PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rex Ruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregory Simmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ruger
vs
Simmons

169 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rex Ruger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gregory Simmons!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simmons stuffs the takedown attempt from Ruger. Ruger gets slowly back to his feet.

Ruger shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ruger won't allow Simmons to get back to his feet.
Ruger throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Simmons works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Simmons trying to control the position here.
Ruger connects with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simmons wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ruger is now in half guard.
Simmons controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruger working the head and body with strikes.
Simmons is staying active underneath Ruger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Simmons is positioning himself well to prevent Ruger advancing to mount.

Simmons looking for submissions off his back.
Ruger is trying to control. Simmons wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ruger prevents Simmons from standing back up.
Simmons on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Simmons wants to get back to full guard.
Simmons has his hands clasped together around Ruger's back. He's all about the action.
Ruger is looking to take a break and control but Simmons is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ruger takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ruger takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Simmons wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruger working Simmons over with strikes.
Simmons is looking for a sweep. Ruger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ruger passes into side control, despite Simmons's attempt to control the position.
Simmons is trying to improve his position.
Ruger working the body and head with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simmons can't do much from the bottom here.
Simmons is trying to get back to half guard.
Simmons tries to escape but Ruger is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simmons is trying to control Ruger's posture but Ruger avoids it.
Simmons takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ruger cracks Simmons with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ruger landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ruger working the ground and pound.
Simmons takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simmons is trying to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Simmons can do anything to dispel that myth.
Simmons takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Ruger dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ruger tries to score a power double leg takedown but Simmons sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ruger somewhat.
Ruger avoids the body shot from Simmons.
Rex Ruger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruger closes this distance looking for a takedown but Simmons circles away.

Simmons drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Simmons wants to stand but Ruger has his arm trapped.
Ruger manages to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruger moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simmons not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ruger is controlling Simmons's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruger is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Simmons trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simmons slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ruger gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Simmons trying to pass the guard but Ruger defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Simmons seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ruger moves into full guard.
Ruger is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Simmons can do to turn this around?
Simmons looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ruger pulls Simmons in to control the position.
Ruger wants to stand and escape but Simmons is having none of it.
Simmons wanted to stand there but Ruger had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons won't allow Ruger to sweep him here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ruger drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ruger working away.
The strikes coming from Ruger are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ruger connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Simmons some visible discomfort.
Ruger in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Simmons wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Simmons tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simmons is pushing Ruger's head away, looking to escape. Ruger manages to hold on to the position though.
Simmons is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ruger's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ruger connects with a nice short shot to Simmons's temple.
Simmons is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ruger scores with a couple of nice shots.

Simmons actively working from the bottom here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ruger is nestled in close to Simmons, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Simmons trying to control but Ruger postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Ruger dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ruger shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Simmons defends it nicely.
Ruger uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Simmons.
Ruger feinted with a counter takedown.

Simmons closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ruger works his way to full guard. Good work.

Ruger isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Simmons stacks Ruger on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Simmons!

Simmons is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ruger is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ruger throws Simmons to one side and escapes!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ruger shoots in for a double leg but Simmons sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ruger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ruger is looking to land body kicks.
Ruger misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Ruger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruger shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Simmons but Simmons pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ruger throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Simmons misses with a low kick.
Gregory Simmons is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Simmons scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Ruger is defending against the submission attempts here by Simmons.
Ruger makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ruger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruger manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Simmons manages to get himself to full guard.

Simmons looking to control but Ruger passes into half guard.
Simmons keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Simmons is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons taking some punishment here, with Ruger in his half guard.
Ruger moves nicely into side control.
Simmons is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ruger connects with a decent elbow.
Ruger is chipping away with strikes.
Simmons regains half guard.
Ruger trying to mount his opponent but Simmons defends it.
Simmons pushes Ruger off looking to stand but Ruger dives back in and keeps control.
Simmons gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruger postures up in Simmons's guard and throws a big left but Simmons blocks it.
Simmons utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Simmons wants to sweep here but Ruger controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ruger accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ruger connects with a couple of short punches.
Ruger throwing strikes from guard but Simmons blocks nicely.
Ruger content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gregory Simmons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruger 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rex Ruger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ruger, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rex Ruger!