PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daeng Rurung (ranked 3442 p4p, 279 weight class) and Jerome Ribery (ranked 4455 p4p, 327 weight class). Rurung comes to the cage accompanied by Rise. This should be fireworks!

Rurung
vs
Ribery

174 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Daeng Rurung!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jerome Ribery!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rurung looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Ribery!
Rurung wants to control but Ribery is keeping him busy.
Rurung just content to control the position.
Rurung with the ground and pound but Ribery regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rurung prevents Ribery from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rurung is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ribery is just riding it out for now. Rurung eventually gives up the hold.
Rurung moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rurung creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rurung controlling the position from side mount.

Rurung is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ribery has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rurung cracks Ribery with a big elbow.

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.

Rurung wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ribery, who protects the arm well.
Ribery tries to improve position but can't.

Rurung is trying to get an arm triangle but Ribery is defending well.
Ribery tries to buck Rurung off but Rurung is having none of it.
Ribery looks winded!
Rurung wants to take a breather but Ribery manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rurung.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rurung slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rurung avoids the strikes from the bottom by Ribery.
Ribery wants to control but Rurung postures up.
Ribery tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rurung working the ground and pound from side control.
Ribery gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rurung not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rurung thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rurung 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.
Rurung trying to control from half guard but Ribery is working away.
Ribery is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rurung scores with a couple of nice shots.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rurung is working for a kimura but Ribery is defending it quite comfortably.
We've been informed that Ribery has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ribery flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daeng Rurung dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rurung shoots in and gets a takedown into Ribery's guard.

Rurung drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rurung jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ribery can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rurung controls the pace.
Rurung wants to get up but he can't break Ribery's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rurung is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ribery can do to turn this around?
Rurung wants to control from the top but Ribery keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribery avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Ribery looking for a guillotine here but Rurung defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribery looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rurung is one step ahead there.
Ribery is breathing heavily.
Rurung wants to control from the top but Ribery keeps moving.
Rurung works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Ribery is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rurung pulls his head out easily.
Ribery won't allow Rurung to pass to mount.

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.

Rurung is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ribery defends it well.
Rurung looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rurung prevents Ribery from improving his position.
Rurung controlling the pace.
Rurung wants to control but Ribery is keeping him busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribery doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rurung counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rurung content to stall in guard here.
Rurung trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribery is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rurung working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rurung content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribery wants to stand and escape but Rurung is having none of it.
Ribery is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Rurung passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rurung decides to stand back up.

Rurung feints and as Ribery raises his hands in defense, Rurung changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ribery working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rurung.
Rurung scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ribery has a closed guard, preventing Rurung from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daeng Rurung dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Rurung connects with a looping right hand.

Rurung shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ribery is staying active underneath Rurung, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rurung missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rurung seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rurung looks to land a strike but Ribery avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Rurung not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribery 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.
Ribery controls Rurung momentarily but Rurung frees himself.
Rurung has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rurung trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribery is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ribery is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rurung defends well.
Rurung working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ribery's head.

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.
Rurung is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rurung scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rurung stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ribery swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Daeng Rurung seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rurung has managed to clinch.
Ribery has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rurung avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Rurung works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Jerome Ribery has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rurung trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rurung wants to stand but Ribery has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rurung 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.
Ribery controls Rurung momentarily but Rurung frees himself.
Ribery is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rurung is controlling him.
Rurung looking to pass the guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rurung trying to control but Ribery is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Rurung rushes Ribery and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rurung jumps into guard, dragging Ribery to the mat.
Ribery trying to control the position from guard on top but Rurung is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ribery wants to pass the guard but Rurung is keeping the position.
Daeng Rurung is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rurung working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daeng Rurung showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rurung 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daeng Rurung!
In his post fight interview, Daeng Rurung started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.