PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andriy Voronin (ranked 31 p4p, 6 weight class) and John Ruth (ranked 112 p4p, 19 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Voronin
vs
Ruth

186 cm
27
195 lbs
15 - 5 - 1

178 cm
31
195 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Groove Gear
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andriy Voronin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, John Ruth!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruth defending well as Voronin loads up on a big left hand.
Voronin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ruth throws out the jab.
Voronin throwing a counter right hand but Ruth manages to avoid it.
Ruth takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Voronin throws the left hand but Ruth avoids the punch easily.
Ruth takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nice jab there from Voronin.
Voronin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Voronin lands with a straight right. Ruth didn't see that one coming.
Voronin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ruth counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Voronin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ruth! But no joy.
Voronin scores with the left hand. Ruth knows he should have avoided that one.
Voronin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ruth takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Voronin throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ruth's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voronin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ruth has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Voronin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Voronin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Voronin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ruth on the side of the head.
Andriy Voronin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Voronin digs a good body shot into Ruth's ribs.
Ruth keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And Ruth tries to counter it with a takedown but Voronin pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Voronin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A jab from Voronin misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ruth! But no joy.
Ruth looks to land a left hand but Voronin moved out of range nicely.
It looks like Voronin has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Ruth on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Voronin. Voronin obviously looking to wear him down.
A shot to the liver by Ruth. Beautiful body shot.
Voronin throws a big shot that misses.
Voronin fakes the leg kick and cracks Ruth in the body.
Ruth avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ruth drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Voronin defends it well.
Voronin lands a lovely overhand right.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Both fighters circling a little - Voronin finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruth slips under a jab from Voronin.
A nice side step and Ruth releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Andriy Voronin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Voronin throws an overhand right that lands on Ruth's shoulder, as Ruth tries to avoid the shot.
Voronin defending well as Ruth loads up on a big left hand.
Voronin throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Ruth counters with a stiff right hand.
Ruth tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Voronin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Voronin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ruth slips under a jab.
Ruth walks into a stiff left hand from Voronin.
A low kick from Voronin misses
and Ruth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Voronin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ruth.
Voronin lands a slapping body shot.
Voronin throws an overhand right that lands on Ruth's shoulder, as Ruth tries to avoid the shot.
Voronin lands with a hook. Ruth tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ruth throws an overhand right that lands on Voronin's shoulder, as Voronin tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voronin throws a lazy head kick
and Ruth counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Voronin lands with an uppercut that bounces Ruth off the cage and back into range.
Voronin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ruth.
Ruth looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Voronin throws the left hand but Ruth avoids the punch easily.
Ruth with the counter takedown but Voronin avoids it easily.
Voronin connects with a looping right hand.
A big right from Voronin misses.
Ruth appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ruth sizes up Voronin with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Voronin scores with a nice head shot.
Voronin lands a slapping body shot.
Voronin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ruth's calf.
Ruth takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Voronin with a nice cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Voronin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ruth walks into a stiff left hand from Voronin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voronin scores with a punch to the head.
Voronin pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ruth is out of range and Voronin settles back down.
Ruth wants to counter the offense by Voronin and move into the clinch position.
The fighters circle momentarily. Voronin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Voronin throws a shot from downtown. Ruth moves away and avoids it.
Voronin misses with a right hand
and Ruth counters with a stiff right hand.
Ruth moves away from the strike by Voronin.
Ruth looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Voronin misses the shot to the body.
Voronin misses the jab.
Voronin looks for the body kick but Ruth saw that one coming.
Ruth steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Voronin.
Voronin throws an overhand right that lands on Ruth's shoulder, as Ruth tries to avoid the shot.
Voronin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Voronin misses with an uppercut.
Voronin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ruth drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Voronin scores with a nice head shot.
Andriy Voronin is winning the standup battle so far.
Voronin lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ruth's sensitive parts.
Voronin cracks Ruth with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ruth checks the leg kick nicely there.
It seemed like Ruth was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ruth tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Voronin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Voronin throwing a counter right hand but Ruth manages to avoid it.
Voronin feints a jab promting Ruth to slip. Voronin then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ruth slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Ruth has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Voronin dips to his left and cracks Ruth with an uppercut!
Voronin lands a jab to the nose.
Voronin lands a jab.
Voronin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ruth wants to counter the offense by Voronin and move into the clinch position.
A big right from Ruth misses.
Ruth takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ruth moves away from the strike by Voronin.
Voronin with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voronin connects with a solid leg kick.
Voronin lands a right hook to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ruth checks a leg kick.
Ruth shoots in and drives through. Voronin sprawls well.
Voronin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ruth.
Voronin tests Ruth's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Voronin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Ruth might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Voronin has got the better of the exchanges.
Voronin misses with a low kick as Ruth jumps back.
Voronin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Voronin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ruth wants to counter with a clinch but Voronin pushes him away.
Nice shot lands for Voronin.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Voronin.
Ruth stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Voronin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voronin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ruth backs up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Voronin lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ruth takes a step back to recover.
Ruth walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Voronin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruth can do to turn this around?
Ruth bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ruth looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Voronin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ruth! But no joy.
Ruth might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ruth creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Voronin lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ruth.
Voronin struggles to land a body shot inside as Ruth controls his hands.
Voronin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ruth throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Voronins head.
Ruth tries for a takedown. No joy.
Voronin misses with a body punch.
Ruth lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Voronin backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Voronin fails to land.
Voronin tries to work over Ruth's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Voronin blocks an uppercut.
Ruth's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Voronin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A nice left hand lands by Ruth.
Voronin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Ruth.
Voronin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ruth's elbow.
Ruth blocks a body shot from Voronin.
Ruth lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ruth misses with a short punch on the inside.
Voronin tries to work over Ruth's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Ruth gets control of Voronin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ruth will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Voronin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ruth is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Voronin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruth throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ruth cracks Voronin with an open hand slap.

