PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lenard Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bender
vs
Ruiz

224 cm
21
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lenard Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Santiago Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bender gets a clinch.
Ruiz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Ruiz lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ruiz prevents Bender from standing back up.
Ruiz lands with a punch from half guard.
Ruiz uses his free foot to push down on Bender's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Bender.
Ruiz tries to control but Bender wriggling away.
Ruiz throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Ruiz throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bender because Ruiz loaded up on that one.
Bender really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ruiz looking to control and managing it successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ruiz with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz working Bender over with strikes here.
Ruiz wants to control the action but instead Bender gets a body lock and reverses into Ruiz's guard! Nice work!
Bender trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bender sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ruiz's guard.
Bender is trying to control. Ruiz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bender tries to pass to full mount but Ruiz defends it.
Bender is trying to control. Ruiz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender slips a nice elbow through Ruiz's hands, connecting with Ruiz's forehead.
Ruiz is looking for a sweep. Bender is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bender is trying to control. Ruiz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ruiz pushes Bender off looking to stand but Bender dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bender tries to pass to full mount but Ruiz defends it.
Bender winds up and cracks Ruiz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bender controlling the action here.

We're going to have a standup here because Lenard Bender wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Bender has a takedown stuffed.
Ruiz has his takedown stuffed

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Bender counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bender trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bender trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bender wants to pass the guard but Ruiz is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lenard Bender wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Bender tries to keep at a distance but Ruiz has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lenard Bender will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ruiz misses with a combination
and Bender counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Ruiz darts in and clinches Bender up against the cage.
Ruiz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bender has him pressed against the cage.
Ruiz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bender is trying to pull guard but Ruiz has him pressed against the cage.
Ruiz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bender prevents Ruiz from breaking the clinch.
Bender taking a breather.
Come on Bender - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Bender tries to pull guard but Ruiz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Bender is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lenard Bender. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bender misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Ruiz manages to pull guard.

Ruiz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bender defends well.
Bender trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruiz pulls Bender in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz trying to keep a closed guard but Bender is proving a slippery customer.
Ruiz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Lenard Bender has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ruiz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Santiago Ruiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruiz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bender sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ruiz somewhat.
Ruiz is breathing heavily.
Ruiz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz misses with a straight right.
Ruiz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bender sprawls well. Bender wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ruiz gets slowly back to his feet.
Ruiz leaves Bender with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ruiz misses with a combination
and Bender counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Santiago Ruiz has been cut.
Bender shoots in looking for a takedown but Ruiz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bender's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ruiz misses with a double jab

and Bender counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Bender seems to be working for a kimura but Ruiz defends the submission attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bender thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ruiz's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bender is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenard Bender dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Santiago Ruiz's cut.
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!

Ruiz forces Bender back against the cage and clinches.
Bender tries to work over Ruiz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bender jumps guard but Ruiz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ruiz can't break the clinch.

Ruiz jumps guard.
Bender wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.
Bender wants to stand and escape but instead Ruiz has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ruiz trying to control but Bender is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz looking to sit in guard and control but Bender gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ruiz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bender will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bender trying to control but Ruiz is working from the bottom.
Bender has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ruiz is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender passes into half guard.
Ruiz wants to get back to his feet.
Bender wants to take a breather but Ruiz is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lenard Bender.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bender is defended easily by Ruiz.

Ruiz has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Bender breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bender.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lenard Bender. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruiz misses with a hook

and Bender counters by clinching up.

Ruiz manages to break the clinch.
Bender shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ruiz as he avoids it easily.
Ruiz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bender sprawls well. Bender wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ruiz gets slowly back to his feet.

Bender tries to sprawl but Ruiz drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender is trying to stand up here but Ruiz is controlling him well.
Ruiz controlling the pace.
Ruiz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Ruiz is thwarting Bender's attempts to control the position.
Santiago Ruiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Well, if Ruiz 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Santiago Ruiz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ruiz throws a body punch but Bender moves out of range.
Lenard Bender is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ruiz closes the distance and pushes Bender back into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santiago Ruiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bender has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Santiago Ruiz!