PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Timothy Ruckers (ranked 6286 p4p, 6588 weight class) and Michael Beeton (ranked 473 p4p, 487 weight class). Timothy Ruckers had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Timothy Ruckers is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Ruckers
vs
Beeton

184 cm
25
157
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
155
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Timothy Ruckers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Beeton!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Beeton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Beeton effectively controlling the action here.
Beeton tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ruckers avoids it.
Beeton misses with a hook to the ribs.
Beeton presses Ruckers against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ruckers is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ruckers misses with a hook to the ribs.
Beeton scores a nice knee to the body.
Ruckers is trying to break free.
Beeton stalls.
Ruckers misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beeton lands an elbow inside that Ruckers shrugs off.

Beeton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Beeton clinches up with Ruckers and pushes him back against the cage.
Ruckers misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruckers is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Beeton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Beeton pushes Ruckers up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruckers misses with a punch to the body.
Beeton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ruckers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ruckers goes for a takedown in the clinch but Beeton prevents it.
Knees to the body from Beeton.
Beeton lands with a right to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ruckers throws an elbow but misses.
Ruckers tries to work over Beeton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ruckers trying to control the position but instead, Beeton has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ruckers into the cage.

Beeton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ruckers has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Puncher's Chance Collective in the buildup to the fight.
A nice combination there by Ruckers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beeton throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ruckers half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Beeton avoids a punch combination nicely.
Beeton tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Beeton takes the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Beeton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ruckers.

Beeton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Michael Beeton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beeton misses with a head kick.
Beeton connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Good leg kick by Beeton.
The fight stays on the outside here - Beeton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ruckers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ruckers misses with a hook from the clinch.
Beeton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ruckers is looking to control Beeton's arms but Beeton gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ruckers has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruckers is struggling to control the position.
Beeton lands an elbow inside that Ruckers shrugs off.

It looks like Timothy Ruckers has been cut.
Ruckers stalling.
Ruckers working aggressively here.
Beeton has Ruckers pushed against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Beeton takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ruckers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Beeton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Beeton instigates a clinch.

Beeton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters circling a little - Beeton finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Beeton takes the fight into the clinch.
Ruckers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beeton prevents a takedown attempt there.
Beeton utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Beeton stalling the fight.
Ruckers can't break the clinch.

Beeton manages to break the clinch.
Ruckers pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Beeton clinches up with Ruckers and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Beeton lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ruckers backwards.
Beeton lands a nice elbow.
Ruckers tries to circle away but Beeton has him pinned against the cage.
Beeton lands a knee to the body.
Ruckers is breathing heavily.

Beeton manages to break the clinch.

Beeton clinches up with Ruckers and pushes him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Beeton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Timothy Ruckers's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Beeton rushes Ruckers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ruckers will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Beeton up against the cage.

Beeton manages to break the clinch.

Ruckers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Michael Beeton seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Beeton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Beeton wants to clinch up but Ruckers keeps it at a distance.
Ruckers appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Beeton darts in trying to clinch
letting Ruckers counter with a right hand.
Beeton takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ruckers moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBeeton.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Beeton has closed the distance and engaged Ruckers in a clinch.
Ruckers fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ruckers stalling in the clinch but Beeton improves position.
Beeton keeps control of Ruckers as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Beeton tries to throw a body punch but Ruckers avoids it by throwing Beeton back against the cage.
Ruckers stalling in the clinch but Beeton improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Beeton.
Beeton avoiding damage.
Beeton scores a nice knee to the body.
Ruckers on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Beeton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Beeton tries to clinch but Ruckers is having none of it.

Beeton rushes Ruckers and presses him up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Beeton as Ruckers tries to tie him up.
Beeton dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Beeton utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ruckers is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Beeton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Beeton scores with a punch to the head.

Beeton closes the distance and clinches.
Ruckers slows down the pace here.
Ruckers is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Beeton is keeping busy.

Beeton breaks the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Beeton as he connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Beeton has closed the distance and engaged Ruckers in a clinch.

Beeton breaks the clinch.
Beeton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruckers waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Beeton.
Ruckers is looking to clinch but Beeton is avoiding it.
Michael Beeton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruckers moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Beeton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Beeton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Beeton moves into the clinch successfully.
Ruckers lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ruckers cracks Beeton with a nice body shot.
Beeton stalling.
Ruckers has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ruckers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Beeton has him pressed against the cage.
Ruckers taking a breather.
Beeton putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ruckers in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Beeton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michael Beeton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ruckers crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Beeton - the referee stops the clock and Ruckers gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Beeton. Ruckers manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ruckers moves in looking to clinch but Beeton pushes him off.
Ruckers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Beeton fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Beeton has Ruckers up against the cage in a clinch.

Beeton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ruckers tries to keep at a distance but Beeton has taken the fight into the clinch.
Beeton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Beeton stalling the fight.
Ruckers is trying to maintain a safe position but Beeton gets an underhook and turns Ruckers into the cage.
Ruckers is looking to control Beeton's arms but Beeton gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ruckers has his back to the cage.
Beeton lands with a right to the head.
Ruckers managing to block the knees to the body from Beeton.
Beeton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Beeton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ruckers tries to clinch up.
Ruckers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ruckers swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A nice inside leg kick there by Beeton. That's going to slow Ruckers down.
Ruckers looks for a takedown but Beeton sprawls well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Beeton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Timothy Ruckers's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Beeton clinches.
Ruckers lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Beeton backwards.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ruckers throws an elbow but misses.
Ruckers working aggressively here.
Ruckers misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ruckers takes an elbow to the temple.
Beeton lands a nice elbow.
Ruckers wants to stall.

Beeton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping body kick lands there for Beeton.

Beeton closes the distance and pushes Ruckers back into the cage.
Beeton doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Beeton lands a knee to the body.
Ruckers tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Beeton's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Beeton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ruckers shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Beeton pinned against the cage. Beeton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruckers avoids a punch combination nicely.

Beeton closes the distance and clinches.
Ruckers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Beeton landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ruckers takes a shot to the head.
Ruckers swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Beeton lands a knee to the body.
Beeton lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Beeton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Beeton fails with an attempt to clinch.

Beeton rushes Ruckers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruckers has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Beeton scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Beeton landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Beeton.

Beeton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ruckers has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Beeton.

Beeton has managed to clinch.
Beeton misses with a knee strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Beeton slows down the pace here.
Ruckers's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Beeton landing knees to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Beeton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ruckers misses with a series of wild punches.
Ruckers swinging wildly here.

Beeton has closed the distance and engaged Ruckers in a clinch.
Beeton gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Beeton breaks the clinch.
A low kick lands for Beeton.
Beeton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ruckers circles away quickly and effectively.
The fight stays on the outside here - Beeton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Beeton tries to clinch but Ruckers is having none of it.

Beeton closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beeton creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ruckers's defenses.
Ruckers letting Beeton take a breather here.

Beeton breaks the clinch.
Beeton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ruckers wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Michael Beeton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A head kick misses from Beeton.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Beeton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Beeton clinches up with Ruckers and pushes him back against the cage.

Beeton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Beeton rushes Ruckers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Beeton blocks the elbow strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ruckers.
Timothy Ruckers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Beeton tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ruckers avoids it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ruckers just misses with a elbow thrown towards Beeton's brow.

Beeton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Beeton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Beeton has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Beeton!
A victorious Michael Beeton thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.