PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Ruggiero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Stevens
vs
Ruggiero

183 cm
31
198 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

200 cm
35
248 lbs
13 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vinny Ruggiero!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruggiero tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Stevens defends well and Ruggiero ends up having to push Stevens into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Stevens throws a wild body kick that Ruggiero sees coming a mile off.
Stevens digs a good body shot into Ruggiero's ribs.

Ruggiero has Stevens up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruggiero unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stevens lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ruggiero throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ruggiero tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ruggiero throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stevens blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stevens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ruggiero tries to counter with a clinch but Stevens shakes him off and moves away.
We've been told by Stevens's head coaches at Bi-polar Asylum that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Ruggiero takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Stevens waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ruggiero.
Stevens looks to land a left hand but Ruggiero moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruggiero with a poor takedown
and Stevens counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stevens lands with an uppercut that bounces Ruggiero off the cage and back into range.

It looks like Vinny Ruggiero has been cut.
No joy there for Stevens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stevens misses with a hook.
Ruggiero gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Ruggiero rushes Stevens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stevens being controlled against the cage.
Ruggiero wants to stall.
Ruggiero scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Mike Stevens has been cut.
Ruggiero lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero stalling in the clinch but Stevens improves position.
Stevens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stevens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stevens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ruggiero has him pressed against the cage.
Stevens tries for a takedown but Ruggiero manages to get underhooks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruggiero lands a nice knee to the body.
Stevens wants to get back to striking at distance but Ruggiero won't allow it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ruggiero.
A short uppercut from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ruggiero scores with a knee to the head.
Ruggiero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stevens working hard to break the clinch.
Stevens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ruggiero has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stevens lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.

Stevens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stevens dives in for a single leg takedown but Ruggiero sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ruggiero steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stevens.
Ruggiero throws a body shot but no joy.
Ruggiero slips under a jab.

Ruggiero clinches up against the cage.
Ruggiero misses with a hook from the clinch.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevens tried to score with a low kick but Ruggiero checks it.
Stevens looks to throw the jab but Ruggiero is out of range.
Mike Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruggiero looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Ruggiero.
Stevens misses the jab.

Stevens fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ruggiero, pushing him back against the cage.
Ruggiero is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Stevens is keeping busy.
Ruggiero prevents Stevens from breaking the clinch.
Stevens wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stevens has picked Ruggiero up - he's going for a ride! Stevens dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevens sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ruggiero defending well though.
Stevens thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ruggiero's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens is looking to stall here but Ruggiero recovers full guard.
Stevens stays in close to Ruggiero's body and controls the position.
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 Mike Stevens will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stevens lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ruggiero circles away quickly and effectively.

Ruggiero clinches up with Stevens and pushes him back against the cage.
Ruggiero misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stevens wants a takedown.
Ruggiero using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stevens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stevens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ruggiero unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stevens lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ruggiero landing knees to the head.
Ruggiero is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Stevens wants to break free but Ruggiero has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruggiero landing knees to the head.
Stevens avoiding damage as Ruggiero throws knees to the body.
Stevens looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruggiero is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stevens managing to block the knees to the body from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevens blocks it with crossed arms.
Stevens tries to break free but Ruggiero pushes him back against the cage.
Stevens working hard to break the clinch.
Stevens has had enough of the clinch but Ruggiero keeps him there for the moment.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ruggiero.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Stevens wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ruggiero misses with a knee strike.
Ruggiero landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruggiero landing knees to the head.
Ruggiero lands an elbow inside that Stevens shrugs off.

Mike Stevens's cut is getting worse.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ruggiero throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stevenss head.
Ruggiero with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stevens avoids it.
Stevens blocks the elbow strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ruggiero dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ruggiero is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruggiero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.
Ruggiero has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ruggiero lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero keeps control of Stevens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ruggiero obliges.
A knee to the head by Ruggiero.
Ruggiero with a knee to the head.
Stevens can't break the clinch.
Ruggiero landing knees to the body.
Ruggiero throws a punch but it's blocked by Stevens.
Stevens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Stevens manages to break the clinch.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Ruggiero.
Stevens connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ruggiero circles away quickly and effectively.
Stevens throws a body shot but no joy.
Ruggiero is looking to clinch.

Ruggiero looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Stevens!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevens manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ruggiero's best efforts.
Stevens trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Ruggiero manages to pass to mount!
Ruggiero controlling from the full mount.
Ruggiero tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Ruggiero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stevens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stevens is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Stevens fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Ruggiero pushes Stevens up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruggiero with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Stevens managing to block the knees to the body from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ruggiero connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stevens's face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stevens avoiding damage as Ruggiero throws knees to the body.
Ruggiero throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ruggiero tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stevens takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens managing to block the knees to the body from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ruggiero using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stevens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ruggiero tries to land a knee to the head but Stevens blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Ruggiero.

Mike Stevens's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Vinny Ruggiero seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ruggiero misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stevens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ruggiero closes the distance and clinches.
Ruggiero looking to throw knees to the head but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Stevens looking to slow down the pace here.
Ruggiero landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero scores with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Ruggiero scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ruggiero throws a punch but it's blocked by Stevens.
Ruggiero trying to land knees to the body.
Ruggiero tries to throw a body punch but Stevens avoids it by throwing Ruggiero back against the cage.
Ruggiero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Stevens manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruggiero tries for a takedown but Stevens circles away easily
and Stevens counters with a two punch combo.
Stevens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruggiero moves away.
Ruggiero looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stevens looks to throw the jab but Ruggiero is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stevens throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The fighters circling - Stevens throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ruggiero.
Mike Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vinny Ruggiero.
Stevens slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Stevens drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Ruggiero keeps moving.
Stevens is really struggling to control Ruggiero but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Stevens preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stevens stands and throws Ruggiero's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stevens throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mike Stevens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stevens trying to control the action but Ruggiero is working from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Stevens.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruggiero being controlled for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Stevens.
I think Stevens 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Vinny Ruggiero!
A relieved looking Vinny Ruggiero thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.