PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rex Ruger (ranked 2730 p4p, 133 weight class) and Felix Jones (ranked 4539 p4p, 211 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
Jones

169 cm
30
145 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

168 cm
31
144 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Riner Clothing

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 11 - 8 - 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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Felix Jones!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jones is fending him off so far but Ruger persists. Nope, Jones circles away and we're back to standing.
Ruger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jones.

Jones gets caught flat footed, as Ruger shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ruger scoring with some ground and pound.
Jones pulls Ruger in close to prevent any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jones can do anything to dispel that myth.

Jones has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ruger can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jones controls Ruger momentarily but Ruger frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruger throwing strikes from guard but Jones blocks nicely.
Jones wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruger stops Jones from standing up.
Ruger throws a big right hand that misses.
Ruger throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ruger is working Jones over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ruger has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ruger throwing strikes but missing.
Ruger is looking to work some ground and pound but Jones has wrist control.
Ruger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ruger throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ruger makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ruger throws a big elbow that misses.

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

Jones trying to control but Ruger is working from the bottom.
Jones is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ruger is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ruger working a defensive guard here.
Jones with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jones working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ruger wants to stand but Jones is controlling the position.
Ruger avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ruger lands a jab.
Jones lands a leg kick that knocks Ruger off balance momentarily.
Ruger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jones is fending him off so far but Ruger persists. Nope, Jones circles away and we're back to standing.

Jones looking to score a takedown here. Ruger is defending well but Jones drives through and ends up in Ruger's guard.
Jones trying to control but Ruger is working from the bottom.
Ruger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ruger wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ruger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jones.
Jones scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Jones prevents Ruger from getting back to his feet.
Jones throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ruger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ruger is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Jones postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jones pinned against the cage. Jones gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ruger has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jones.
Jones slaps away a takedown attempt from Ruger, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jones throws a quick inside leg kick.
Jones keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Jones changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ruger looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The strikes coming from Jones are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Jones is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ruger has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ruger is trying to control Jones's posture but Jones avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jones has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ruger wants to get back to his feet.
Ruger struggling a bit here.
Jones throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Jones has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jones connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ruger some visible discomfort.

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.
Ruger tries to bench press Jones off him but Jones keeps the position.
Jones working away.
Ruger is looking to regain half guard here but Jones keeps moving and retains side control.
Jones lands a few punches from side control.
Jones throws an elbow but Ruger slips to the side and avoids it well.
Ruger is not content to let Jones control the position.
Felix Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ruger wants to get back to his feet but Jones drags him back down.

Jones is trying to get an arm triangle but Ruger is defending well.
Ruger wants to control but Jones postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ruger sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ruger sneaks back into half guard.
Ruger is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jones's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jones's back!
Ruger missing with punches from the back.
Jones is trying to get back to his feet but Ruger has full control of the position and if anything, Jones has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Ruger.
Jones trying to control the action but Ruger just sinks the hooks in.
Ruger wants to control but Jones is keeping busy.
Ruger lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruger scores with punches from the back.
Ruger lands punches and elbows.
Ruger missing with punches from the back.
Ruger lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruger is hanging on to Jones's back as he tries to escape.
Ruger doesn't have the hooks in and Jones manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruger wants to stand and escape but Jones is having none of it.
Jones is in close to Ruger's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ruger is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rex Ruger will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ruger feints and as Jones raises his hands in defense, Ruger changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jones is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Jones is trying to keep Ruger in close.

Ruger avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruger wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
Jones is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruger desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Ruger regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jones chips away with some ground and pound.
Ruger is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.
Ruger pulls Jones in close to prevent any damage.
Ruger wants to stand up but Jones is controlling him.
Ruger controlling Jones's posture.

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.
Jones postures up.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ruger shoots in for a double leg but Jones sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ruger shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ruger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ruger shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jones as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Ruger. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Jones working over Ruger with some ground and pound. Ruger looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ruger trying to hold on to Jones's head to control him but Jones postures up.
Jones sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ruger defending well though.
Jones slows the pace down in half guard.
Ruger moves into full guard.
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Ruger has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruger wants to stand up but Jones is controlling him.
Ruger has momentary wrist control but Jones slips an elbow through the middle.
Ruger is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Jones missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jones working some strikes from top position.
Ruger looking for a sweep. Not yet Ruger, not yet.
Jones working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ruger's head.
Jones chips away with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones trying to control but Ruger is working from the bottom.
Ruger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jones 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

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