PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Trent Ruta (ranked 3400 p4p, 365 weight class) and Chief Slayer (ranked 4025 p4p, 417 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ruta
vs
Slayer

167 cm
28
157 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

180 cm
21
169 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Trent Ruta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chief Slayer!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slayer slips a jab and a cross from Ruta.
Nice sprawl there from Slayer as Ruta shoots in.

Slayer closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ruta quickly recovers to half guard.

Slayer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ruta wants to improve his position but Slayer is controlling well.

Slayer is looking for a kimura here.
Ruta won't allow Slayer to pass to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruta is staying active underneath Slayer, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ruta has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Slayer is working away from the top position though.

Slayer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ruta wants to control but Slayer is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slayer wants to stand up but Ruta is controlling the position.
Slayer trying to mount his opponent but Ruta defends it.
Ruta works his way to full guard. Good work.
Slayer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Slayer wanted to stand there but Ruta had control of the position.

Slayer drops back looking for a leg! Ruta is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ruta manages to kick Slayer off! Slayer jumps back into Ruta's guard.
Ruta keeping moving, preventing Slayer from controlling successfully.
Slayer is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Slayer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruta swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Slayer wants to control from the top but Ruta keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruta lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ruta takes one to the side of the head.
Slayer closes the distance and clinches up with Ruta, looking for a takedown. Slayer pushes Ruta against the ropes but Ruta circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Ruta has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ruta is trying to pull guard but Slayer has him pressed against the ropes.
Slayer tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ruta stops a takedown attempt from Slayer.
Trent Ruta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chief Slayer.
Ruta trying to land knees to the body.

Ruta has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Slayer uses from the top position.
Ruta might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ruta keeping full guard, as Slayer tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruta doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Slayer drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ruta manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Slayer has Ruta in his guard.

Ruta working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Slayer isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ruta stacks Slayer 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 Ruta!
Ruta gets to mount! Slayer was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Ruta raining down shots from the mount!
Slayer can't escape the position.
Ruta cracks Slayer with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Slayer is squirming around, avoiding Ruta's attempts to control the action.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Slayer can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruta punching from mount but Slayer doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Slayer is looking to get to half guard.
Ruta punishing his opponent with strikes.
Slayer is looking to get to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Slayer gets back to half guard.
Slayer is trying to control but can't.
Ruta is controlling the pace.
Slayer wants to control but Ruta is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trent Ruta dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ruta shoots in but no luck this time.
Slayer connects with the punch.

It looks like Trent Ruta has been cut.
Slayer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Slayer wants it to stay on the feet.
Slayer moves into range and connects with a jab.
Slayer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ruta counters with a series of strikes. Slayer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ruta tries to close the distance and clinch but Slayer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A little jabbing left from Slayer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Ruta tries to sprawl but Slayer drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Trent Ruta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Slayer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruta is trying to control but can't.

Slayer seems to be working for a kimura but Ruta defends the submission attempt.
Ruta has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Slayer is working away from the top position though.

Slayer is looking for a kimura but Ruta is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Slayer to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruta wants to improve his position but Slayer is controlling well.

Slayer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ruta gets full guard.
Slayer passes Ruta's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Slayer is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ruta sees it coming and defends easily.
Ruta tries to get to full guard but Slayer has control of the leg.

Slayer is trying to work for a kimura but Ruta is defending well.

Slayer is looking for a kimura but Ruta is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Slayer to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruta looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Slayer tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ruta controls his leg.
Slayer is pressing down on Ruta's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ruta is holding on for now.

Slayer seems to be looking for submissions.
Ruta is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Slayer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Slayer's back!
Slayer rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Slayer looking for submissions off his back.

Ruta wants to work for an arm triangle but Slayer is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruta looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Slayer looking for subs from the bottom but Ruta mounts him!

Ruta is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Slayer has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Slayer is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ruta controlling the position easily from mount.
Slayer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ruta scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ruta thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Slayer sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ruta not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Slayer actively working from the bottom here.
Slayer on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Slayer is pressing down on Ruta's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ruta stands up over Slayer, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Slayer is looking for a triangle but Ruta pushes his legs off easily.
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 Trent Ruta will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Trent Ruta's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ruta tries to clinch up.
Ruta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Slayer paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Slayer looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Ruta!
Slayer working away.
Slayer trying to control the position but Ruta is working away.

Slayer tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Slayer is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ruta 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.
Ruta struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruta sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ruta controlling the position for now.

Slayer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ruta trying to hold on to Slayer's head to control him but Slayer postures up.
Ruta makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ruta.
Ruta 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.
Slayer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruta swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ruta is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Ruta throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Slayer escapes and throws Ruta's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ruta is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Slayer is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ruta is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ruta manages to work his way to half guard, despite Slayer's best efforts.
Ruta is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Slayer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Slayer's back!
Trent Ruta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ruta gets his hands free as Slayer looks to control.
Slayer is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruta trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Slayer is in bad spot here.

Ruta has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Slayer has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Ruta tries to keep control of the position but Slayer is staying busy.
Slayer is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Slayer is still trying to improve position.
Slayer wants to control his opponent's hands but Ruta gets his hands free.

Ruta looking to break Slayer's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Slayer remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Ruta will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Ruta is not going to allow Slayer to sit and survive in this position.
Ruta trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slayer tries to roll but Ruta sticks to his back.

Ruta is working for a rear naked choke. Slayer is not defending it well and Ruta has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Slayer refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Slayer's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Trent Ruta!
A very excited looking Trent Ruta made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.