PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brian McBride (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauri Ruoska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruoska is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the devil. Brian McBride could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mauri Ruoska's chin.

McBride
vs
Ruoska

180 cm
24
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
169 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brian McBride!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mauri Ruoska!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruoska rushes McBride and presses him up against the cage.
Ruoska lands a shot to the body.
McBride fails to pull guard.
Ruoska lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Brian McBride has been cut.
McBride tries to work over Ruoska's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McBride on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Ruoska breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ruoska throws a big shot that misses.
Ruoska scores with a push kick.
Ruoska goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
McBride avoids the head kick by Ruoska.
McBride moves out of range of the body kick.
Ruoska misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ruoska fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ruoska avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ruoska displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

McBride fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ruoska, pushing him back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruoska breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ruoska connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McBride momentarily.
Mauri Ruoska seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruoska tries to clinch

and McBride counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ruoska wants to sweep here but McBride controlling him for the moment.
McBride wants to control from the top but Ruoska keeps moving.

McBride 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.
Ruoska wants to sweep here but McBride controlling him for the moment.
McBride stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruoska swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McBride stopping the sweep attempt from Ruoska.
McBride wants to pass the guard but Ruoska is keeping the position.
Ruoska has a closed guard, preventing McBride from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ruoska scores with a jab to the head.
Ruoska is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McBride tries to clinch up.
Ruoska circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ruoska lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McBride.
Ruoska throws a jab but it's blocked by McBride.
Ruoska thows a body shot but no joy.
Ruoska misses with a telegraphed body shot
and McBride counters with a nice uppercut.
McBride throws a looping overhand right but Ruoska ducks down to avoid it.
Ruoska slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ruoska wants to clinch
and McBride counters with a two punch combo.
Ruoska scores with a jab.
Ruoska throws a combination. McBride tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Some wild striking there from Ruoska.
McBride bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska closes the distance looking to clinch
and McBride counters with a nice body shot.
Ruoska misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McBride.
Ruoska tries to clinch but McBride moves away
and McBride counters with a right hand to the body.
Ruoska swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McBride tries to clinch up but Ruoska circles away and keeps his distance.
McBride throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ruoska counters with a nice kick to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McBride throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

McBride clinches.
Ruoska presses McBride against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McBride jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ruoska walks away with a smile on his face. McBride gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Horrible takedown by McBride or perhaps it was just good defense by Ruoska which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian McBride. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruoska works the jab nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauri Ruoska dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brian McBride's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McBride takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Nice cross by Ruoska.
Mauri Ruoska seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McBride is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McBride looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ruoska swinging wildly here.
Ruoska works the jab nicely.
Ruoska misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ruoska clinches but McBride breaks the clinch
and McBride counters with a nice uppercut.
Ruoska fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ruoska tests McBride's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McBride misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ruoska counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Brian McBride is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruoska bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBride misses with a low kick.
Ruoska closes the distance looking to clinch
and McBride counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McBride circles away from the clinch attempt

and McBride moves into the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Ruoska.

Ruoska breaks from the clinch.
A left lands for Ruoska.
Ruoska tries to clinch up

and McBride counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ruoska!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McBride throwing strikes but Ruoska recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Ruoska pushes McBride off looking to stand but McBride dives back in and keeps control.

Ruoska looking for submissions off his back.
Ruoska is breathing heavily.
McBride is just content to waste time from the top position. Ruoska takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ruoska is looking to stand up but McBride isn't so interested in that idea.
McBride trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McBride bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A punch combination from McBride misses.
A right-left combo lands from Ruoska.
Ruoska misses with a head kick.
Ruoska tries to land a front kick but McBride steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ruoska pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ruoska scores with a hook.
Ruoska avoids the body shot from McBride.
Ruoska lands a jab-cross combination.
Ruoska scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ruoska throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by McBride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McBride gets the takedown into side control.
McBride trying to control the position but Ruoska is working away.

McBride is trying to get an arm triangle but Ruoska is defending well.
McBride wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ruoska keeps working.
Ruoska regains half guard there - taking advantage of McBride's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
McBride is taking a breather. Ruoska says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McBride is stalling here. Ruoska is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! McBride seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ruoska has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauri Ruoska showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brian McBride's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ruoska misses with a wild combination.
Nice defenses there by McBride.
McBride throws a body punch but Ruoska moves out of range.

McBride shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ruoska trying to control from the bottom.
McBride trying to control the action but Ruoska is working from the bottom.
Ruoska is trying to stand up here but McBride is controlling him well.
McBride prevents Ruoska from improving his position.
Ruoska takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBride is trying to control the action in half guard but Ruoska is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

McBride 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McBride circles away from the clinch attempt

and McBride counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McBride.
Ruoska not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McBride thows a big elbow that misses.
McBride trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McBride working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ruoska's head.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McBride is adopting a defensive guard.
Ruoska lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ruoska trying to stand up but can't free himself from McBride's guard.
McBride looking for a sweep. Not yet McBride, not yet.
Ruoska cracks McBride with a solid left hand.
McBride keeping moving, preventing Ruoska from controlling successfully.
Ruoska lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBride looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruoska is one step ahead there.
Ruoska cracks McBride with a solid left hand.
Ruoska trying to control the position from guard on top but McBride is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McBride looking for a sweep. Not yet McBride, not yet.
McBride not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ruoska sitting in guard here, content to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McBride tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruoska swivels and escapes.
Ruoska swats away the attempt to clinch by McBride.
Ruoska misses with an uppercut.
Ruoska darts in trying to clinch

and McBride counters by moving into the clinch.

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.
Ruoska lands an elbow that stopped McBride in his tracks for a moment.
McBride avoiding damage as Ruoska throws knees to the body.
McBride tries to pull guard but Ruoska won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Ruoska's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McBride slowing the pace effectively.
Ruoska gets through McBride's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ruoska is trying to break the clinch but McBride has him pressed against the cage.
McBride avoiding damage as Ruoska throws knees to the body.
Mauri Ruoska is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McBride blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Brian McBride has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruoska prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian McBride. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McBride is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
McBride is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian McBride showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ruoska has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauri Ruoska!