PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adolpho Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven comes to the cage accompanied by "Hip To Be Square," by Huey Lewis and the News. Ruiz is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Klutch-The Mob Goes Wild. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steven
vs
Ruiz

185 cm
23
208 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

184 cm
23
211 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Blueprint Clothing
TFP Graphics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Steven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Adolpho Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Ruiz coming out on top.
Horrible takedown by Steven or perhaps it was just good defense by Ruiz which made him look bad.
Steven swats away the attempt to clinch by Ruiz.

Steven drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Ruiz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Steven is trying to ground and pound but Ruiz uses the momentary lack of control by Steven to regain half guard.
Steven trying to pass the guard but Ruiz defending well.
Steven is keen to just control but Ruiz is a slippery customer.
Ruiz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Steven postures up and lands a big shot to Ruiz's brow.
Steven won't allow Ruiz to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Steven postures up in Ruiz's guard and throws a big left but Ruiz blocks it.

Ruiz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruiz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ruiz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Steven throws a big right hand that misses.
Steven scoring with some ground and pound.
Steven loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Steven throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ruiz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Steven has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ruiz is proving hard to escape from.
Ruiz throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ruiz has his hands on Steven's head, controlling the position.
Steven throwing strikes from guard but Ruiz blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ruiz controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Steven drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Steven jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ruiz has momentary wrist control but Steven slips an elbow through the middle.
Steven won't allow Ruiz to sweep him here.

Steven thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Steven connects with a couple of short punches.
Ruiz keeping moving, preventing Steven from controlling successfully.
Ruiz controls Steven momentarily but Steven frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz looking for a sweep. Not yet Ruiz, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Steven rushes Ruiz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steven presses Ruiz against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nice body punch from Steven.
Ruiz swings wildly with an uppercut but Steven uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ruiz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steven takes a shot to the head.
Steven digs a right hand underneath Ruiz's ribcage. Ruiz let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ruiz looks gassed!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Steven.
Ruiz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Steven lands a body punch.
Steven lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Steven digs a right hand underneath Ruiz's ribcage. Ruiz let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steven avoiding damage.

Steven breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ruiz throws a chopping leg kick but Steven manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz stuffs the takedown.
Steven shoots in looking for a takedown. Ruiz tries to sprawl out of it but Steven 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.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Steven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steven throws the kick towards the body but Ruiz avoids it.
Mike Steven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Steven fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ruiz, pushing him back against the cage.
Steven prevents a body shot from Ruiz.
Steven throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ruizs head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steven.
Steven lands a body shot.
Steven looking for a takedown.
Steven lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ruiz.
Steven scores with a hook to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Steven.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steven scores with a hook to the body.
Steven lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ruiz or not.
Ruiz letting Steven take a breather here.
Steven lands a nice shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Steven dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Steven or perhaps it was just good defense by Ruiz which made him look bad.
Ruiz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Steven counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ruiz tries to clinch there but Steven circles away.

Steven rushes Ruiz and presses him up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Steven.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ruiz.
Steven has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ruiz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Steven misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steven goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ruiz prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Steven. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Steven manages to break the clinch.
Steven shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ruiz as he avoids it easily.
Ruiz clinches but Steven breaks the clinch

and Steven counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Ruiz striking off his back but it's not causing Steven any problems.
Steven advances to half guard.
Ruiz flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Steven misses with a head shot. Ruiz uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven won't allow Ruiz to sweep him here.

Ruiz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Steven can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Steven throws a big right hand that misses.
Steven passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Steven working the ground and pound but Ruiz is defending the strikes.
Steven lands some shots froms side control.

Steven is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ruiz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ruiz managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Steven.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ruiz wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Steven 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.
Steven throws a strike aimed at the side of Ruiz's head but Ruiz avoids it well.

Steven tries for a kimura but Ruiz is defending well.
Ruiz wants to control but Steven postures up.
Ruiz gets back to half guard.
Steven seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Steven missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ruiz is refusing to be controlled, as Steven sits in half guard.
Steven working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steven is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Steven stands up and beckons Ruiz to join him on the feet.

Steven gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Steven scores with a shoulder strike.
Mike Steven has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ruiz lands a shoulder strike.
Ruiz wants to break free but Steven has control.
Ruiz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steven tries a body shot but Ruiz blocks it.

Ruiz manages to break the clinch.
Ruiz is looking to clinch.
Steven shoots in but Ruiz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Steven circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steven pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ruiz moves in looking to clinch but Steven pushes him off.

Ruiz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Steven!
Steven throwing hammer fists to the chest of Ruiz. What's that going to do exactly?
Ruiz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Steven tries to reverse the position but Ruiz maintains control.
The referee warns Steven that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Steven working to try and regain half guard.
Steven throwing hammer fists to the chest of Ruiz. What's that going to do exactly?
Ruiz avoids the attempt from Steven to control.
Steven is looking to improve his position but Ruiz isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Steven dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Steven shoots in for a takedown but Ruiz shows good takedown defense.
Steven misses with a takedown attempt - Ruiz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Steven shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Ruiz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Steven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruiz controlling from the top position.
Ruiz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ruiz wants to control from the top but Steven keeps moving.
Ruiz stands up over Steven, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ruiz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Steven is looking for a triangle but Ruiz pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Steven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Steven looking for a guillotine here but Ruiz defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Steven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruiz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Steven kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Steven preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ruiz wants to clinch.
Steven fails with the takedown

and Ruiz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Steven won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven regains half guard.
Steven tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Steven trying to control but Ruiz postures up.

Ruiz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mike Steven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steven flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ruiz winds up and cracks Steven with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Steven missing with punches from the bottom.
Ruiz wants to take a breather but Steven is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ruiz closes the distance and clinches up with Steven, looking for a takedown. Ruiz pushes Steven against the cage but Steven circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ruiz tries to clinch but Steven moves away
and Steven counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steven tries a head kick but it misses.
Steven misses with a takedown attempt

and Ruiz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Steven's guard now.

Steven looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Steven striking off his back but it's not causing Ruiz any problems.
Steven throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Steven had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ruiz is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Steven Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ruiz's back instead.
Mike Steven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ruiz wants to control his opponent's hands but Steven gets his hands free.
Steven controlling from the back.
Ruiz trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Ruiz right now.
Steven has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Steven not allowing Ruiz to control his hands.
Ruiz grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Steven lands punches and elbows.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruiz just trying to survive but Steven is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Ruiz is in bad spot here.
Adolpho Ruiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Steven working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Steven keeps control of the position easily here as Ruiz tries to buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adolpho Ruiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Steven has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Steven!