PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Ruas (ranked 702 p4p, 1034 weight class) and Aki Hiko (ranked 28 p4p, 51 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ruas
vs
Hiko

200 cm
30
280
21 - 15 - 0

225 cm
34
277
20 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Core Combat
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Sydney Fight Gear (London Rebirth)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carlos Ruas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aki Hiko!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hiko bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ruas's head.
Ruas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hiko throws a combination that misses

and Ruas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hiko's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ruas prevents Hiko from improving his position.
Hiko is looking to control Ruas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hiko avoid being mounted?
Ruas wants to pass the guard but Hiko is defending well.
Hiko tries to roll over but Ruas keeps him under control.
Ruas has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ruas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruas is looking to take a break and control but Hiko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hiko tries to get to full guard but Ruas has control of the leg.
Ruas is trying to control the action in half guard but Hiko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruas is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hiko is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hiko moves into full guard.
Hiko looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ruas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hiko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ruas being controlled here momentarily.
Ruas passes into half guard.
Ruas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Ruas avoids the attempt from Hiko to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruas has control of Hiko's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hiko regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Hiko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ruas fails to take his opponent's back.
Ruas looking to control but Hiko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hiko tries to lock up and control but Ruas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ruas is trying to take his opponent's back.
Hiko is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Ruas working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hiko is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hiko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hiko sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ruas trying to pass the guard but Hiko defending well.
Hiko is looking to control Ruas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hiko avoid being mounted?
Hiko is looking for a sweep. Ruas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ruas trying to pass the guard but Hiko defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruas is trying to control. Hiko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ruas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Ruas controlling his opponent.
Ruas trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hiko holds on to Ruas as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Hiko wants to control but Ruas is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Ruas dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ruas looks to land a right hand but Hiko moved out of range.
Hiko throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Hiko throws a jab but it's blocked by Ruas.
Hiko just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Ruas misses the target.
Hiko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ruas.
Ruas throws out a loose jab but Hiko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hiko loads up on a big right hand but Ruas slips the punch.
Ruas scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hiko in his tracks.

It looks like Aki Hiko has been cut.
Hiko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ruas.
Ruas throws a hook to the side of Hiko's head but Hiko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hiko tries to sprawl but Ruas drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hiko is trying to control but can't.

Ruas is looking for a kimura here.
Hiko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ruas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ruas's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiko doesn't have the hooks in and Ruas manages to turn into his guard.
Ruas trying to control the position from guard on top but Hiko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hiko pulls Ruas in to control the position.
Hiko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hiko looking for a sweep. Not yet Hiko, not yet.
Hiko keeping full guard, as Ruas tries to pass.
Ruas won't allow Hiko to get back to his feet.
Hiko wants to improve his position but instead Ruas has moved into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruas is trying to control. Hiko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hiko is in trouble now - Ruas has advanced to mount!

Ruas moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hiko has worked his arm free - good work by Hiko!
Ruas has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Ruas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hiko can do to turn this around?
Ruas takes Hiko's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Hiko is in trouble.
Hiko manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ruas's guard. Nice work there by Hiko.
Ruas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruas controls Hiko momentarily but Hiko frees himself.
Hiko scoring with some ground and pound.
Hiko working some strikes from top position.
Hiko landing with the ground and pound.

It looks like Carlos Ruas has been cut.
Ruas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hiko manages to get himself to full guard.

Hiko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hiko holds on and takes a little breather.
Ruas tries to free his leg and advance position but Hiko is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiko throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Hiko trying to control the position.
Ruas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hiko is keeping the position for now.
Ruas passes Hiko's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Ruas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hiko wants to improve his position but Ruas is controlling well.
Ruas trying to mount his opponent but Hiko defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Ruas dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Ruas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A decent looking cross lands there for Ruas.
Hiko misses with a leg kick.
Hiko leaves Ruas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hiko drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ruas defends it well.

Hiko drives through with a takedown into Ruas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ruas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ruas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hiko passes into half guard.
Hiko is looking to stall here but Ruas recovers full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ruas is keeping the position for now.
Hiko landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiko won't allow Ruas to sweep him here.
Ruas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hiko's guard.

Hiko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ruas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ruas postures up.
Hiko wants to sweep here but Ruas controlling him for the moment.
Ruas looking to pass the guard.
Hiko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ruas manages to get himself to full guard.

Hiko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hiko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hiko throws a big elbow that misses.
Ruas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hiko trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruas trying to keep a closed guard but Hiko is proving a slippery customer.
Ruas wants to sweep here but Hiko controlling him for the moment.
Ruas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hiko's guard.

Hiko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hiko keeping full guard, as Ruas tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiko is looking to sweep but instead, Ruas has passed into half guard.
Carlos Ruas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hiko is looking to improve his position.
Hiko wants to get back to full guard but Ruas has mounted him!

Ruas with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Hiko is looking to get to half guard.
Aki Hiko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruas tries to control but Hiko wriggling away.
Ruas is trying to take his opponent's back.
Hiko is looking to get to half guard.
Hiko slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hiko wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hiko gets full guard.
Ruas wants to control from the top but Hiko keeps moving.
Ruas advances position into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Carlos Ruas.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ruas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Ruas!
A very excited looking Carlos Ruas made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.