PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Archie Blackburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and marco ruas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blackburn comes to the cage accompanied by Periphery - Light. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Blackburn
vs
ruas

180 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
20
150 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Archie Blackburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, marco ruas!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackburn throws a lazy right hand but ruas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice shot by Blackburn.
Blackburn throws a jab when ruas was well out of range.
A jab from ruas misses.
Blackburn blocks a leg kick.
ruas slips a jab from Blackburn.
ruas swats away the attempt to clinch by Blackburn.
Blackburn misses with a hook.
ruas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blackburn moves away.
ruas slips a jab from Blackburn.
Good standup being displayed there by Blackburn as he connects with a hook.
ruas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Blackburn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from ruas. Blackburn does a little dance to reset his feet.

Blackburn clinches with his opponent.
Blackburn stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Blackburn tries to throw a body punch but ruas avoids it by throwing Blackburn back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blackburn.
Blackburn misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Blackburn is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. ruas is defending well for now.
Blackburn cracks ruas with a nice body shot.
Blackburn lands with a short shot to the head.
Blackburn lands a nice knee to the body.
ruas looks gassed!
Blackburn lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down ruas.
A left hand lands to the body for Blackburn.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blackburn throws a knee to the head but misses.
ruas takes a knee to the side of the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Blackburn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Blackburn lands a nice shot to the body.
Blackburn gets through ruas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Blackburn digs a right hand into ruas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on ruas's gas tank.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Blackburn obliges.
Blackburn unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Blackburn content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blackburn digs a right hand into ruas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on ruas's gas tank.
Blackburn is working ruas over against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Blackburn obliges.
Blackburn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Blackburn lands a knee to the head.

It looks like marco ruas has been cut.
Blackburn digs a right hand underneath ruas's ribcage. ruas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Blackburn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The referee calls for Blackburn to work.
A short right from Blackburn.
Blackburn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Blackburn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Blackburn breaks the clinch.

Blackburn darts in and clinches ruas up against the cage.
Blackburn connects with a nasty looking knee right to ruas's face.
ruas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Blackburn tries a body shot but ruas blocks it.
Blackburn can't find room to land a body shot as ruas controls the action.
Blackburn lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Blackburn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Blackburn lands a hook to the side of the head.
Blackburn lands a body shot.
Blackburn lands a nice uppercut.
Blackburn scores with a shoulder strike.
Blackburn tries to work over ruas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Blackburn is leaning against ruas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Blackburn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Blackburn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of ruas backwards.
Blackburn lands a hook that snaps the head of ruas backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Blackburn.
Blackburn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Blackburn lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short uppercut from Blackburn.
Blackburn lands a body punch.
ruas takes a shot to the head.
Blackburn lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Blackburn lands a shot to the body.
Blackburn lands a right hand.
Blackburn lands a shot to the body.
Blackburn presses ruas against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Blackburn.
Blackburn pushes ruas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Blackburn is pushing ruas up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Blackburn landing knees to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A short body shot lands from Blackburn as the two fighters clinch.

Blackburn manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Archie Blackburn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on marco ruas's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

ruas moves out of range of the strikes.
Good shot there by ruas.
ruas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blackburn missing with a left hand there. ruas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
ruas blocks a jab.
Blackburn slips under a jab.
ruas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Blackburn.
Blackburn is looking to clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Blackburn scores with a four punch combination!
Blackburn is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Blackburn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from ruas.
ruas gets cracked there but stands up to it.
ruas moves away from the strike by Blackburn.
Blackburn throws a big shot that misses.
Blackburn tries to clinch there but ruas circles away.
Blackburn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from ruas.
Blackburn tries to close the distance and clinch but ruas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blackburn wants to clinch up but ruas keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn wants to clinch up but ruas keeps it at a distance.
Donk. Blackburn catches ruas right on the button with a cross.
ruas takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Blackburn's corner calls for a 1-2. Blackburn obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Blackburn tries to clinch there but ruas circles away.
ruas takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Blackburn lands a nice shot to the body.
ruas misses with a low kick.
ruas gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Blackburn.
A big left from ruas misses.
ruas is breathing heavily.

