PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rickie Hammond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spencer Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spencer Ruiz will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hammond
vs
Ruiz

158 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rickie Hammond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Spencer Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammond fails with a takedown attempt.
Hammond gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ruiz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A body shot lands from Ruiz.
Ruiz lands a body shot.

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

Ruiz moves into the clinch.

Hammond breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hammond could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ruiz darts in looking for a takedown but Hammond gets double underhooks and turns Ruiz into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ruiz.
Ruiz blocks the body kick.
Ruiz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hammond slaps away a takedown attempt from Ruiz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rickie Hammond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Spencer Ruiz.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruiz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ruiz stalls.
Ruiz tries to pull guard but Hammond holds him up against the cage and eventually Ruiz drops back down to his feet.
Hammond tries to pull guard but Ruiz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hammond is pushing Ruiz up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ruiz tries to circle away but Hammond has him pinned against the cage.
Ruiz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ruiz is trying to pull guard but Hammond turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hammond 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruiz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ruiz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ruiz is striking off his back. Hammond thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Ruiz flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ruiz is trying to maintain the position but Hammond is very close to passing his half guard.
Ruiz manages to get to full guard.
Hammond wanted to stand there but Ruiz had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz wants to stand and escape but Hammond is having none of it.
Ruiz is controlling Hammond's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hammond trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hammond pulls guard effortlessly.
Hammond striking off his back but it's not causing Ruiz any problems.
Ruiz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammond striking off his back but it's not causing Ruiz any problems.
Ruiz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Hammond is looking for a triangle but Ruiz pushes his legs off easily.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Hammond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruiz won't allow Hammond to get back to his feet.
Hammond 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hammond tries to strike from the bottom.
Hammond keeping moving, preventing Ruiz from controlling successfully.
Ruiz is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Spencer Ruiz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hammond's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ruiz forces Hammond back against the cage and clinches.
Hammond jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ruiz walks away with a smile on his face. Hammond gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Spencer Ruiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruiz tries for a takedown but Hammond sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ruiz avoids a kick to the body.
Hammond doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ruiz counters with a left and a right that stings Hammond.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammond tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ruiz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hammond looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ruiz is fending him off so far but Hammond persists. Nope, Ruiz circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickie Hammond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hammond.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz closes the distance and clinches up with Hammond, looking for a takedown. Ruiz pushes Hammond against the cage but Hammond circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Ruiz has Hammond up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruiz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hammond tries to pull guard but Ruiz holds him up against the cage and eventually Hammond drops back down to his feet.
Ruiz lands with a left to the head.
Hammond goes for a takedown attempt but Ruiz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hammond tries for a takedown but Ruiz circles away easily
and Ruiz counters with a left to the body.
Ruiz throws a head kick but Hammond moves out of range.
Ruiz looks for a takedown but Hammond sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hammond tries for a takedown but Ruiz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ruiz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hammond pinned against the cage. Hammond gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
It looked like Hammond was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ruiz.
Ruiz dives in and grabs Hammond's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hammond pushes down on Ruiz's head and hops out.
Hammond fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hammond checks a low kick from Ruiz.
Ruiz fails with the takedown

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ruiz tries to pull guard but Hammond holds him up against the cage and eventually Ruiz drops back down to his feet.
Ruiz tries to stall but Hammond uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ruiz is trying to break the clinch but Hammond has him pressed against the cage.

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

Hammond closes the distance and pushes Ruiz back into the cage.
Hammond tries to stall but Ruiz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Hammond escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ruiz fails with a takedown attempt.
Ruiz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hammond moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammond shoots for a takedown but Ruiz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Ruiz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hammond, pushing him back against the cage.
Hammond looking for a takedown.

Hammond's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ruiz shoots in for a double leg but Hammond sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hammond tried to counter with a leg kick but Ruiz avoided it.
Hammond tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ruiz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ruiz fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammond goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spencer Ruiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A clash of legs there as Hammond blocks the low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hammond is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ruiz is defending well.
Ruiz prevents a takedown attempt there.

Hammond manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Hammond. No joy for Ruiz on that attempt.
Hammond takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ruiz.
Ruiz swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammond shoots in and drives through. Ruiz sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickie Hammond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruiz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hammond fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hammond sets himself, and Ruiz steps forward looking for the clinch! Hammond avoids it this time.
Hammond displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ruiz.
Spencer Ruiz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ruiz gets a clinch.
Ruiz avoids a wild elbow strike from Hammond.
Hammond tries for a takedown but Ruiz manages to get underhooks.
Hammond fails to pull guard.
Hammond is looking to control Ruiz's arms but Ruiz gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hammond has his back to the cage.
Hammond tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ruiz just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruiz breaks from the clinch.

Ruiz pushes Hammond up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hammond's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ruiz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hammond goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ruiz prevents it.
Ruiz stalling against the cage.

Ruiz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hammond stuffs the takedown.
It appears Hammond was looking to counter with a kick there.

Ruiz has managed to clinch.
Ruiz tries to break the clinch but Hammond is controlling the position.
Ruiz prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond prevents the takedown attempt.
Spencer Ruiz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hammond tries for a takedown but Ruiz manages to get underhooks.

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

Ruiz moves into the clinch.
Hammond is pressed up against the cage. Ruiz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hammond down to the mat. Hammond avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ruiz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hammond shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruiz but Ruiz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice sprawl there from Hammond as Ruiz shoots in.
Hammond is looking to counter with head kicks.

Ruiz gets caught flat footed, as Hammond shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Ruiz has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hammond is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ruiz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hammond uses from the top position.
Ruiz is trying to hold Hammond in close to prevent damage but Hammond has managed to pass into half guard.
Ruiz is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hammond jumps into side control!
Ruiz is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Spencer Ruiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ruiz 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Spencer Ruiz!