PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Lethal (ranked 854 p4p, 764 weight class) and John Ruth (ranked 126 p4p, 103 weight class). Lethal comes into the arena with we're off to see the wizard blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Lethal
vs
Ruth

190 cm
40
178
28 - 15 - 4

178 cm
36
195
23 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
Urban Fighter

Sydney Fight Gear (London Rebirth)
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 28 - 15 - 4, fighting out of London, Matt Lethal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, John Ruth!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruth takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ruth throws an overhand right that lands on Lethal's shoulder, as Lethal tries to avoid the shot.
Lethal throws a body kick that misses
and Ruth counters with a straight right hand.
Lethal lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ruth at a distance.
Lethal scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lethal misses with an uppercut.
Lethal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ruth was well out of range. Poor timing from Lethal.
Lethal thumps Ruth with a low kick.
Lethal misses with a head kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lethal.
Lethal connects with a solid leg kick.
Ruth has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Lethal takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lethal falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Ruth counter with a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lethal misses with a leg kick
and Ruth counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lethal thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lethal scores with the left hand. Ruth knows he should have avoided that one.
Jab by Lethal.
Ruth takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ruth throws the left hand but Lethal avoids the punch easily.
Ruth misses the body punch

and Lethal counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lethal prevents the takedown attempt.
Ruth makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ruth being controlled against the cage.
Ruth swings wildly with an uppercut but Lethal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ruth lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ruth lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lethal backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ruth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruth fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ruth tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruth lands a shoulder strike.
Ruth lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ruth misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ruth misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ruth throws a head punch that misses.
Ruth letting Lethal take a breather here.
A head punch on the inside from Ruth fails to land.
Lethal stalling against the cage.
Lethal dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ruth lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Lethal.
Lethal blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Ruth.
Still in the clinch, Lethal scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lethal misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Ruth fails to land.
Lethal stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ruth misses with the head strike.
Ruth fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ruth tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ruth working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ruth swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lethal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ruth throws a punch but it's blocked by Lethal.
Ruth wants a takedown but no success here.
Lethal scores with a shoulder strike.

Ruth gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ruth working Lethal over with strikes.
Ruth throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruth working over Lethal with some ground and pound. Lethal looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruth missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lethal is refusing to be controlled, as Ruth sits in half guard.
Ruth missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lethal wants to improve his position but Ruth is controlling well.
Nice strikes from Ruth there.
Lethal is pressing down on Ruth's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lethal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruth is one step ahead there.
Lethal seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Lethal is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ruth is trying to maintain the position but Lethal is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Ruth will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lethal attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Matt Lethal is winning the standup battle so far.
Lethal finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Lethal.
Lethal throws out a leg kick but Ruth moves out of range and Lethal only half commits.
Ruth throws out a loose jab but Lethal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ruth moves in looking to clinch but Lethal pushes him off.
Nice jab there from Lethal.
Matt Lethal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lethal blocks a jab.
Ruth lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruth misses with an uppercut.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lethal.
Lethal finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
The fighters circling - Ruth throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lethal does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ruth checks a low kick from Lethal.
Lethal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lethal throws a lazy body kick
and Lethal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ruth avoids the head kick by Lethal.
And Ruth tries to counter it with a takedown but Lethal pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ruth pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lethal throws a leg kick that misses.
Ruth misses with a hook.
Ruth takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lethal lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ruth has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ruth and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ruth loads up on a big right hand but Lethal slips the punch.
Ruth throws a hook but Lethal blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruth throws a shot to the body.
Ruth throws a leg kick

and Lethal counters by moving into the clinch.
Ruth stops a takedown attempt from Lethal.
Ruth goes for a takedown attempt but Lethal pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ruth avoids the head kick by Lethal.
Lethal connects with a body shot that sends Ruth's belly button to the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lethal fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lethal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ruth swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lethal throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ruth.
Ruth connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lethal. Lethal circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Lethal throws a lazy body kick
and Lethal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lethal lands a really nice looking cross but Ruth seems unphased.
Lethal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ruth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruth fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lethal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ruth moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lethal moves out of range as Ruth strikes.
Ruth wants to clinch.
Lethal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ruth misses with a body shot.
Ruth looks to throw the jab but Lethal is out of range.
Good work by Ruth as he checks the leg kick.
A big right from Ruth misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Lethal misses
and Lethal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ruth just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruth throws a body shot but no joy.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lethal.
Ruth avoids the head kick by Lethal.
Lethal is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ruth misses with a straight right.
An inside leg kick from Lethal misses.
Lethal throws a head kick but Ruth moves out of range.
Ruth looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ruth thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice shot by Lethal.
Lethal scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Lethal will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ruth bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lethal throws a leg kick but Ruth moved away.
Lethal misses with a left hand
and Ruth counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lethal throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ruth uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ruth walks forward, straight into a front kick from Lethal.
Ruth misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
An attempted straight right counter from Lethal misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruth scores with a nice head shot.
Good leg kick by Lethal.
Ruth lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruth throws a body shot but no joy.
Ruth's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Good leg kick by Lethal.
Ruth 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.
Lethal lands a nice shot to the body.
A jab lands there for Ruth.
Ruth throws a right hand that misses
and Lethal counters with a leg kick.
Ruth ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lethal.
Ruth has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ruth there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ruth misses with a body shot

and Lethal counters by moving into the clinch.
Lethal scores with a shot to the side of Ruth's head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lethal obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ruth misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ruth misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lethal throws a head punch that misses.
Lethal taking a breather.
Ruth lands with a light punch inside.
Ruth scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ruth throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lethals head.
Lethal is working Ruth over against the cage.
Lethal changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ruth fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ruth throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ruth takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ruth tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lethal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ruth was well out of range. Poor timing from Lethal.
Lethal lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ruth's sensitive parts.
Ruth scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lethal wants to land a leg kick but Ruth is out of range.
Lethal scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ruth takes one to the side of the head.
Lethal takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lethal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good shot there by Lethal.
Lethal scoring well with a low kick there.
Ruth misses with a hook
and Lethal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lethal slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ruth misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Lethal makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Lethal misses with a leg kick
and Lethal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lethal tried to score with a low kick but Ruth checks it.
Ruth let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Lethal takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
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!
Lethal avoids the body shot from Ruth.
Lethal connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lethal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ruth gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lethal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ruth moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lethal sets himself, and Ruth steps forward looking for the clinch! Lethal avoids it this time.
Lethal looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Lethal here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Lethal throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A jab lands there for Lethal.
Ruth changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Lethal showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lethal has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Lethal!
In his post fight interview, Matt Lethal started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.