PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Micka Wallace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joaquin Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Joaquin Ruiz enters the cage!

Wallace
vs
Ruiz

183 cm
21
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Micka Wallace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joaquin Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruiz dives in and grabs Wallace's left leg, looking for a takedown. Wallace pushes down on Ruiz's head and hops out.
Ruiz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wallace sprawls well. Wallace wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ruiz gets slowly back to his feet.
Ruiz shoots in but no luck this time.
Micka Wallace has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joaquin Ruiz.
Ruiz tries to bum rush Wallace with a series of wild strikes but Wallace uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wallace misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wallace lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Joaquin Ruiz has been cut.

Wallace gets caught flat footed, as Ruiz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wallace lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ruiz!
Wallace wants to control the pace but Ruiz is squirming around nicely.
Ruiz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wallace trying to control but Ruiz is having none of it.
Wallace punishing his opponent with strikes.
Wallace prevents Ruiz from getting the reversal.
Ruiz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wallace. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Wallace looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace landing strikes from the mount.
Wallace tries to control but Ruiz wriggling away.
Wallace controlling his opponent.
Ruiz is in all sorts of trouble here.

Wallace looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Wallace wants to finish this one by submission but Ruiz is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Wallace.
Wallace trying to control but Ruiz is having none of it.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Wallace looking for a guillotine from mount but Ruiz is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wallace with a couple of short strikes.

Wallace looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Ruiz is trying to escape the mount.
Wallace 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.

Wallace jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ruiz manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Wallace prevents Ruiz from escaping the position.
Wallace wants to control but Ruiz is keeping him busy.

Wallace decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Wallace throws a nice looking combination but Ruiz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Wallace clinches with his opponent.

Wallace manages to break the clinch.

Wallace drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallace fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Wallace decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Ruiz shoots in for a double leg but Wallace sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Decent striking displayed by Wallace there.
Ruiz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ruiz looks gassed!
A jab lands there for Wallace.
Joaquin Ruiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wallace leaves Ruiz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Wallace misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wallace throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Wallace tries a head kick but it misses.
Wallace throws a right and a left that Ruiz avoids nicely.
Wallace misses with a two punch combination.
Wallace lands a high kick!
Wallace swinging wildly here.
Wallace stalks Ruiz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ruiz's face. Ruiz staggers backwards, shaken.
Wallace really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wallace forces Ruiz back against the cage and clinches.

Wallace breaks the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Wallace. Those never looked like landing.

Ruiz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Wallace quickly recovers to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Wallace has one foot on Ruiz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ruiz clinches but Wallace breaks the clinch
and Wallace counters with a three punch combo that has Ruiz backing up. Ruiz nods at Wallace to acknowledge the strikes.

Ruiz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ruiz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Wallace bucks Ruiz off and manages to get back to his feet!
Wallace is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wallace lands with a nice combination. Ruiz backs away looking to recover.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ruiz shoots in and gets a takedown into Wallace's guard.
Ruiz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wallace looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruiz is one step ahead there.
Wallace avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micka Wallace dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joaquin Ruiz's cut.
That's time! Wallace's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Wallace lands a jab-cross combination.
Wallace looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Wallace stuffs the takedown.
Ruiz with a poor takedown
enabling Wallace to counter with a crisp jab.
Ruiz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wallace swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wallace misses with a wild combination.

Ruiz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ruiz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wallace smiles and moves away.
Micka Wallace has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joaquin Ruiz.
Wallace scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wallace misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wallace throws a series of punches but Ruiz avoids them all with ease.
Ruiz looks for a takedown but Wallace sprawls well.
Ruiz on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A cross from Wallace lands.
Wallace misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ruiz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ruiz slips a jab and a cross from Wallace.
Ruiz slips a jab and a cross from Wallace.
Wallace throws a sloppy head kick and Ruiz moves out of range easily.
Ruiz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wallace as he jumps to the side.
Ruiz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Wallace has Ruiz up against the cage in a clinch.

