PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carter Ruck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jericho Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fernandez has chosen Motley Crue - Kickstart My Heart as his entrance music. Jericho Fernandez struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ruck
vs
Fernandez

178 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

183 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Carter Ruck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Jericho Fernandez!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandez swats away the attempt to clinch by Ruck.
Fernandez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ruck.
Fernandez shoots in but no luck this time.

Ruck looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Fernandez!
Ruck controlling the position easily from mount.
Ruck seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fernandez for as long as he can get away with.
Ruck's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ruck trying to control but Fernandez is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruck controlling his opponent.
Ruck trying to control but he's not successful this time.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Carter Ruck just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ruck wants to clinch up but Fernandez keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruck looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ruck wants to clinch up but Fernandez keeps it at a distance.
Fernandez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Fernandez drives through and clinches with Ruck against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ruck scores with a shot to the side of Fernandez's head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Fernandez breaks the clinch.

Ruck closes the distance and clinches.
Ruck effectively controlling the action here.
Ruck can't break the clinch.
Ruck prevents Fernandez from breaking the clinch.
Ruck wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nice elbow from Fernandez.
Ruck tries to break the clinch but Fernandez is controlling the position.
Fernandez is trying to stall.
Fernandez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A left hand lands to the body for Ruck.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ruck.
Ruck wants to break free but Fernandez has control.
Fernandez wants to get back to striking at distance but Ruck won't allow it.
Fernandez fails to pull guard.
Carter Ruck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jericho Fernandez.
With the fighters up against the cage, Fernandez throws an elbow but misses.
Ruck tries to break the clinch but Fernandez is controlling the position.
Fernandez fails to pull guard.
Fernandez managing to block the knees to the body from Ruck.
A bit of stalling here from Ruck.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ruck.
Ruck works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

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

Ruck drives through and clinches with Fernandez against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Ruck.
Ruck pushes Fernandez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Ruck - that landed with a thud.
Fernandez looks gassed!
Fernandez can't break the clinch.

Ruck pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ruck closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fernandez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ruck just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ruck lands with a short shot to the head.
Ruck misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fernandez.
Ruck lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ruck tries to land a knee to the head but Fernandez blocks with his arms.

Ruck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ruck takes the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Ruck on the inside.
Fernandez tries to break the clinch but Ruck is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carter Ruck dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ruck gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fernandez wants a takedown but no success here.
Ruck blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ruck presses Fernandez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Fernandez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fernandez is trying to break the clinch but Ruck has him pressed against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Ruck.
Ruck pushes Fernandez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ruck tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ruck is stalling here.

Ruck pulls guard.

Ruck pushes Fernandez off and scrambles back to his feet.
Fernandez is breathing heavily.

Ruck takes the fight into the clinch.
Ruck lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruck lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fernandez backwards.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ruck throws an elbow but misses.
Ruck is trying to break free.
Ruck lands with a left to the head.
Fernandez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ruck smiles and moves away.

Ruck has Fernandez up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruck lands an elbow inside.

Ruck breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ruck lands a nice looking body shot.

Ruck rushes Fernandez and presses him up against the cage.

Ruck successfully pulls guard.

Ruck uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruck displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ruck wants to clinch up but Fernandez keeps it at a distance.

Ruck gets a clinch.
Ruck lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fernandez backwards.
Ruck has Fernandez pushed against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ruck.
Ruck lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ruck taking a breather.

Ruck breaks from the clinch.

Ruck has managed to clinch.

Ruck breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ruck rushes Fernandez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ruck lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Jericho Fernandez has been cut.
Nice body punch from Ruck - that landed with a thud.

Ruck ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ruck no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Ruck has his feet on Fernandez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Ruck clinches up with Fernandez and pushes him back against the cage.
Ruck with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A shot in the inside from Ruck.
Ruck is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ruck lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fernandez backwards.
Ruck lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Ruck.

Ruck manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruck is on top in guard.

Ruck stands up and waves to Fernandez to follow him.

Ruck gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Ruck pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ruck gets a clinch.

Ruck breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruck tries to close the distance and clinch but Fernandez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ruck closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ruck working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carter Ruck dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jericho Fernandez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ruck has a takedown stuffed.
Ruck lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ruck.
Ruck looks to land a combination. Fernandez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Ruck rushes Fernandez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fernandez throws an elbow that misses.
Ruck is stalling here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ruck.
Fernandez gets underhooks to prevent Ruck's takedown attempt.
Fernandez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ruck lands with a light punch inside.
Ruck throws an elbow that misses.
Ruck lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fernandez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A short right from Ruck on the inside.
Ruck prevents Fernandez from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruck stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Ruck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ruck gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ruck avoids a wild elbow strike from Fernandez.
Ruck wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carter Ruck. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ruck breaks from the clinch.
Ruck tries to clinch but Fernandez moves away

and Fernandez counters by clinching up.

Ruck manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ruck wants to stand up but Fernandez is controlling him.
Ruck is controlling Fernandez's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruck is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fernandez is controlling him.
Ruck has Fernandez pulled in close to control his posture.
Ruck throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ruck pulls Fernandez in to control the position.
Ruck manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fernandez manages to get himself to full guard.
Ruck connects with a couple of short punches.

Fernandez is working an open guard so Ruck takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Carter Ruck seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruck tries to clinch but Fernandez is having none of it.
Ruck bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Ruck scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fernandez tries to bench press Ruck off him but Ruck keeps the position.

Ruck stands up.

Ruck clinches up against the cage.

Ruck pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ruck wants to clinch but Fernandez slips to the side

and Fernandez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ruck has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Fernandez is trying to keep an underhook but Ruck manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruck is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Ruck controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruck has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jericho Fernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carter Ruck is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carter Ruck showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ruck 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:26
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carter Ruck!