PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Vanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Ruggiero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vanko comes to the cage accompanied by Oh No by Gogol Bordello. Vinny Ruggiero will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Vanko
vs
Ruggiero

175 cm
24
261 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

200 cm
32
223 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ivan Vanko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vinny Ruggiero!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruggiero rushes Vanko and presses him up against the cage.

Vanko jumps guard and drags Ruggiero to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Vanko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ruggiero defends it easily.

Vanko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vanko keeping full guard, as Ruggiero tries to pass.
Vanko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ruggiero not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vanko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruggiero trying to control but Vanko is working from the bottom.
Vanko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ruggiero manages to get himself to full guard.
Vanko wants to control from the top but Ruggiero keeps moving.
Ruggiero not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ruggiero seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vinny Ruggiero.

Ruggiero takes the fight into the clinch.
Ruggiero trying to stall but Vanko improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vanko managing to block the knees to the body from Ruggiero.
Vanko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vanko tries to pull guard but Ruggiero forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the head but Vanko blocks with his arms.
Vanko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Vanko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruggiero using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vanko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ruggiero with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Ivan Vanko has been cut.
Ruggiero lands a nice knee to the body.
Ruggiero tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero tries a knee to the head but Vanko blocks it.
Ruggiero connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vanko's face.
Vanko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vanko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ruggiero tries to land knees in the clinch but Vanko avoids the damage to the body.
Vanko fails to pull guard.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ruggiero throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vanko blocks it with crossed arms.
Vanko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ruggiero walks away with a smile on his face. Vanko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Ruggiero moves into range and clinches up with Vanko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanko has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ruggiero after a bit of a struggle.
Ruggiero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Vanko drags the fight down to the ground.
Ruggiero wants to stand but Vanko is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ruggiero is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ruggiero really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vanko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ruggiero stopping the sweep attempt from Vanko.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vanko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Ruggiero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Vanko's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ruggiero gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ruggiero throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vanko blocks it with crossed arms.
Ruggiero misses with an elbow strike.

Vanko pulls Ruggiero into guard.
Vanko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ruggiero is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Ruggiero is in a horrible position here. Vanko smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vanko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

It looks like Vinny Ruggiero has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanko with shots to the head and body - Ruggiero looks very uncomfortable down there.

Vanko working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Vanko cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Ruggiero is rocked!
Vanko lands a heavy shot. That's hurt Ruggiero! Vanko sees the opportunity and turns up the heat - strike after strike land to the defenseless Ruggiero and the ref dives in to save him! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ivan Vanko!
Our winner, Ivan Vanko, 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.