PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Micah Slovavich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Babe Ruth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Slovavich
vs
Ruth

185 cm
23
268 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

195 cm
22
250 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Micah Slovavich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Babe Ruth!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Bruno Lombardi and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slovavich moves out of range as Ruth strikes.
Slovavich shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Ruth feints and as Slovavich raises his hands in defense, Ruth changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Slovavich had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ruth is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Slovavich Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ruth's back instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruth covering up well under a series of strikes from Slovavich.
Slovavich looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Ruth avoids the strikes from Slovavich.
Slovavich is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Ruth up.
Slovavich lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Slovavich lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruth has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Slovavich.

Slovavich is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ruth knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ruth for a finish.
Slovavich is breathing heavily.
Ruth is trapped and Slovavich is scoring with shots to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruth wants to get back to his feet.
Slovavich misses with punches from the back.
Ruth is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Slovavich doesn't have the hooks in and Ruth manages to turn into his guard.
Slovavich trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Slovavich has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Ruth has passed into side control.
Ruth slows the pace down.
Slovavich gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Ruth blocks Slovavich's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Ruth is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
A head kick misses from Ruth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slovavich gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ruth counters by moving into the clinch.
Ruth stalling.
Ruth is pressed up against the cage. Slovavich has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ruth down to the mat. Ruth avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micah Slovavich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ruth moves into the clinch.

Ruth gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Slovavich 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.
Slovavich misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ruth stalling.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Slovavich flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ruth controlling the action here.
Slovavich tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slovavich tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ruth blocks the strikes from Slovavich.

Ruth looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Slovavich blocks a head kick by Ruth.
Some wild striking there from Ruth.

Ruth shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Slovavich's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slovavich 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.
Slovavich is striking but Ruth is not phased and passes to half guard.
Slovavich punching from the bottom.

Ruth stands up out of the half guard.
Ruth with a poor takedown

and Slovavich counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ruth's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Slovavich postures up in Ruth's guard and throws a big left but Ruth blocks it.
Slovavich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Slovavich's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Slovavich throwing strikes from guard but Ruth blocks nicely.
Slovavich throws a strike but Ruth rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Micah Slovavich will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A head kick by Ruth misses

and Slovavich counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ruth controlling the position well.
Slovavich works his way into full mount!
Slovavich working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Slovavich cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ruth is in a horrible position here. Slovavich smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Slovavich is landing with some decent strikes but Ruth is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Slovavich putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slovavich throws some wild stikes that Ruth manages to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slovavich throwing strikes here but Ruth is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Slovavich there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ruth is trying to stand.
Ruth tries to hold on but Slovavich pushes him away.
Ruth is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Slovavich misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Slovavich thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Ruth bucks up and throws Slovavich to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Ruth closes the distance and clinches.
Ruth stops a takedown attempt from Slovavich.

Ruth breaks from the clinch.

Ruth is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Slovavich's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruth decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Ruth avoids a kick to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Slovavich as Ruth shoots in.

Slovavich scores with a takedown into Ruth's guard.
Ruth avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Slovavich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ruth is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Slovavich throwing strikes but missing.
Slovavich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slovavich chips away with some ground and pound.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ruth holds on and takes a little breather.
Slovavich lands a couple of digs.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Slovavich keeps the fight on the outside.

Slovavich closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ruth to the mat! Ruth manages to get full guard.
Slovavich postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Slovavich postures up in Ruth's guard and throws a big left but Ruth blocks it.
Slovavich postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Slovavich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Slovavich throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruth preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ruth has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Slovavich works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Slovavich thows a huge punch but Ruth dodges it nicely.
Slovavich thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ruth's head.
Micah Slovavich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ruth is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Slovavich's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Slovavich's back!
Slovavich breaks Ruth's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Slovavich chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruth pulls Slovavich in close to his closed guard and prevents Slovavich from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ruth wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micah Slovavich dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Slovavich darts in trying to clinch

and Ruth counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Slovavich!
Slovavich is looking to improve his position but Ruth isn't that keen on the idea.
Ruth punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ruth lands a big shot there that rocks Slovavich but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Slovavich swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Slovavich bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Ruth looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Slovavich thows a big elbow that misses.
Ruth throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruth trying to strike off his back.
Slovavich advances to half guard.
Slovavich throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ruth keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ruth regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Slovavich.
Slovavich loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruth is on top in guard.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Slovavich throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Slovavich looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruth is one step ahead there.
Ruth trying to control the position from guard on top but Slovavich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Micah Slovavich is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ruth sitting in guard here, content to control.
Slovavich controls Ruth momentarily but Ruth frees himself.
Slovavich wants to stand up but Ruth is controlling him.

Ruth stands up and waves to Slovavich to follow him.
Micah Slovavich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ruth gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slovavich tries a knee to the head but Ruth blocks it.
Ruth taking a breather.

Ruth successfully pulls guard.
Slovavich loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ruth is trying to control the position but Slovavich postures up.
Slovavich wants to pass the guard but Ruth is keeping the position.
Ruth throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Slovavich scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ruth not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Slovavich trying to control but Ruth is working from the bottom.
Slovavich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Slovavich tries for a takedown but Ruth circles away easily

and Ruth counters with a shoot takedown. Slovavich fights it but they end up in guard.
Slovavich striking off his back but it's not causing Ruth any problems.
Slovavich controls Ruth momentarily but Ruth frees himself.
Slovavich is really struggling to control Ruth but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Slovavich is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ruth wants to control from the top but Slovavich keeps moving.

Slovavich had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ruth is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Slovavich Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ruth's back instead.
Babe Ruth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Slovavich doesn't have the hooks in and Ruth manages to turn into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Babe Ruth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Slovavich 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Micah Slovavich!