stand and escape but Ruth is having none of it.
Ruth is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
John Ruth has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dean wants to stand up but Ruth is controlling him.
Dean trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Ruth trying to control but Dean is working from the bottom.
Ruth sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruth slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean pushes Ruth off looking to stand but Ruth dives back in and keeps control.
Ruth with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Dean is trying to stand up here but Ruth is controlling him well.
Ruth controlling the action here.
Dean is trying to stand up here but Ruth is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dean moves out of range as Ruth strikes.
Ruth misses the jab.
Ruth throws out a loose jab but Dean uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Ruth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dean slaps away a takedown attempt from Ruth, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ruth uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dean.
Dean moves out of range of the strikes.
Dean takes one to the side of the head.
Nice shot by Ruth.
Nice takedown defense from Dean. No joy for Ruth on that attempt.
Ruth uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dean.

Ruth tries to keep at a distance but Dean has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ruth misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruth pushes Dean back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dean misses with a punch on the inside.
Dean tries to throw a body punch but Ruth avoids it by throwing Dean back against the cage.
Ruth working aggressively here.
Dean has a couple of punches blocked by Ruth.
Dean working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Dean fails to land.
Ruth has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Dean pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ruth swings widly with a right hand
and Dean counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dean throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ruth.
It seemed like Ruth was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Dean looks to land a left hand but Ruth moved out of range nicely.
Ruth looks to throw the jab but Dean is out of range.
The fighters circling - Ruth throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ruth throws a hook to the side of Dean's head but Dean sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dean misses with an uppercut.
Dean swings widly with a right hand
and Ruth counters with a straight right hand.
Ruth wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ruth misses with a shot to the body
and Dean counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dean fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dean takes one on the button.
William Ralph Dean has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruth lands a body shot.
Ruth ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dean moves away.
Dean misses with a lunging right hand
and Ruth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ruth uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Dean has time to react.
Dean slips a jab from Ruth.
A big right from Dean misses.
Dean lands a jab to the nose.
Ruth connects with a good right hand that stumbles Dean. Dean circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ruth dodges the punch combination from Dean.
It seemed like Ruth was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ruth moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ruth throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruth throws the left hand but Dean avoids the punch easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Ruth blocks the leg kick.
Ruth looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ruth throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Dean was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ruth.
Dean takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Dean jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dean thows a leg kick but Ruth checks it
and Ruth connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dean takes one to the chin there.
Ruth moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Dean defending well as Ruth loads up on a big left hand.
Dean throwing a counter right hand but Ruth manages to avoid it.
Dean lands with a nice body punch.
Dean throws a head kick that misses.
Ruth throws a looping overhand right but Dean ducks down to avoid it.
Ruth jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ruth lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dean throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ruth rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dean makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Ruth really felt that one!
Ruth defending well as Dean loads up on a big left hand.
Jab by Dean.
Ruth takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A jab from Ruth misses.
John Ruth is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ruth loads up on a big right hand but Dean slips the punch.
Dean takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ruth fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Dean takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ruth connects with a right hand. Dean shakes it off.
Ruth listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Ruth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ruth 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Ruth!
John Ruth managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing, into his post fight interview.