PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darius Kniezelis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kniezelis
vs
Ruiz

186 cm
25
172 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darius Kniezelis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kniezelis explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A combination from Kniezelis does no damage.
Kniezelis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ruiz throws a body kick that misses.
Kniezelis swinging wildly here.
Kniezelis throws a right hand that Ruiz ducks under and follows up with a left that Ruiz also avoids with ease.
Kniezelis throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Darius Kniezelis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kniezelis misses with a wild body shot.
Kniezelis throws a combination. Ruiz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Ruiz has closed the distance and engaged Kniezelis in a 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!
Kniezelis tries to circle away but Ruiz has him pinned against the cage.
Ruiz keeps control of Kniezelis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ruiz has picked Kniezelis up - he's going for a ride! Ruiz dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ruiz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kniezelis has hold of Ruiz's hands but Ruiz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ruiz stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruiz seems to be working for a kimura but Kniezelis defends the submission attempt.
Ruiz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ruiz is controlling the pace.
Ruiz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Ruiz wants to work for an arm triangle but Kniezelis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
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.
Ruiz throwing shots but Kniezelis is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ricardo Ruiz.
Kniezelis throws a combination. Ruiz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kniezelis throws a head kick that misses
and Ruiz counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ruiz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A combination from Ruiz does no damage.

Ruiz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kniezelis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ruiz stands up and beckons Kniezelis to his feet.
Ruiz avoids the head kick by Kniezelis.
No joy there for Kniezelis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kniezelis takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kniezelis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ruiz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ruiz.
Ruiz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Let's hope that Ruiz 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricardo Ruiz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ruiz drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ruiz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A nice combination there by Kniezelis.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ruiz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kniezelis fakes the leg kick and cracks Ruiz in the body.
Ruiz throws a series of punches but Kniezelis avoids them all with ease.
Ruiz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Ruiz dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kniezelis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Ruiz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kniezelis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ruiz has him pressed against the cage.
Kniezelis digs a right hand underneath Ruiz's ribcage. Ruiz let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ruiz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Ruiz jumps guard.
Ruiz controlling the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kniezelis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruiz moves away.
Ruiz shoots in for a takedown but Kniezelis shows good takedown defense.
Kniezelis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kniezelis misses with a double jab.

Ruiz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kniezelis is trying to defend but Ruiz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kniezelis tries to kick Ruiz off but Ruiz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Ruiz decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Kniezelis lands a nice hook to Ruiz's body. Ruiz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Darius Kniezelis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ruiz misses with a jab, cross combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ruiz. Kniezelis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kniezelis thuds a left hand into Ruiz's body.
Ruiz is breathing heavily.
Ruiz misses with a jab, cross combination.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kniezelis.
Kniezelis connects with a solid leg kick.
Kniezelis connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kniezelis's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kniezelis duly obliges.
Kniezelis swinging wildly here.
Kniezelis throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ruiz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kniezelis throws a series of punches but Ruiz avoids them all with ease.
Kniezelis digs a good hook to Ruiz's body.
Darius Kniezelis is winning the standup battle so far.
Ruiz lunges at Kniezelis with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kniezelis's hand.
Darius Kniezelis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kniezelis connects with a looping right hand.
Kniezelis lets his hands go wild with a nice combination. Left! Right! Uppercut! Spinning backfist! Ruiz goes down and covers up as Kniezelis starts wailing on him! The ref watches the action closely before stepping in and putting a stop to the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Darius Kniezelis!
The defeated Ricardo Ruiz had this to say: 'I'm sorry to disappoint the fans. I'll try harder next time'.