PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shah Rokhan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruiz has chosen U're the Best Around as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Rokhan
vs
Ruiz

185 cm
23
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

183 cm
20
176 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shah Rokhan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marco Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruiz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ruiz showed some decent athleticism there.
Rokhan is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ruiz in particular looking to stall.
Rokhan is positioning himself well to prevent Ruiz advancing to mount.
Ruiz controlling the pace.
Rokhan is trying to control but can't.
Ruiz controlling the action here.
Rokhan is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Rokhan is trying to stand back up but Ruiz is controlling him

Ruiz stands up from half guard.
Ruiz throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz throws a lazy right hand but Rokhan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rokhan throws out a powerful jab.
Ruiz shoots in for a double leg but Rokhan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rokhan is looking to clinch.
Rokhan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ruiz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Horrible takedown by Rokhan or perhaps it was just good defense by Ruiz which made him look bad.
Ruiz keeps the fight on the outside.
Rokhan dodges the punch combination from Ruiz.
Rokhan lands with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokhan tries for a takedown but Ruiz circles away easily
letting Ruiz counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shah Rokhan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rokhan looks to clinch
and Ruiz counters with a left and a right that stings Rokhan.

Rokhan is rocked!
Rokhan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shah Rokhan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rokhan cracks Ruiz with a good jab.
Rokhan tries to clinch but Ruiz is having none of it.
Rokhan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ruiz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rokhan with a poor takedown
and Ruiz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rokhan is breathing heavily.
Ruiz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rokhan misses with a takedown
and Ruiz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Ruiz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rokhan darts in and clinches Ruiz up against the cage.

Rokhan pulls guard effortlessly.
Rokhan wants to stand but Ruiz is controlling the position.
Ruiz tries to free his leg and advance position but Rokhan is retaining full guard.
Ruiz stopping the sweep attempt from Rokhan.
Ruiz trying to control but Rokhan is working from the bottom.
Ruiz is looking to stand up but Rokhan won't let him.
Rokhan keeping moving, preventing Ruiz from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rokhan holds on and takes a little breather.
Rokhan is trying to control the position but Ruiz postures up.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rokhan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ruiz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rokhan's guard now.

Rokhan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ruiz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ruiz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ruiz 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruiz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rokhan is looking to control Ruiz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rokhan avoid being mounted?
Rokhan tries to get to full guard but Ruiz has control of the leg.
Ruiz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruiz is looking to pass Rokhan's guard but actually Rokhan recovers to full guard.
Ruiz preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Ruiz dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ruiz shoots in for a double leg but Rokhan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Rokhan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rokhan is tying to control. Ruiz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rokhan tries to pass to full mount but Ruiz defends it.
Ruiz is staying active underneath Rokhan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ruiz trying to control but Rokhan postures up.
Rokhan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ruiz's head.
It looks like Rokhan is going to stand back up.
Rokhan wants to control but Ruiz is keeping him busy.
Ruiz is looking to control Rokhan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ruiz avoid being mounted?

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rokhan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ruiz. That did some damage!
Ruiz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rokhan.
Rokhan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ruiz swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokhan misses with a takedown attempt

so Ruiz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruiz wants to control from the top but Rokhan keeps moving.

Rokhan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ruiz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Marco Ruiz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ruiz wants to control from the top but Rokhan keeps moving.
Ruiz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rokhan pulls Ruiz in close to prevent any damage.
Rokhan keeping moving, preventing Ruiz from controlling successfully.

Ruiz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ruiz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokhan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruiz is one step ahead there.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rokhan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rokhan holds on and takes a little breather.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rokhan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ruiz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rokhan being controlled here, momentarily.
Rokhan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz won't allow Rokhan to sweep him here.
Rokhan is trying to control the position but Ruiz postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rokhan misses with a wild combination.
Ruiz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ruiz counters with a left and a right that stings Rokhan.
Rokhan fails with the takedown
and Ruiz counters with a straight right hand.
Rokhan tries to clinch up but Ruiz circles away and keeps his distance.
Rokhan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ruiz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ruiz swats away the attempt to clinch by Rokhan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rokhan tries to close the distance and clinch but Ruiz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rokhan shoots and misses
and Ruiz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shah Rokhan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rokhan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ruiz pinned against the cage. Ruiz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rokhan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rokhan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rokhan with a poor takedown

and Ruiz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ruiz breaks from the clinch.
Rokhan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ruiz counters with a three punch combo that has Rokhan backing up. Rokhan nods at Ruiz to acknowledge the strikes.
Rokhan doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ruiz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rokhan!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Ruiz 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ruiz is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ruiz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rokhan counters with a one-two to the body.
Rokhan wants to clinch but Ruiz slips to the side
and Ruiz counters with a left and a right that stings Rokhan.
Rokhan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ruiz as he jumps to the side.
Rokhan fails with the takedown
and Ruiz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ruiz throws a leg kick that is checked

and Rokhan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ruiz's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rokhan stands and steps away. Ruiz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rokhan misses with a takedown attempt
and Ruiz counters with a left and a right that stings Rokhan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shah Rokhan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rokhan avoids a punch combination nicely.

Rokhan moves into the clinch.
Ruiz wants to break free but Rokhan has control.
Rokhan content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rokhan manages to break the clinch.
Rokhan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ruiz counters with a one-two to the body.
Rokhan fails with the takedown
and Ruiz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Oh Rokhan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rokhan looks to clinch
and Ruiz counters with a nice uppercut.
Rokhan seems to have got his legs back now.
Ruiz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rokhan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rokhan has his takedown stuffed
and Rokhan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rokhan fails with the takedown
and Ruiz counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rokhan's knee momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rokhan shoots in and drives through. Ruiz sprawls well.
Rokhan misses with a takedown
and Ruiz counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rokhan's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Rokhan.
Rokhan fails with the takedown
and Rokhan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ruiz throws a right hand that Rokhan ducks under and follows up with a left that Rokhan also avoids with ease.
Rokhan fails with the takedown
and Ruiz counters with a left and a right that stings Rokhan.
Marco Ruiz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rokhan shoots in but no luck this time.
Ruiz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ruiz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rokhan has a takedown stuffed.

Rokhan gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokhan creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ruiz sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ruiz is looking to regain half guard here but Rokhan keeps moving and retains side control.

Rokhan stands up.
Rokhan wants to clinch up but Ruiz keeps it at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rokhan works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ruiz has had enough of the clinch but Rokhan keeps him there for the moment.

Rokhan successfully pulls guard.
Ruiz wants to stand but Rokhan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rokhan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rokhan is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rokhan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rokhan trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rokhan stays in close to Ruiz's body and controls the position.
Shah Rokhan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rokhan wants to stand but Ruiz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ruiz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rokhan's guard.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rokhan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rokhan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ruiz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ruiz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rokhan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ruiz controls the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rokhan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rokhan has Ruiz pulled in close to control his posture.
Rokhan throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Shah Rokhan.
I think Ruiz 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Ruiz!