PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zed Bjergsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Ruffier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Ruffier will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bjergsen
vs
Ruffier

165 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

168 cm
23
144 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zed Bjergsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Ruffier!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bjergsen tries for a takedown but Ruffier circles away easily

and Ruffier counters with a takedown into side control.
Bjergsen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Bjergsen keeping hold of Ruffier's head, controlling as best he can.
Ruffier prevents Bjergsen from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mark Ruffier wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bjergsen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruffier circles away.

Ruffier gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bjergsen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ruffier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bjergsen throws an elbow that misses. Ruffier uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bjergsen's guard. Nice move by Ruffier!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bjergsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bjergsen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Zed Bjergsen just wasn't active enough.
Ruffier jabs at Bjergsen's body.

Bjergsen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ruffier manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ruffier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bjergsen.
Bjergsen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bjergsen trying to control but Ruffier is working from the bottom.
Ruffier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bjergsen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bjergsen looking to sit in guard and control but Ruffier gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ruffier trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bjergsen's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zed Bjergsen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ruffier scores with a decent looking hook.
Ruffier scores with a shot to the body.
Ruffier stuffs the takedown.
Ruffier lands a nice hook to Bjergsen's body. Bjergsen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zed Bjergsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bjergsen fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice jab there from Ruffier.
Bjergsen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zed Bjergsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bjergsen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ruffier sprawls well. Ruffier wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bjergsen gets slowly back to his feet.
Bjergsen shoots for a takedown but Ruffier saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ruffier lands an overhand right.
Bjergsen shoots in for a takedown but Ruffier shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bjergsen shoots in looking for a takedown. Ruffier tries to sprawl out of it but Bjergsen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ruffier manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bjergsen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ruffier.
Jab from Ruffier.
Ruffier defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bjergsen.
Bjergsen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ruffier sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ruffier dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ruffier displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bjergsen.
Bjergsen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bjergsen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ruffier sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bjergsen somewhat.
Bjergsen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruffier circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bjergsen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mark Ruffier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bjergsen fails to land the takedown.
Ruffier scores with a three punch combo!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bjergsen.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bjergsen throws an elbow but Ruffier slips to the side and avoids it well.
Zed Bjergsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bjergsen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Bjergsen prevents Ruffier from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bjergsen throwing strikes but Ruffier manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Ruffier stands up.
Bjergsen fails with the takedown

and Ruffier counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bjergsen's guard now.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bjergsen holds on and takes a little breather.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bjergsen 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.

We're going to have a standup here because Zed Bjergsen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ruffier lands a jab to Bjergsen's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ruffier!
Mark Ruffier seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ruffier lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
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!
Bjergsen closes the distance and clinches up with Ruffier, looking for a takedown. Bjergsen pushes Ruffier against the cage but Ruffier circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bjergsen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Bjergsen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ruffier sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bjergsen somewhat.
Bjergsen darts in looking for a takedown but Ruffier gets double underhooks and turns Bjergsen into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruffier wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bjergsen is trying to pull guard but Ruffier turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Ruffier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bjergsen shoots in looking for a takedown but Ruffier manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bjergsen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bjergsen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ruffier defends it nicely.
Bjergsen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruffier but Ruffier pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zed Bjergsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruffier clobbers Bjergsen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Zed Bjergsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruffier lands a lovely overhand right.
Ruffier lands with a nice body punch.

Bjergsen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ruffier looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ruffier is trying to get back to his feet.
Bjergsen wants to control but Ruffier is keeping him busy.
Bjergsen working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bjergsen working the strikes but Ruffier uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Bjergsen wants to advance to full mount but Ruffier doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Bjergsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruffier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bjergsen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ruffier preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bjergsen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ruffier keeping moving, preventing Bjergsen from controlling successfully.
Bjergsen throwing strikes from guard but Ruffier blocks nicely.
Bjergsen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bjergsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bjergsen looking to sit in guard and control but Ruffier gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bjergsen pulls Ruffier in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Zed Bjergsen just wasn't active enough.
Ruffier ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ruffier stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ruffier wants it to stay on the feet.
Ruffier keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bjergsen shoots in and drives through. Ruffier sprawls well.
Ruffier connects with a single shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bjergsen shoots in for a takedown but Ruffier shows good takedown defense.
Bjergsen fails to land the takedown.
Ruffier is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bjergsen rather than just go for the knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bjergsen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ruffier counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bjergsen tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Ruffier has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bjergsen is squirming around, avoiding Ruffier's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zed Bjergsen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bjergsen 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 Josh West scores the fight for Zed Bjergsen!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Zed Bjergsen!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Zed Bjergsen!

Zed Bjergsen wins by unanimous decision!