Wallace breaks the clinch.
Wallace fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wallace misses with a few strikes there.
Wallace circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ruiz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wallace paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ruiz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wallace keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wallace regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ruiz.
Ruiz prevents Wallace from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wallace is trying to keep Ruiz in close.
Wallace wants to get back to his feet but Ruiz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ruiz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Wallace is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ruiz tries to roll over but Wallace keeps him under control.

Wallace decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Ruiz takes one on the button.
Wallace tries to clinch but Ruiz moves out of range.
Wallace fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Ruiz has closed the distance and engaged Wallace in a clinch.

Wallace escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ruiz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
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!

Wallace kicks off Ruiz and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wallace tries to avoid it but Ruiz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wallace to the ground. Wallace escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jab, jab by Wallace - just one landing.

Wallace moves into the clinch successfully.

Wallace breaks the clinch.
Ruiz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Wallace counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ruiz blocks a head kick by Wallace.
Ruiz is looking to clinch.
Wallace misses with a two punch combination.
Ruiz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wallace as he avoids it easily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Wallace - that will leave a mark!

Wallace has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ruiz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A short right from Wallace.

Wallace manages to break the clinch.
Ruiz is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Wallace.
Wallace fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A nice combination there by Wallace.
A right-left combo lands from Wallace.
Wallace ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Wallace stalks Ruiz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ruiz's face. Ruiz staggers backwards, shaken.
Wallace is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Ruiz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Wallace is trying to stand.
Ruiz drops an elbow to the side of Wallace's head.
Wallace is pressing down on Ruiz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Wallace uses the cage to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wallace tries to bum rush Ruiz with a series of wild strikes but Ruiz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ruiz wants to clinch up but Wallace keeps it at a distance.
Ruiz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wallace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micka Wallace dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joaquin Ruiz'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. This is the final round!

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

Wallace had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ruiz defends it easily.
Wallace is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ruiz is controlling him.
Wallace utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ruiz landing some decent shots from guard.
Micka Wallace overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ruiz preventing the sweep.
Ruiz stops Wallace from standing up.
Wallace utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ruiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wallace looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ruiz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruiz postures up in Wallace's guard and throws a big left but Wallace blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wallace is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ruiz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Wallace tries to score a body lock takedown but Ruiz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ruiz keeps control of Wallace as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ruiz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ruiz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wallace pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Micka Wallace has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joaquin Ruiz.

Wallace escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wallace lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Wallace.
Micka Wallace is winning the standup battle so far.
Wallace lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ruiz circles away quickly and effectively.

Wallace gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wallace will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ruiz is looking to work some ground and pound but Wallace has wrist control.
Ruiz throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wallace avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ruiz throwing strikes but missing.

Wallace has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ruiz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Wallace misses.
Ruiz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ruiz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A head kick misses from Wallace.
Wallace misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ruiz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wallace is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Ruiz tries to move into range but Wallace moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Ruiz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ruiz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Wallace looks like he's trying to stand up.
Wallace is looking to control Ruiz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wallace avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallace blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ruiz.
Wallace is trying to control but can't.
Wallace avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ruiz.
Wallace keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wallace moves into full guard.
Ruiz wants to get up but he can't break Wallace's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Micka Wallace is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ruiz throwing strikes but missing.

Wallace wriggles free and stands up.
Wallace throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ruiz takes one to the side of the head.

Ruiz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wallace napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz in side control, throwing shots but Wallace defends.
Wallace is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Ruiz lands a nice forearm strike.
Wallace gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Wallace blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ruiz.
Ruiz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Joaquin Ruiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wallace is trying to stand up here but Ruiz is controlling him well.
Wallace has hold of Ruiz's hands but Ruiz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ruiz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wallace defending well though.

Wallace has one foot on Ruiz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ruiz has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wallace throws a head kick but Ruiz moves out of range.
Ruiz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ruiz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wallace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joaquin Ruiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wallace 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Micka Wallace!