PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between El Condor Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Kourdakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruiz comes to the cage accompanied by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LrHfxW4XOg. Kourdakov has chosen Sonata Arctica - San Sebastian as his entrance music. El Condor Ruiz has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Condor Ruiz
vs
Kourdakov

181 cm
22
135 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

165 cm
20
141 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, El Condor Ruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Kourdakov!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruiz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ruiz tries a body shot but Kourdakov blocks it.

Kourdakov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kourdakov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kourdakov is nestled in close to Ruiz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Kourdakov decides to stand and escape the position.

Kourdakov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ruiz did well to prevent Kourdakov getting side control.
Kourdakov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ruiz is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kourdakov is nestled in close to Ruiz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kourdakov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kourdakov prevents Ruiz from standing back up.
Kourdakov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ruiz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Kourdakov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kourdakov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kourdakov throws a strike but Ruiz avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Kourdakov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kourdakov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ruiz is keeping the position for now.
Kourdakov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ruiz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kourdakov is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kourdakov gets to his feet - Ruiz follows without any prompting.

Kourdakov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ruiz's guard.
Kourdakov stands and throws Ruiz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kourdakov cracks Ruiz with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ruiz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ruiz is letting Kourdakov control him for a moment.
Kourdakov working the ground and pound.
Ruiz wants to get back to his feet but Kourdakov drags him back down.
Kourdakov working the head with strikes.
Ruiz is breathing heavily.
Kourdakov looks up at the clock and then as Ruiz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kourdakov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruiz wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kourdakov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ruiz to his feet.

Kourdakov rushes Ruiz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kourdakov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Ruiz can't fight it off and eventually Kourdakov manages to take the fight to the floor. Ruiz looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kourdakov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruiz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kourdakov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kourdakov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kourdakov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kourdakov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Kourdakov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Kourdakov decides to stand back up.

Kourdakov gets the takedown into side control.
Kourdakov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kourdakov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Ruiz is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kourdakov lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Kourdakov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kourdakov feints and as Ruiz raises his hands in defense, Kourdakov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kourdakov is pushing down on Ruiz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ruiz is fighting to maintain full guard but Kourdakov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kourdakov working Ruiz over with strikes.
Kourdakov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kourdakov lands strikes from half guard.
Ruiz is trying to stand up here but Kourdakov is controlling him well.
Kourdakov is controlling the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruiz is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kourdakov controlling the action here.
Ruiz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kourdakov scores with a couple of nice shots.

Kourdakov stands up out of the half guard.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Kourdakov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ruiz manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kourdakov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kourdakov with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kourdakov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kourdakov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kourdakov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruiz wants to stand and escape but Kourdakov is having none of it.
Kourdakov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kourdakov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kourdakov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kourdakov is working Ruiz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kourdakov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kourdakov is in close to Ruiz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kourdakov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ruiz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kourdakov is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ruiz's head.

Kourdakov stands up from Ruiz's guard - Kourdakov perhaps looking for a knockout.

Ruiz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kourdakov chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kourdakov is in close to Ruiz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kourdakov chips away with some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kourdakov stands up and waves to Ruiz to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Kourdakov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kourdakov shoots in and bounces Ruiz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kourdakov postures up and lands a big shot to Ruiz's brow.
Kourdakov is stalling in the full guard.
Kourdakov with a nice head shot there.
Kourdakov prevents Ruiz from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kourdakov lands a couple of digs.
Kourdakov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kourdakov working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kourdakov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kourdakov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kourdakov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ruiz's head.
Kourdakov with a nice head shot there.
Kourdakov landing some decent shots from guard.
Ruiz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kourdakov stands and steps away. Ruiz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kourdakov.
Kourdakov is chipping away with strikes.
Kourdakov landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz taking a bit of punishment here - Kourdakov scoring with strikes.
Kourdakov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ruiz seems a little lost for a moment, as Kourdakov dominates the positioning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kourdakov cracks Ruiz with a big elbow.
Kourdakov scores with punches from side control.
Kourdakov taking a breather here.
Kourdakov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kourdakov cracks Ruiz with a big elbow.
Kourdakov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ruiz will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov landing strikes.

Kourdakov decides to stand back up. Kourdakov steps back and let's Ruiz get back to his feet.

Kourdakov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kourdakov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sergei Kourdakov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kourdakov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz is looking to stand up but Kourdakov isn't so interested in that idea.
Kourdakov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Despite being in the dominant position, Sergei Kourdakov just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruiz wants to clinch but Kourdakov slips to the side

and Kourdakov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ruiz's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kourdakov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ruiz's guard.
El Condor Ruiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Kourdakov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kourdakov 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 24:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 24:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Kourdakov!