PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pierre Saint Roc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Ruanti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saint Roc's entrance music is Rock superstar. A fine choice. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Daniel Ruanti enters the cage!

Saint Roc
vs
Ruanti

189 cm
31
221 lbs
23 - 15 - 1

187 cm
34
205 lbs
35 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 1, fighting out of New York, Pierre Saint Roc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Daniel Ruanti!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saint Roc changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Saint Roc misses with the combination.
Saint Roc moves out of range of the body kick from Ruanti.
Ruanti jabs at Saint Roc's body.

Ruanti closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ruanti lands in his opponent's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Saint Roc can't keep his opponent in guard - Ruanti advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Saint Roc wants to improve his position but Ruanti is controlling well.
Ruanti trying to mount his opponent but Saint Roc defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ruanti is looking for a kimura but Saint Roc is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ruanti to get the leverage.
Ruanti thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruanti looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ruanti trying to mount his opponent but Saint Roc defends it.
Ruanti is keen to just control but Saint Roc is a slippery customer.
Ruanti stalling away here and it's allowed Saint Roc to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Ruanti trying to control the position from guard on top but Saint Roc is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saint Roc controlling Ruanti's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruanti postures up.
Saint Roc keeping moving, preventing Ruanti from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Saint Roc throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Saint Roc can't keep his opponent in guard - Ruanti advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Ruanti is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Saint Roc is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ruanti's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ruanti's back!

Ruanti fending off the submission attempt from Saint Roc.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saint Roc lands with a hammerfist to the side of Ruanti's head.
Saint Roc is trying to stick to Ruanti's back but Ruanti is turning into Saint Roc. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Saint Roc's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ruanti.
Saint Roc looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruanti is one step ahead there.

Saint Roc is looking for a triangle but Ruanti pushes his legs off easily.
Ruanti wants to control from the top but Saint Roc keeps moving.
Ruanti is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruanti wants to pass the guard but Saint Roc is keeping the position.
Saint Roc bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ruanti's guard.
Saint Roc postures up.
Saint Roc trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruanti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saint Roc is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruanti wants to sweep here but Saint Roc controlling him for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruanti keeping moving, preventing Saint Roc from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Saint Roc throws a lazy right hand but Ruanti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daniel Ruanti will probably get the nod.
That's time! Saint Roc's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ruanti clobbers Saint Roc with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Some bone on bone action there as Ruanti checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Saint Roc lands a right hook to the body.
Ruanti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saint Roc scores with the left hand. Ruanti knows he should have avoided that one.
Ruanti pivots, looking for a leg kick but Saint Roc is out of range and Ruanti settles back down.
Saint Roc tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ruanti was well out of range. Poor timing from Saint Roc.
Ruanti goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Saint Roc stuffs the takedown.
Saint Roc ducks right into an uppercut from Ruanti.
Ruanti has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Saint Roc.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saint Roc connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ruanti fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saint Roc looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint Roc fails to land with a series of punches.
Saint Roc uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ruanti has time to react.
Ruanti takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ruanti throws a right hand that Saint Roc ducks under and follows up with a left that Saint Roc also avoids with ease.
Ruanti takes one to the chin there.
Saint Roc looks for a takedown but Ruanti sprawls well.
Ruanti lands a nice looking body kick.
Saint Roc lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ruanti's sensitive parts.
Some bone on bone action there as Saint Roc checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ruanti tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saint Roc sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ruanti somewhat.
Pierre Saint Roc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Ruanti.
Saint Roc tries to clinch up but Ruanti circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruanti wants to clinch
and Saint Roc counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ruanti is looking to clinch.
Saint Roc works the jab nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saint Roc checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ruanti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ruanti misses with a hook to the body
enabling Saint Roc to counter with a crisp jab.
Ruanti misses with a straight right.
Saint Roc moves out of range of the body kick from Ruanti.
Saint Roc throws a leg kick but Ruanti moved away.
Ruanti tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Saint Roc manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ruanti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saint Roc.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruanti blocks a leg kick.
Ruanti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saint Roc fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruanti manages to avoid it.
Ruanti pivots, looking for a leg kick but Saint Roc is out of range and Ruanti settles back down.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Saint Roc.
Nice uppercut there from Saint Roc.
A punch combination from Ruanti misses.
Ruanti thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from Saint Roc misses.
Ruanti slips under a jab from Saint Roc.
Saint Roc connects with a looping right hand.
Ruanti throws a head kick that misses.
Saint Roc cracks Ruanti with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saint Roc on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ruanti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ruanti avoids the body shot from Saint Roc.
Saint Roc tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saint Roc lands a nice shot that snaps Ruanti's head back.
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!
Saint Roc lands with a nice body punch.
Saint Roc checks the leg kick.
Ruanti just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruanti misses with a kick to the body.
Ruanti moves in looking to clinch but Saint Roc pushes him off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saint Roc connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ruanti momentarily.
Ruanti scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A jab from Saint Roc misses.
Ruanti will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Saint Roc dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ruanti fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saint Roc tries a head kick but it misses.
Saint Roc scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Saint Roc stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Saint Roc ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruanti moves away.
Saint Roc connects with a nice looking jab.
Ruanti avoids the body shot from Saint Roc.
Crunch! Ruanti slams his shin into Saint Roc's torso.
That kick from Saint Roc tenderised Ruanti's leg. Ruanti is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ruanti tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saint Roc swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saint Roc wants to land a leg kick but Ruanti is out of range.
Saint Roc scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Saint Roc misses with an uppercut. Ruanti saw that one coming.
Ruanti throws a shot from downtown. Saint Roc moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruanti just misses with a punch to the body.
Saint Roc connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ruanti. Ruanti circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Saint Roc finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Saint Roc cracks the inside of Ruanti's front leg.

Ruanti shoots in and gets a takedown into Saint Roc's guard.
Ruanti pushing down on Saint Roc's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ruanti is looking to take a break and control but Saint Roc is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ruanti throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Saint Roc regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ruanti postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Saint Roc is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ruanti, into his guard.
Saint Roc stays in close to Ruanti's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruanti is trying to control the position but Saint Roc postures up.
Saint Roc wants to control from the top but Ruanti keeps moving.
Saint Roc being controlled here momentarily.

Ruanti working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saint Roc doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saint Roc manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ruanti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruanti wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saint Roc keeps working.
Ruanti controlling the pace.
Ruanti trying to control from half guard but Saint Roc is working away.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Ruanti is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Saint Roc sees it coming and defends easily.
Saint Roc is staying active underneath Ruanti, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saint Roc blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ruanti.
Saint Roc holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Saint Roc has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ruanti is working away from the top position though.
Saint Roc won't allow Ruanti to pass to mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ruanti throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Saint Roc throws a half hearted mid kick.
Saint Roc throws a body punch but Ruanti moves out of range.
Saint Roc fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ruanti connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruanti lands with a kick to the temple. Saint Roc shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruanti throws a wild body kick that Saint Roc sees coming a mile off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Ruanti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ruanti 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Daniel Ruanti!
A very excited looking Daniel Ruanti made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.