Blackburn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Blackburn can't find room to land a body shot as ruas controls the action.
Blackburn working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Blackburn lands a body punch.
Good body shot from Blackburn.
ruas blocks a body shot from Blackburn.
ruas takes a knee to the side of the body.
ruas prevents a body shot from Blackburn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Blackburn.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee is keeping an eye on Blackburn - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Blackburn throws a head punch that misses.
Blackburn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Blackburn tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and ruas avoids it.
Nice body punch from Blackburn.
Blackburn just leaning against ruas, taking a breather.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Blackburn.
Blackburn scores with a nice hook to the head.
Blackburn misses with a hook to the ribs.
ruas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
ruas has Blackburn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blackburn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A right hook to the body lands for Blackburn.
Blackburn lands a right hand.
Blackburn connects with a nasty looking knee right to ruas's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn works on ruas's body with a couple of short punches.
Blackburn lands a shot to the body.
Blackburn is leaning against ruas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nice body punch from Blackburn.
Blackburn stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Blackburn misses with the head strike.
Blackburn content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Blackburn lands a left hand that snaps the head of ruas backwards.
ruas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blackburn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Blackburn.
Blackburn controlling the action here for a moment.
A hook to the body from Blackburn.
A right hand to the body from Blackburn.
ruas blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn cracks ruas with a nice body shot.
Blackburn lands with a right to the head.
Blackburn tries to work over ruas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Blackburn lands a body shot in the clinch.
Blackburn is working ruas over against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Blackburn as the two fighters clinch.
Blackburn lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A hook to the body from Blackburn.
Blackburn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Blackburn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that ruas can do to turn this around?
ruas can't get the takedown.
Blackburn throws a head punch that misses.

Blackburn breaks from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
ruas looks to land a combination but Blackburn avoids it well.
Blackburn throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Blackburn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Blackburn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Archie Blackburn dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on marco ruas's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

ruas tries to move into range but Blackburn moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Blackburn ducks under a wild hook from ruas.
ruas ducks under a wild hook from Blackburn.
Blackburn ducks under a wild hook from ruas.
Blackburn tries to clinch but ruas moves out of range.
ruas misses with an uppercut.
Blackburn dodges the punch combination from ruas.
ruas ducks under a wild hook from Blackburn.
Blackburn throws the left hand but ruas avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blackburn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blackburn steps to the side to avoid the strikes from ruas.
Blackburn lands the left hand.
ruas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice defenses there by Blackburn.
Blackburn lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blackburn has taken the fight to the clinch.
Blackburn works on ruas's body with a couple of short punches.
Blackburn lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down ruas.
Blackburn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
ruas takes a shot to the head.
Blackburn lands a hook to the side of the head.
ruas being controlled against the cage.
Nice body punch from Blackburn.
Archie Blackburn has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Blackburn lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Blackburn.
Blackburn putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has ruas in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Blackburn.
Blackburn pushes ruas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Blackburn lands with a light punch inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
ruas prevents a body shot from Blackburn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn lands a body shot.
Blackburn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Blackburn working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Blackburn scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Blackburn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of ruas backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Blackburn.
Blackburn lands a body punch in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Blackburn.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Blackburn.
Blackburn lands a body shot in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Blackburn.
Blackburn lands with a short shot to the head.
Blackburn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Blackburn lands a body punch.
Blackburn tries a body shot but ruas blocks it.
Blackburn stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Blackburn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of ruas backwards.
Blackburn lands a nice uppercut.
Blackburn tries to work over ruas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Blackburn digs a right hand underneath ruas's ribcage. ruas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Blackburn lands with a left to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Blackburn.
ruas blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Blackburn.
Blackburn works on ruas's body with a couple of short punches.
A short uppercut from Blackburn.
Blackburn dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Blackburn.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Blackburn.
ruas takes a shot to the head.
Blackburn digs a right hand underneath ruas's ribcage. ruas let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
ruas has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Blackburn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Blackburn can't find room to land a body shot as ruas controls the action.
Blackburn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Blackburn digs a right hand into ruas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on ruas's gas tank.
Nice body punch from Blackburn - that landed with a thud.
A short left from Blackburn.
Blackburn has a couple of punches blocked by ruas.
Blackburn slows down the pace here.
Blackburn with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A hook to the body from Blackburn.
Nice body punch from Blackburn.
Blackburn lands a nice knee to the body.
marco ruas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blackburn taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Blackburn lands with a short punch from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Archie Blackburn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Blackburn has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:24
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:24
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Archie Blackburn!