PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reijo Rujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rujo's choice of entrance music: ERA : enae Volare Mezzo. Mike Mir has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mir
vs
Rujo

189 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Mir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Reijo Rujo!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rujo slips a jab and a cross from Mir.
Some wild striking there from Mir.
Rujo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mir throws out the jab.

Rujo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mir!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Mir avoids a series of strikes thrown by Rujo.
Mir is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Mir trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Mir is squirming around, avoiding Rujo's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir is trying to stand.

Rujo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Mir is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Mir and Rujo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Rujo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mir is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rujo working the ground and pound but Mir is defending the strikes.

Rujo decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mike Mir is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mir throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mir throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mir is breathing heavily.
Mir misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rujo moves into the clinch successfully.

Rujo jumps guard and drags Mir to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rujo has a closed guard, preventing Mir from standing up.

Rujo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mir doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mir manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rujo is on top in guard.
Rujo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mir is proving hard to escape from.
Mir wants to get back to his feet but Rujo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rujo wants to control from the top but Mir keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rujo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rujo wants to control from the top but Mir keeps moving.
Rujo stops Mir from standing up.
Rujo is looking to stand up but Mir won't let him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A combination from Mir does no damage.

Rujo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mir throws Rujo to one side and escapes!
Rujo moves forwards but Mir connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rujo shoots in for a double leg but Mir sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mir misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mir swinging wilding here.
Mir jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mir misses with a straight left.
Rujo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mir defends it nicely.
Mir throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reijo Rujo dominated that round.
That's time! Mir's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mir keeps the fight on the outside.
Rujo dives in and grabs Mir's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mir pushes down on Rujo's head and hops out.
Rujo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rujo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rujo dodges the punch combination from Mir.
Mir leaves Rujo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rujo avoids the body shot from Mir.
Mir takes a swing at Rujo's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Mir.
Rujo avoids a punch combination nicely.

Rujo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mir sprawls well initially but Rujo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rujo is breathing heavily.
Rujo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rujo is looking to take a break and control but Mir is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mir is trying to stand back up but Rujo is controlling him

Rujo is working for a submission of some sort.
Rujo prevents Mir from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir won't allow Rujo to pass to mount.
Mir pushes Rujo off looking to stand but Rujo dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rujo fails with a takedown attempt.
Mike Mir has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reijo Rujo.
Mir misses with a few strikes there.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mir.
Mir throws a jab when Rujo was well out of range.
A shot to de liver by Mir. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rujo.
Mir misses with a series of wild punches.
Rujo slips a jab and a cross from Mir.
Rujo slips a jab and a cross from Mir.
Rujo staying out of range there.
Rujo tries to clinch there but Mir circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rujo.
Mir is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rujo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A big right from Mir misses.
Mir will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rujo fails with a takedown attempt.
Mir throws a half hearted mid kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jab from Mir.
A lazy body kick from Rujo
and Mir counters with a one-two to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Rujo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Mir dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rujo darts in trying to clinch
and Mir counters with a stiff right hand.

Mir lands a big head kick that sends Rujo tumbling to the mat! Mir takes a step backwards and waves Rujo back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Reijo Rujo has been cut.
Mir will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mir keeps the fight on the outside.
Mir takes a swing at Rujo's ribcage but misses.
Rujo tries for a takedown but Mir circles away easily
and Mir counters with a series of strikes. Rujo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mike Mir is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mir looks to throw the jab but Rujo is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mir misses with a looping left.
Mir throws a right and a left that Rujo avoids nicely.

Rujo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Rujo stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Mir swats away the attempt to clinch by Rujo.
Rujo is looking to clinch.
Mir keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Mir.
Mir throws a right and a left that Rujo avoids nicely.
Rujo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mir swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rujo moves in looking to clinch but Mir pushes him off.
Rujo slips a jab and a cross from Mir.
Mir swinging wilding here.
Mir avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mir gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rujo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rujo wants to control from the top but Mir keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rujo is controlling him.

Rujo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mir is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mir has escaped and now he's on top!

Mir stands up from Rujo's guard - Mir perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rujo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mir.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rujo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mir.
Rujo tries to close the distance and clinch but Mir swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rujo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mir looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mir pushes Rujo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rujo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Mir is looking to get back to his feet here but Rujo is keeping cool and he's managed to take Mir's back.
Rujo is looking to control Mir but Mir is wriggling around and keeping busy.

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 Mike Mir.
I think Mir 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mike Mir!