PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Ruas (ranked 847 p4p, 1030 weight class) and Jimmy Nickels (ranked 45 p4p, 27 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ruas
vs
Nickels

200 cm
30
280
22 - 16 - 0

190 cm
34
245
10 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Core Combat
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Core Combat
Altitude Clothing

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 22 - 16 - 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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy Nickels!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nickels takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ruas takes a swing at Nickels's ribcage but misses.

Ruas closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nickels's guard.
Nickels wants to sweep here but Ruas controlling him for the moment.
Ruas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ruas trying to control but Nickels is working from the bottom.
Nickels wants to sweep here but Ruas controlling him for the moment.
Ruas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nickels swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickels is trying to control the position but Ruas postures up.
Nickels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ruas trying to move into half guard but instead Nickels has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruas is on top in guard.

Ruas tries to free his leg and advance position but Nickels is retaining full guard.
Ruas trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruas wants to pass the guard but Nickels is keeping the position.
Ruas trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruas tries to free his leg and advance position but Nickels is retaining full guard.
Ruas is working hard here to advance position.
Nickels wants to hit a sweep here but Ruas passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Nickels there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruas controlling the pace for now.
Nickels is trying desperately to improve position.
Nickels is squirming around, avoiding Ruas's attempts to control the action.
Ruas prevents Nickels from getting the reversal.
Ruas tries to control but Nickels wriggling away.
Ruas fails to take his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruas is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Nickels has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Nickels!
Ruas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ruas keeping moving, preventing Nickels from controlling successfully.
Ruas looking for a sweep. Not yet Ruas, not yet.
Nickels with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nickels landing some decent shots from guard.
Nickels trying to control but Ruas is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ruas is keeping the position for now.
Ruas wants to sweep but no luck.
Ruas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ruas is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Nickels reverses the position - he's now on top in Ruas's guard.
Nickels must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ruas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nickels looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Ruas dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nickels doesn't manage to clinch there - Ruas circles away.
Ruas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ruas.
Ruas misses with a looping right.
A left lands for Ruas.
Nice sprawl there from Nickels as Ruas shoots in.
Nickels has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Ruas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruas shoots in and drives through. Nickels sprawls well.
Ruas moves away from the strike by Nickels.
Nickels looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ruas closes the distance and clinches up with Nickels, looking for a takedown. Ruas pushes Nickels against the cage but Nickels circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A nice side step and Nickels releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruas moves away from the strike by Nickels.
Ruas attempts a counter takedown but Nickels avoids it well and moves away.
Jimmy Nickels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nickels misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Ruas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nickels sprawls well initially but Ruas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nickels trying to hold on to Ruas's head to control him but Ruas postures up.
Ruas trying to control from Nickels's half guard. Nickels has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickels trying to keep a closed guard but Ruas is proving a slippery customer.
Ruas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nickels swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nickels looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ruas puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nickels manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ruas pushing down on Nickels's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nickels is trying to control but can't.

Ruas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nickels doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ruas.
Carlos Ruas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickels avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ruas.
Ruas works his way into side control.
Nickels is not content to let Ruas control the position.
Nickels is looking for a sweep.

Ruas tries for a kimura but Nickels is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruas tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ruas tries to advance position but instead Nickels slips a leg back in to half guard.
Nickels wants to control but Ruas is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nickels is looking to improve his position.
Ruas wants to advance to full mount but Nickels doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Ruas trying to move into half guard but instead Nickels has managed to sweep!

Ruas lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ruas passes Nickels's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ruas works his way into full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruas fails to advance to Nickels's back.
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 Carlos Ruas will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nickels throws a lazy right hand but Ruas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ruas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nickels can do to turn this around?
Ruas looks for a takedown but Nickels sprawls well.
Ruas misses with a straight right.
Nickels misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ruas.
Ruas feinted with a counter takedown.
Ruas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Ruas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ruas wants to free his trapped foot but Nickels is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Ruas is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nickels has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickels trying to hold on to Ruas's head to control him but Ruas postures up.
Ruas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickels wants to get back to full guard.
Ruas wants to pass the guard but Nickels is defending well.
Nickels is trying to maintain the position but Ruas is very close to passing his half guard.
Nickels is looking to improve his position.

Nickels makes his way to full guard, as Ruas worked for a kimura.
Nickels lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ruas is stalling here. Nickels is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ruas seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Nickels has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ruas is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nickels's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ruas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nickels.
Ruas is looking for a sweep. Nickels is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Nickels there.
Ruas works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ruas working a defensive guard here.
Ruas keeping moving, preventing Nickels from controlling successfully.

That's three 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.
Ruas keeping moving, preventing Nickels from controlling successfully.
Ruas punching from the bottom.
Ruas looking to control.
Ruas wants to sweep here but Nickels controlling him for the moment.
Nickels scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nickels works over Ruas with some ground and pound from guard.
Nickels trying to control but Ruas is working from the bottom.
Ruas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Ruas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nickels doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nickels manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ruas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nickels can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ruas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jimmy Nickels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nickels is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nickels wants to pass the guard but Ruas is keeping the position.
Ruas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nickels manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Ruas showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Ruas!
Our winner, Carlos Ruas, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.