PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Victor Yanovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and STO Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). STO Ruiz is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Yanovich
vs
Ruiz

176 cm
20
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
141 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Yanovich!
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, STO Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yanovich bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ruiz keeping his opponent close.
Ruiz is looking to regain half guard here but Yanovich keeps moving and retains side control.
Yanovich really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Yanovich swings around for an armbar but Ruiz sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Yanovich's guard.
Ruiz throwing strikes but missing.

Yanovich throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ruiz uses it to pass to side control.

Ruiz stands up and beckons Yanovich to his feet.
Ruiz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Yanovich counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yanovich.
Ruiz seems keen to control Yanovich's posture.
Ruiz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yanovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruiz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yanovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yanovich postures up.

Ruiz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ruiz controls Yanovich momentarily but Yanovich frees himself.
Yanovich looking to sit in guard and control but Ruiz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ruiz looking to pass the guard.

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.
Ruiz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ruiz trying to control but Yanovich is working from the bottom.

Yanovich looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ruiz has picked Yanovich up and slammed him! Yanovich can't keep hold of the triangle and Ruiz manages to pass to side control!
The strikes coming from Ruiz are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Yanovich wants to control but Ruiz postures up.
Ruiz is looking to take a break and control but Yanovich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Yanovich's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Yanovich tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ruiz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ruiz taking a breather here.
Yanovich can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Ruiz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Yanovich is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruiz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Ruiz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Yanovich's half guard.
Ruiz looks gassed!
Yanovich is looking to get back to full guard here but Ruiz has managed to pass to side control instead.
Yanovich regains half guard.
Yanovich is pressing down on Ruiz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but STO Ruiz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ruiz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Yanovich counters with a single leg into guard. Ruiz didn't expect that.
Ruiz keeping full guard, as Yanovich tries to pass.

Ruiz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yanovich wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.
Yanovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruiz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ruiz is breathing heavily.
Ruiz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yanovich's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yanovich looking for a guillotine here but Ruiz defends easily.
Ruiz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Yanovich is looking for a triangle here but Ruiz uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two 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.
Yanovich wants to control but Ruiz postures up.
A lull in the action here as Ruiz stalls from top position.
Yanovich manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ruiz's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz is trying to control the action in half guard but Yanovich is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ruiz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yanovich makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yanovich.

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.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Yanovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruiz controlling from the top position.
Yanovich controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yanovich throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Ruiz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Yanovich dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Yanovich misses with a low kick.
Yanovich tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ruiz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ruiz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Yanovich counters with a single leg into guard. Ruiz didn't expect that.
Yanovich wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.
Yanovich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ruiz is keeping the position for now.
Victor Yanovich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yanovich wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.
Ruiz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ruiz is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Yanovich dives into side control.
Ruiz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz wants to control but Yanovich postures up.

Yanovich is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ruiz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ruiz tries to buck Yanovich off but Yanovich is having none of it.
Ruiz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ruiz trying to control from the bottom.
Yanovich is just content to waste time from the top position. Ruiz takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ruiz controls Yanovich momentarily but Yanovich frees himself.
Yanovich wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Yanovich wants to pass the guard but Ruiz is keeping the position.
Ruiz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yanovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruiz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ruiz swats away the attempt to clinch by Yanovich.
Ruiz has his takedown stuffed

and Yanovich decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ruiz's guard.

Yanovich drops back looking for a leg! Ruiz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ruiz manages to kick Yanovich off! Yanovich jumps back into Ruiz's guard.
Ruiz trying to keep a closed guard but Yanovich is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yanovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruiz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yanovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ruiz is looking for a triangle but Yanovich pushes his legs off easily.
Yanovich advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yanovich tries to score with some ground and pound. Ruiz controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Yanovich working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yanovich doesn't manage to clinch there - Ruiz circles away.
Yanovich fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ruiz misses with a takedown attempt

and Yanovich counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ruiz!
Victor Yanovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of STO Ruiz.
Yanovich postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ruiz looks a forlorn figure.
Yanovich looking to control but Ruiz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Yanovich is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Yanovich extends the arm and Ruiz is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Victor Yanovich!