PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maximo Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bao Bai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ruiz
vs
Bai

195 cm
23
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maximo Ruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bao Bai!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bai instigates a clinch.
Bai is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ruiz is defending well.
Ruiz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ruiz can't get the takedown.
Bai can't break the clinch.
Ruiz wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maximo Ruiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruiz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bai tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ruiz avoids it.
Bai is pressed up against the cage. Ruiz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bai down to the mat. Bai avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bai shoots and misses
and Ruiz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ruiz is looking to clinch but Bai is avoiding it.
Bai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruiz circles away.
Ruiz swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Bai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ruiz tries to pull guard but Bai won't allow it.

Ruiz manages to break the clinch.

Ruiz instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ruiz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bai pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bai swats away the attempt to clinch by Ruiz.
Bai tries a head kick but it misses.
Ruiz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ruiz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruiz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ruiz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz wants to clinch but Bai slips to the side
and Bai counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Maximo Ruiz has been cut.
Ruiz with a poor takedown
and Bai counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Ruiz is rocked!

Bai closes the distance and clinches.
Oh Ruiz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Bai manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bai is looking for a triangle but Ruiz pushes his legs off easily.
Bai wants to sweep but no luck.
Ruiz seems to have got his legs back now.
Bai throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruiz wants to stand but Bai is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ruiz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ruiz looking to sit in guard and control but Bai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bai's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz controlling Bai's posture.
Bai sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bai stopping the sweep attempt from Ruiz.
Ruiz pulls Bai in close to his closed guard and prevents Bai from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Bai gets to his feet. Ruiz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Bai misses with a takedown attempt - Ruiz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruiz swivels and escapes.
Bai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ruiz avoids it really well and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruiz is looking to clinch but Bai is avoiding it.
Jab, jab by Bai - just one landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bao Bai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maximo Ruiz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bai instigates a clinch.
Ruiz tries to break the clinch but Bai is controlling the position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Bai - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ruiz tries to pull guard but Bai won't allow it.
Ruiz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bai pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Ruiz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ruiz stuffs the takedown.
Bai circles away from the clinch attempt.

Bai fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ruiz, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maximo Ruiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bai prevents Ruiz from breaking the clinch.
Ruiz stalling in the clinch.

Bai has hold of one of Ruiz's legs. Ruiz is fighting the takedown attempt but Bai gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bai showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ruiz keeping full guard, as Bai tries to pass.
Bai stopping the sweep attempt from Ruiz.

Bai stands up and waves to Ruiz to follow him.
Ruiz shoots in for a takedown but Bai shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruiz shoots in and drives through. Bai sprawls well.
Bai is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Bai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Bai misses.

Bai gets a clinch.
Bai will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ruiz up against the cage.
Bai tries to score a body lock takedown but Ruiz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ruiz is trying to drag Bai to the mat but Bai just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ruiz tries to break free but Bai pushes him back against the cage.
Bai is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Ruiz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bai shoots in looking for a takedown but Ruiz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bai's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ruiz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A head kick misses from Bai.
Bai looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Ruiz gets a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Ruiz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ruiz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Ruiz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Bai's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ruiz is trying to pull guard but Bai has him pressed against the cage.

Ruiz breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Bai.
Bai throws a leg kick but Ruiz checks it.
Bai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice takedown defense from Bai. No joy for Ruiz on that attempt.

Ruiz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bai is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ruiz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bao Bai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Maximo Ruiz's cut.
That's time! Ruiz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bai will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruiz circles away.
No luck for Ruiz with that takedown attempt.
Maximo Ruiz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bai shoots in looking for a takedown. Ruiz tries to sprawl out of it but Bai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ruiz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Maximo Ruiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bao Bai.

Ruiz clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bai as Ruiz tries to tie him up.

Ruiz pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz keeping moving, preventing Bai from controlling successfully.
Bao Bai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bai is pushing down on Ruiz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ruiz is fighting to maintain full guard but Bai has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ruiz wants to control but Bai passes into side.

Bai decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ruiz to his feet.
Ruiz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bai shoots in and drives through. Ruiz sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bai tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ruiz defends well and Bai ends up having to push Ruiz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Ruiz has Bai up against the cage in a clinch.
Bai tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ruiz just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ruiz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bai is defending well.
Bai throws an elbow that misses.
Bai is trying to push Ruiz away but Ruiz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ruiz is looking to break free of the clinch but Bai has double underhooks.
Bai drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ruiz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ruiz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ruiz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bai circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruiz swivels and escapes.

Ruiz clinches with his opponent.
Bai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ruiz smiles and moves away.
Bai stuffs the takedown attempt from Ruiz. Ruiz gets slowly back to his feet.

Ruiz darts in and clinches Bai up against the cage.
Bai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bao Bai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bai lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz prevents Bai from breaking the clinch.

Bai manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ruiz wants to get up but he can't break Bai's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ruiz throwing strikes but missing.
Bai has Ruiz pulled in close to control his posture.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Bai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruiz is fighting to break Bai's control of his arms but Bai is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Maximo Ruiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bao Bai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bai looking for a sweep. Not yet Bai, not yet.

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 Maximo Ruiz.
Well Bai has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bao Bai!
Bao Bai thanked the fans post fight for their support.