PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Conner Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mervin John U Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Conner Steven could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mervin John U Ruiz's chin.

Steven
vs
John U Ruiz

165 cm
24
150 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

172 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Conner Steven!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mervin John U Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruiz tries to bum rush Steven with a series of wild strikes but Steven uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Steven shoots in and bounces Ruiz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Steven stays in close to Ruiz's body and controls the position.

Steven gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Steven shoots in for a double leg but Ruiz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Steven pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Ruiz.

Steven instigates a clinch.
Steven with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz is trying to push Steven away but Steven has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ruiz wants to get back to striking at distance but Steven won't allow it.

Steven pulls guard.
Ruiz wants to stand but Steven is controlling his posture from full guard.
Steven is striking from the bottom but Ruiz uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruiz tries to stand and escape but Steven is controlling the position.
Steven punching from the bottom.
Steven regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ruiz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Steven's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Steven wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruiz is looking to stand up but Steven won't let him.

Steven uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steven misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ruiz stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conner Steven. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steven shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ruiz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Steven lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Ruiz is looking to get back to his feet here but Steven is keeping cool and he's managed to take Ruiz's back.
I really don't envy Ruiz right now.
Ruiz looks winded!
Steven cracks Ruiz with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Ruiz from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

Steven is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ruiz defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Steven's arms.
Ruiz tries to escape but Steven has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steven tightening his grip on Ruiz, looking for the choke.
Steven is punishing Ruiz with some ground and pound.
Ruiz is trying to break free.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steven is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Steven is landing with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conner Steven dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ruiz gets caught flat footed, as Steven shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Steven trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steven throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ruiz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Steven chips away with some ground and pound.
Ruiz being controlled here, momentarily.
Ruiz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Steven. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Steven stands and steps away. Ruiz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz lands a two punch combo.
Conner Steven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruiz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Steven throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ruiz's waist but Ruiz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Steven off to one side.

Steven moves into the clinch.
Steven fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Steven trying to land knees to the body.

Ruiz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ruiz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Steven.
Ruiz moves out of range of the strikes.
Steven closes the distance and clinches up with Ruiz, looking for a takedown. Steven pushes Ruiz against the cage but Ruiz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conner Steven. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Steven drives through with a takedown into Ruiz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Steven controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Steven is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruiz can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven chips away with some ground and pound.
Steven 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruiz wants to stand and escape but Steven is having none of it.
Steven is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Steven stands up and waves to Ruiz to follow him.
Ruiz checks a low kick from Steven.
Steven shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruiz but Ruiz pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ruiz enables Steven to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ruiz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruiz wants to get back to his feet but Steven is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Steven working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ruiz's head.
Conner Steven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ruiz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Steven in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ruiz being controlled here, momentarily.
Steven with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steven landing with the ground and pound.
Steven controlling from the top position.
Steven throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steven is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
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!

Steven gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruiz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ruiz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conner Steven dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Steven on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Ruiz gets tackled into the cage by Steven. Steven maintains the clinch.

Steven pulls guard.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Steven trying to strike off his back.
Steven is trying to control the position but Ruiz postures up.
Steven trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Steven bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ruiz's guard.
Steven is working Ruiz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Steven scoring with some ground and pound.
Steven won't allow Ruiz to sweep him here.
Steven won't allow Ruiz to get back to his feet.
Ruiz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Steven's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Steven landing some decent shots from guard.
Steven cracks Ruiz with a solid left hand.
Steven cracks Ruiz with a solid left hand.

Ruiz is rocked!
Steven arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Ruiz's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Conner Steven!
Conner Steven retains his featherweight title!
Our winner, Conner Steven, 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.