PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Willian Atkinson (ranked 25061 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel Ruiz (ranked 4405 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Atkinson
vs
Ruiz

181 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Willian Atkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Samuel Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atkinson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Atkinson wants it to stay on the feet.
Atkinson is looking to counter with head kicks.
Ruiz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Atkinson pinned against the cage. Atkinson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Atkinson has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz can't get the takedown.
Willian Atkinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samuel Ruiz.
A frustrated look appears on Atkinson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ruiz tries to circle away but Atkinson has him pinned against the cage.
Ruiz looks winded!
Ruiz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Atkinson's elbow.
Atkinson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Ruiz.

It looks like Willian Atkinson has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson slows down the pace here.
Atkinson stops a takedown attempt from Ruiz.
Ruiz tries to break free but Atkinson pushes him back against the cage.
Atkinson avoiding damage.
Atkinson tries to score a body lock takedown but Ruiz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ruiz wants to take the fight to the mat but Atkinson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Atkinson misses with a body punch.
Atkinson effectively controlling the action here.
Ruiz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Atkinson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Atkinson fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson works the jab nicely.
Ruiz shoots and misses
and Atkinson counters with a nice uppercut.

Atkinson looking to score a takedown here. Ruiz is defending well but Atkinson drives through and ends up in Ruiz's guard.
Atkinson connects with a couple of short punches.
Atkinson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Atkinson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ruiz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ruiz has a closed guard, preventing Atkinson from standing up.
Atkinson is looking to work some ground and pound but Ruiz has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson trying to control but Ruiz is working from the bottom.

Atkinson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ruiz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Atkinson has managed to get both his arms back between Ruiz's legs - danger averted.
Atkinson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Atkinson wants to stand but Ruiz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ruiz looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Atkinson won't allow Ruiz to sweep him here.
Atkinson wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.
Ruiz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Atkinson stands up and waves to Ruiz to follow him.
Samuel Ruiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Atkinson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

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.
Ruiz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ruiz goes for a double leg but Atkinson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Atkinson continues to drive forward.
Ruiz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ruiz fails with the takedown
enabling Atkinson to counter with a crisp jab.
Ruiz shoots in and drives through. Atkinson sprawls well.
As Ruiz tries to get set, Atkinson tries to push him back and clinch up but Ruiz manages to avoid the attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Atkinson pushes Ruiz away with a front kick.
Ruiz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ruiz wants it to stay on the feet.
Ruiz drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Atkinson defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willian Atkinson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Willian Atkinson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Atkinson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ruiz prevents a takedown attempt there.

Ruiz successfully pulls guard.
Atkinson wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruiz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ruiz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ruiz is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atkinson managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz throwing strikes from guard but Atkinson blocks nicely.
Atkinson wants to control but Ruiz passes easily into half guard.
Atkinson pushes Ruiz off looking to stand but Ruiz dives back in and keeps control.
Atkinson moves into full guard.
Ruiz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ruiz won't allow Atkinson to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Atkinson keeping moving, preventing Ruiz from controlling successfully.

Atkinson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruiz tries for a takedown but Atkinson circles away easily
and Atkinson counters with a series of strikes. Ruiz will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Atkinson clinches with his opponent.
Atkinson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Atkinson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ruiz is keeping busy.

Ruiz has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Atkinson regains guard immediately.
Ruiz wants to stand but Atkinson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Atkinson has control of Ruiz's left arm, preventing Ruiz from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson working a defensive guard here.
Atkinson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Atkinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Atkinson holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Atkinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Samuel Ruiz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Willian Atkinson's cut.
That's time! Atkinson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ruiz shoots in but Atkinson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Atkinson throws a series of punches but Ruiz moves out of range.
Ruiz throws a counter combo.
Atkinson tries a head kick but it misses.
Ruiz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Atkinson swivels and escapes.

Ruiz closes the distance and pushes Atkinson back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz letting Atkinson take a breather here.
Atkinson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Atkinson wants a takedown but no success here.
Atkinson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruiz can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Atkinson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Atkinson misses with a head kick.
Ruiz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ruiz slaps away a takedown attempt from Atkinson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ruiz with the counter takedown but Atkinson avoids it easily.
No luck for Ruiz with that takedown attempt.
Willian Atkinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samuel Ruiz.
Atkinson stuffs the takedown.

Atkinson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ruiz was covering up waiting for the punch and Atkinson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Atkinson works over Ruiz with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Atkinson stands up and waves to Ruiz to follow him.
Atkinson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Atkinson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ruiz is fending him off so far but Atkinson persists. Nope, Ruiz circles away and we're back to standing.
Ruiz steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Atkinson.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ruiz enables Atkinson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ruiz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ruiz wants to sweep but no luck.

Atkinson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Atkinson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ruiz is looking for the big counter here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz shoots and misses
and Atkinson counters with a three punch combo that has Ruiz backing up. Ruiz nods at Atkinson to acknowledge the strikes.

Atkinson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Atkinson wants to take a breather but Ruiz is having none of it.
Ruiz wants to control but Atkinson is keeping busy.
Atkinson is keen to just control but Ruiz is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson wants to get back to his feet.
Atkinson is thwarting Ruiz's attempts to control the position.

Atkinson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Atkinson stalling.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruiz gets full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willian Atkinson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Atkinson 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willian Atkinson!
Samuel Ruiz spoke after the fight, saying 'Ill be better next time'.