PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nakagome Kakuzo (ranked 855 p4p, 2977 weight class) and Anthony Ruiz (ranked 116 p4p, 350 weight class). Ruiz has chosen DB7 - Squid Game Drill as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kakuzo
vs
Ruiz

185 cm
26
180
15 - 11 - 0

188 cm
33
184
13 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nakagome Kakuzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anthony Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jonathan Paton and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kakuzo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruiz manages to avoid it.
Kakuzo lands a jab to Ruiz's midsection.
Kakuzo misses with a looping left.

Ruiz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kakuzo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kakuzo wants to pass the guard but Ruiz is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruiz trying to control the position.
Ruiz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kakuzo trying to control but Ruiz is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kakuzo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kakuzo with a flurry of punches that miss.

Kakuzo drops back looking for a leg! Ruiz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ruiz manages to kick Kakuzo off! Kakuzo jumps back into Ruiz's guard.
Ruiz is controlling Kakuzo's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kakuzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruiz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kakuzo.
Kakuzo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kakuzo postures up in Ruiz's guard and throws a big left but Ruiz blocks it.
Kakuzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kakuzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Ruiz has wrist control.
Kakuzo is fighting to break Ruiz's control of his arms but Ruiz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kakuzo stays in close to Ruiz's body and controls the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ruiz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kakuzo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ruiz is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kakuzo clinches with his opponent.
Ruiz with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Kakuzo pulls Ruiz into guard.
Kakuzo keeping moving, preventing Ruiz from controlling successfully.

Kakuzo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ruiz defends well.
Kakuzo is trying to keep Ruiz in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kakuzo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kakuzo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruiz is one step ahead there.
Kakuzo keeping moving, preventing Ruiz from controlling successfully.
Ruiz wants to pass the guard but Kakuzo is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kakuzo is on top in guard.

Kakuzo trying to control but Ruiz is working from the bottom.
Kakuzo throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kakuzo won't allow Ruiz to sweep him here.
Ruiz has momentary wrist control but Kakuzo slips an elbow through the middle.
Ruiz wants to sweep but no luck.
Ruiz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kakuzo.
Kakuzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kakuzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ruiz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kakuzo's guard.

Kakuzo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ruiz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ruiz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kakuzo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ruiz manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruiz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ruiz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kakuzo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kakuzo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kakuzo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kakuzo working the ground and pound.
Ruiz tries to improve position but can't.
Ruiz is not content to let Kakuzo control the position.
Ruiz is looking to reverse the position.
Kakuzo trying to control the position but Ruiz is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A control attempt from Ruiz but he's now mounted!
Ruiz tries to hold on but Kakuzo postures up.
A nice elbow there by Kakuzo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz just holding on.
Ruiz gets back to half guard.
Kakuzo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kakuzo uses his free foot to push down on Ruiz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ruiz.
Kakuzo connects with a bit shot that sees Ruiz covering up! More strikes from Kakuzo and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Kakuzo is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nakagome Kakuzo!