PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mervin John Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Fowler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fowler is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Burn it to the Ground. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

John Ruiz
vs
Fowler

170 cm
23
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mervin John Ruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paul Fowler!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fowler moves to clinch but Ruiz breaks away

and Ruiz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fowler effectively controlling the action here.
Fowler jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ruiz walks away with a smile on his face. Fowler gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Fowler looks to throw a body kick
and Ruiz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ruiz misses with a few strikes there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruiz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fowler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fowler dives in and grabs Ruiz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ruiz pushes down on Fowler's head and hops out.
Ruiz misses with a takedown attempt - Fowler sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ruiz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ruiz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fowler.
Mervin John Ruiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Fowler.
Ruiz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz moves in looking to clinch but Fowler pushes him off.
Nice takedown defense from Ruiz. No joy for Fowler on that attempt.
Fowler tries to clinch there but Ruiz circles away.
Fowler shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ruiz as he jumps to the side.
Fowler dodges the punch combination from Ruiz.
Ruiz wants to clinch up but Fowler keeps it at a distance.
Ruiz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ruiz tries to close the distance and clinch but Fowler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fowler throws a sloppy head kick and Ruiz moves out of range easily.
Fowler looks gassed!

Ruiz has Fowler up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruiz trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruiz has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Fowler is trying to keep an underhook but Ruiz manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Ruiz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ruiz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ruiz wants to stand up but Fowler is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ruiz seems to be working for a kimura but Fowler defends the submission attempt.
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!

Ruiz is trying to work for a kimura but Fowler is defending well.
Fowler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ruiz is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fowler has his hands clasped together around Ruiz's back. He's all about the action.
Ruiz tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Fowler.

Ruiz is working for a kimura but Fowler is defending it quite comfortably.
Ruiz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz lands with a punch from half guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ruiz seems to be looking for submissions.
Fowler trying to hold on to Ruiz's head to control him but Ruiz postures up.

Fowler is defending against the submission attempts here by Ruiz.
Fowler is pressing down on Ruiz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruiz is pushing down on Fowler's leg trying to pass to half guard. Fowler is fighting to maintain full guard but Ruiz has managed to sneak the leg through.

Ruiz is trying to work for a kimura but Fowler is defending well.
Ruiz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mervin John Ruiz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ruiz is looking to clinch but Fowler is avoiding it.
Ruiz swings and misses with a shot to the body

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

Ruiz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fowler wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.
Fowler looking to pass the guard.
Fowler trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruiz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fowler doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fowler manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ruiz is trying to control the position but Fowler postures up.
Fowler wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Paul Fowler.
Fowler tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruiz swivels and escapes.
Fowler shoots in for a double leg but Ruiz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fowler is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruiz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Ruiz decides to stand and escape the position.
Ruiz doesn't manage to clinch there - Fowler circles away.
Mervin John Ruiz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruiz looks to land a combination but Fowler avoids it well.
Ruiz throws a good cross that connects.
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!
Fowler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ruiz counters with a series of strikes. Fowler will be more careful next time no doubt.

Fowler is rocked!
Mervin John Ruiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Fowler.
Ruiz connects with a combination that backs up Fowler into the cage. Ruiz lands a flurry of punches that gets past Fowler's guard. Fowler is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Ruiz bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mervin John Ruiz!