PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Billy Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blade Ruffo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Billy Thompson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Thompson
vs
Ruffo

160 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Billy Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Blade Ruffo!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruffo closes the distance and clinches.
Thompson could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Ruffo gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ruffo wants to pass the guard but Thompson is defending well.
Ruffo is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Ruffo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Blade Ruffo wasn't active enough on the ground.

Ruffo rushes Thompson and presses him up against the cage.

Ruffo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thompson misses with a low kick.
Ruffo moves out of range of the leg kick from Thompson.
Ruffo moves out of range of the leg kick from Thompson.
Ruffo stuns Thompson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Thompson misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruffo clinches with his opponent.

Ruffo has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Thompson is trying to keep an underhook but Ruffo manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Well, if Ruffo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ruffo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruffo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thompson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Blade Ruffo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Ruffo has closed the distance and engaged Thompson in a clinch.
Ruffo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thompson.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ruffo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ruffo lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Billy Thompson has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ruffo breaks the clinch.
Thompson thows a leg kick but Ruffo checks it
and Ruffo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thompson's knee momentarily.
Thompson is breathing heavily.

Ruffo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thompson was covering up waiting for the punch and Ruffo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ruffo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruffo works to advance to full mount. Thompson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blade Ruffo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Billy Thompson's cut.
That's time! Thompson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ruffo takes the fight into the clinch.
Ruffo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ruffo has Thompson pressed against the cage.

Ruffo drags the fight down to the ground.
Thompson won't allow Ruffo to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ruffo holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thompson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ruffo takes a swing at Thompson's ribcage but misses.

Ruffo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Ruffo stands up and beckons Thompson to join him on the feet.
Blade Ruffo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A low kick from Thompson is predictable there
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson throws a solid leg kick but Ruffo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Thompson.
Ruffo misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruffo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ruffo remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ruffo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson is trying to control Ruffo's posture but Ruffo avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thompson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Ruffo looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Blade Ruffo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thompson is bucking up trying to escape but Ruffo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blade Ruffo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Billy Thompson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ruffo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thompson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ruffo controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Blade Ruffo wasn't active enough on the ground.

Thompson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ruffo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ruffo landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruffo is in close to Thompson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Ruffo 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.
Ruffo controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruffo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ruffo works over Thompson with some ground and pound from guard.
Ruffo passes into half guard.
Ruffo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Ruffo.
Ruffo moves into full mount! Thompson won't be happy about that!
Ruffo avoids the attempt from Thompson to control.
Thompson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ruffo stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blade Ruffo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ruffo 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blade Ruffo!