PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Serge Ibaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kip Ruell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ibaka's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, S.A.R.S. - Lutka. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ibaka
vs
Ruell

170 cm
27
143 lbs
13 - 0 - 0

174 cm
27
135 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Alcatraz Apparel
Atlantis

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Serge Ibaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kip Ruell!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ibaka thuds a left hand into Ruell's body.
Ibaka tries to clinch but Ruell is having none of it.
Ibaka tries to clinch but Ruell is having none of it.
Ibaka looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ruell misses the jab.
Ruell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ibaka tries to counter by clinching up but Ruell breaks away and moves out of range.
Ibaka wants to clinch.
Ruell misses with a low kick as Ibaka jumps back.
Ibaka seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ibaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kip Ruell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ibaka clinches up against the cage.
Ibaka can't find room to land a body shot as Ruell controls the action.
Ruell lands with a right to the head.
Ruell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ibaka's elbow.
Ibaka tries to work over Ruell's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ibaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ibaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Ruell.
Ruell tries a body shot but Ibaka blocks it.
A right handed body shot lands from Ibaka.
Ibaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Ruell fails to land.
Ruell lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ruell is working Ibaka over against the cage.
Ibaka tries a body shot but Ruell blocks it.
Ibaka gets through Ruell's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ruell misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ruell has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Ibaka seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Ruell can turn it around.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ibaka creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ibaka lands a nice uppercut.
Ibaka prevents a body shot from Ruell.
A left hand lands to the body for Ruell.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ruell struggles to land a body shot inside as Ibaka controls his hands.
Ibaka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ruell backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ruell backwards.
Ibaka misses with the head strike.
Ibaka lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ibaka misses with the head strike.
Ruell goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ibaka scores with a shot to the side of Ruell's head.
Ibaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Ruell.
A nice left hand lands by Ibaka.
Ibaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Ruell uses good head movement to avoid it.
A shot in the inside from Ruell.
Ibaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Ibaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ruell's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ibaka.
Ibaka working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ruell blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ruell blocking some punches.
Ibaka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ruell tries a body shot but Ibaka blocks it.
Ibaka prevents a body shot from Ruell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka is working Ruell over against the cage.
Ibaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Ruell.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ruell.
Ruell lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ibaka backwards.
Ruell lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Ibaka.
Ibaka lands with a short shot to the head.
Ibaka has a couple of punches blocked by Ruell.
Ibaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ibaka misses with the head strike.
Ruell goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ibaka working aggressively here.
Ruell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ibaka.
Ibaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ibaka pushes Ruell back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ibaka throws a head punch that misses.
Ruell misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ruell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Ibaka fails to land.
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!
Ruell blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Ibaka.
Ruell misses with the head strike.
Ibaka lands a right hand.
Ibaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ibaka works on Ruell's body with a couple of short punches.
Ibaka is trying to stall.
Ibaka gets through Ruell's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ibaka throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ruells head.
Ibaka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Good body shot from Ibaka.
Still in the clinch, Ibaka scores with a nice short uppercut.
A body shot lands from Ruell.
Ibaka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Ibaka as the two fighters clinch.
Ruell prevents a body shot from Ibaka.
Ruell lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ibaka backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ruell clinches with his opponent.
Ruell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Ruell fails to land.
Ruell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ibaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ruell misses with a punch to the body.
Ruell lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ibaka.
Ibaka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right from Ruell.
Ruell misses with a punch on the inside.
Ibaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ruell's elbow.
Ibaka struggles to land a body shot inside as Ruell controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruell digs a right hand into Ibaka's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ibaka's gas tank.
Ibaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ruell misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ibaka misses with a body punch.
Ibaka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ruell can't find room to land a body shot as Ibaka controls the action.
Ibaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ruell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ibaka is working Ruell over against the cage.
Ibaka prevents a body shot from Ruell.
Ruell misses with a body punch.
Ruell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ibaka lands a right hand.
Ruell misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ruell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ruell blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Ibaka fails to land.
Ruell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ruell lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ibaka or not.
Ibaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruell can do to turn this around?
Ruell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ibaka's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ibaka.
Ruell misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right hook to the body lands for Ibaka.
A head punch on the inside from Ibaka fails to land.
Ibaka blocks a body shot from Ruell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ruell lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ibaka lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ruell backwards.
Ruell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ibaka gets through Ruell's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruell lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ruell letting Ibaka take a breather here.
Ibaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ruell misses with a punch to the body.
Ibaka tries to throw a body punch but Ruell avoids it by throwing Ibaka back against the cage.
A short right from Ruell.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ibaka.
Ibaka scores with a shot to the side of Ruell's head.
Ibaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ruell blocks an uppercut.
Ruell lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ruell.
Ibaka blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruell can't find room to land a body shot as Ibaka controls the action.
Ruell has a couple of punches blocked by Ibaka.
Ibaka cracks Ruell with a nice body shot.
Ibaka tries a body shot but Ruell blocks it.
Ibaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ruell can't find room to land a body shot as Ibaka controls the action.
Ruell misses with a punch on the inside.
Ibaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ibaka has a couple of punches blocked by Ruell.
Ruell tries to throw a body punch but Ibaka avoids it by throwing Ruell back against the cage.
Ruell misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ruell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ibaka lands a shoulder strike.
Ibaka throws a head punch that misses.
Ibaka tries to throw a body punch but Ruell avoids it by throwing Ibaka back against the cage.
A short right from Ibaka.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ruell.
Ibaka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ruell backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ibaka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ibaka has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Ruell misses with a body punch.
Ruell misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short body shot lands from Ibaka as the two fighters clinch.
Ibaka slowing the pace effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ibaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Ibaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ibaka works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short right from Ibaka on the inside.
A short right from Ibaka on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ibaka.
Ibaka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ruell has a couple of punches blocked by Ibaka.
Ibaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ibaka presses Ruell against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ibaka misses with some punches.
Ruell blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ibaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ruell's elbow.
Ibaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ruell scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nice body punch from Ruell.
A swing and a miss from Ibaka.
Ibaka is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ibaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ruell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ruell throws out a counter right but Ibaka avoids it with no problem.
Ruell jabs at Ibaka's body.
Ruell throws an off balance right hand
and Ibaka counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka blocks a jab.
A head kick misses from Ruell.
Nice shot lands for Ruell.
Ruell thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Ibaka if he has to take too many more of those.

