PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Rojo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thom Ruff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rojo comes to the cage accompanied by You're Going Down. Ruff has chosen Tougher than Leather as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rojo
vs
Ruff

193 cm
25
265 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

207 cm
22
260 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Miguel Rojo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thom Ruff!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruff tries to close the distance and clinch but Rojo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ruff clinches with his opponent.
Ruff is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ruff is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rojo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rojo is trying to break the clinch but Ruff has him pressed against the cage.
Rojo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Ruff drags the fight down to the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rojo throws a strike but Ruff rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ruff controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruff stopping the sweep attempt from Rojo.
Ruff is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ruff must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thom Ruff was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ruff tries to clinch up.
Ruff is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruff fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruff tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rojo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rojo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rojo lands a leg kick that knocks Ruff off balance momentarily.
Rojo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ruff fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Miguel Rojo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thom Ruff.
Rojo throws a head kick that misses
and Ruff counters with a body kick.
Rojo stuffs the takedown.
Rojo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rojo scores with a three punch combo!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A combination from Rojo does no damage.

Ruff moves into range and clinches up with Rojo.
Rojo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rojo trying to control the position but instead, Ruff has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rojo into the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ruff.
Rojo is breathing heavily.

Ruff manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruff forces Rojo back against the cage and clinches.
Ruff prevents Rojo from breaking the clinch.
Rojo taking a breather.
Ruff avoiding damage as Rojo throws knees to the body.

Ruff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rojo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Ruff gets a clinch.

Rojo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Ruff misses.
A head kick from Rojo lands but Ruff takes it in his stride.

Ruff moves into the clinch.
Rojo tries to throw a body punch but Ruff avoids it by throwing Rojo back against the cage.
Rojo wants to get back to striking at distance but Ruff won't allow it.
Ruff leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rojo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rojo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruff stalling in the clinch.
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!
Ruff scores a nice knee to the body.
Ruff lands a nice knee to the body.

Ruff breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ruff gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rojo takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Miguel Rojo has been cut.
Ruff scores with a knee to the head.
Ruff leaning against his opponent.
A knee to the head by Ruff.
Ruff crunches a lovely knee into Rojo's ribcage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ruff obliges.
Ruff connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rojo's face.
Ruff putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rojo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rojo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ruff.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ruff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rojo throws a hook but Ruff blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thom Ruff dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Miguel Rojo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ruff moves into the clinch.
Thom Ruff seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ruff connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rojo's face.
Ruff putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rojo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ruff slowing the pace effectively.
Ruff unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rojo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ruff gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rojo regains guard.
Rojo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rojo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ruff forces his way into half guard.
Ruff missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rojo taking some punishment here, with Ruff in his half guard.

Ruff decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruff lands a right hook to the body.
Miguel Rojo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ruff rushes Rojo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ruff.
Ruff with a knee to the head.
Ruff crunches a lovely knee into Rojo's ribcage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ruff with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Ruff.
Ruff with a knee to the head.
Ruff lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ruff putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rojo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rojo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ruff scores with a knee to the head.
Ruff has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ruff pulls guard.

Ruff is looking for a triangle but Rojo pushes his legs off easily.
Ruff has control of Rojo's left arm, preventing Rojo from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruff manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Ruff is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rojo has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruff content just to control the position here.
Rojo can't escape the position.
Rojo is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Ruff there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ruff thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ruff controlling from the full mount.

Ruff is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rojo can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ruff takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thom Ruff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Miguel Rojo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Good leg kick by Ruff there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ruff doesn't manage to clinch there - Rojo circles away.

Ruff clinches up against the cage.
Ruff lands a nice knee to the body.
Ruff comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruff stalling the fight.

Ruff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ruff scores with a leg kick.

Ruff lands a head kick that stumbles Rojo and the fighters go to the mat.

Rojo is rocked!
Ruff controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Ruff has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Ruff tries to free his leg and advance position but Rojo is retaining full guard.

Thom Ruff has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rojo throws a combination. Ruff tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ruff tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rojo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thom Ruff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruff blocks a head kick by Rojo.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ruff checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruff looks for a takedown but Rojo sprawls well.
Ruff is looking to clinch.

Ruff moves into the clinch successfully.
Ruff tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ruff.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ruff gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rojo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nice body punch from Ruff.
Ruff stalling in the clinch.
Ruff crunches a lovely knee into Rojo's ribcage.
Rojo takes an elbow to the temple.
Rojo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ruff is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ruff connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rojo's face.

Miguel Rojo's cut is getting worse.
Ruff is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rojo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ruff with a knee to the head.
Ruff is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ruff lands a good knee to the midsection. Rojo won't want to take too many of those.
Ruff taking a breather.
Ruff continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Rojo can't find room to land a body shot as Ruff controls the action.
Ruff utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruff taking a breather.

Ruff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Miguel Rojo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ruff forces Rojo back against the cage and clinches.

Ruff manages to break the clinch.

Ruff clinches up against the cage.
Ruff utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ruff working Rojo over with knees to the body.
Rojo takes a knee to the side of the body.
A knee to the head by Ruff.
Miguel Rojo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruff landing knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Ruff.
Ruff is pushing Rojo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rojo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Knees in the clinch landing for Ruff.
Thom Ruff is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rojo can't find room to land a body shot as Ruff controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thom Ruff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ruff 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 25:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 25:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thom Ruff!
Our winner, Thom Ruff, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.