Ibaka moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruell misses with a hook to the ribs.
Serge Ibaka has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ibaka.
Ibaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ibaka misses with a body punch.
Ibaka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ruell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short body shot lands from Ruell as the two fighters clinch.
Ruell misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ruell misses with a punch to the body.
Ibaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Ruell.
Ruell's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ibaka lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Ruell.
Ibaka has a couple of punches blocked by Ruell.
Ruell is looking to control Ibaka's arms but Ibaka gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ruell has his back to the cage.
Ruell misses with a punch to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ruell.
Ruell blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruell struggles to land a body shot inside as Ibaka controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ibaka.
Ruell misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ibaka misses with a body punch.
Ibaka prevents a body shot from Ruell.
Ruell working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ibaka working aggressively here.
Ibaka blocks a body shot from Ruell.
Ruell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ibaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Ibaka.
Ibaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ibaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ibaka misses with the head strike.
Ibaka pushes Ruell back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ibaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ibaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Ibaka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ibaka creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stalling in the clinch from Ibaka.
Ibaka tries a body shot but Ruell blocks it.
Ruell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ruell tries to work over Ibaka's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ruell lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ibaka backwards.
Ruell swings wildly with an uppercut but Ibaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ruell tries a body shot but Ibaka blocks it.
Ibaka stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ibaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ruell swings wildly with an uppercut but Ibaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ibaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Ruell.
Ibaka lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Ibaka as the two fighters clinch.
Ibaka misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ruell working aggressively here.
A right hook to the body lands for Ruell.
Ibaka tries to throw a body punch but Ruell avoids it by throwing Ibaka back against the cage.
Ibaka throws a head punch that misses.
Ruell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ibaka's elbow.
Ibaka lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ibaka misses with a body punch.
Ibaka is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ibaka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ruell blocks a body shot from Ibaka.
Ibaka works on Ruell's body with a couple of short punches.
Ruell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ibaka looking to slow down the pace here.
Ibaka stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ruell swings wildly with an uppercut but Ibaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ibaka drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ibaka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ruell doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Ibaka tries to clinch up but Ruell circles away and keeps his distance.
Ibaka tries to clinch there but Ruell circles away.
Ibaka avoids the body shot from Ruell.
Ibaka is looking to counter the offense by Ruell and move into the clinch.
A left lands for Ruell.
Ibaka wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ibaka tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ruell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruell misses with a body punch
and Ibaka counters with a right hand to the body.
Ruell throws the left hand but Ibaka avoids the punch easily.
Ibaka fails to land with a series of punches.
Ruell swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kip Ruell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ruell misses the shot to the body.
Ruell scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ibaka listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

It looks like Kip Ruell has been cut.

Ibaka rushes Ruell and presses him up against the cage.
Ibaka is working Ruell over against the cage.
Ruell is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Ibaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ibaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ruell's elbow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ibaka.
Ibaka lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ruell misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka lands a hook to the side of the head.

Ruell is rocked!
Ruell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ruell is still on wobbly legs! Can Ibaka finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ibaka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ruell tries to throw a body punch but Ibaka avoids it by throwing Ruell back against the cage.
Ibaka scores with a hook to the body.
Ibaka lands a body shot.
Ibaka works on Ruell's body with a couple of short punches.
Ibaka pushes Ruell against the cage. Ibaka is working some dirty boxing. Ibaka pushes off with a quick right hook! Ruell goes down! Ruell tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Ibaka moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Serge Ibaka!
During a confident post fight interview, Serge Ibaka thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.