Ruth scores with a takedown into Voronin's guard.
Voronin is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Ruth dives into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Voronin is looking to get back to his feet here but Ruth is keeping cool and he's managed to take Voronin's back.
Voronin is trying to get back to his feet but Ruth has full control of the position and if anything, Voronin has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Ruth lands strikes to the head.
Ruth is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Well, with Ruth on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Voronin is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Ruth is looking to control Voronin but Voronin is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Voronin is trying to stand back up.
Ruth is landing with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andriy Voronin dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Voronin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruth wants to counter with a clinch but Voronin pushes him away.
Ruth waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Voronin.
Voronin misses with an uppercut.
Voronin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ruth misses with a body shot.

Ruth throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Voronin was covering up waiting for the punch and Ruth finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ruth trying to control but Voronin is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruth prevents Voronin from getting back to his feet.
Voronin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Ruth works over Voronin with some ground and pound from guard.
Ruth trying to control but Voronin is working from the bottom.
Ruth postures up and lands a big shot to Voronin's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruth trying to control the position from guard on top but Voronin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruth scoring with some ground and pound.
Ruth postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Voronin is looking to stand up but Ruth isn't so interested in that idea.
Ruth is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ruth makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Voronin is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ruth presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Ruth prevents a body shot from Voronin.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Voronin.
Voronin struggles to land a body shot inside as Ruth controls his hands.
Ruth lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Voronin.
Voronin struggles to land a body shot inside as Ruth controls his hands.
Ruth misses with the head strike.
Voronin tries to throw a body punch but Ruth avoids it by throwing Voronin back against the cage.
John Ruth seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short right from Ruth on the inside.
Ruth throws a punch but it's blocked by Voronin.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ruth lands a shoulder strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Voronin.
Voronin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Voronin.
Voronin has a couple of punches blocked by Ruth.
Voronin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ruth's elbow.
Ruth prevents a body shot from Voronin.
Voronin tries a body shot but Ruth blocks it.
Ruth lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ruth throws a punch but it's blocked by Voronin.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Voronin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Voronin.
Voronin lands a shoulder strike.
Ruth lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voronin gets through Ruth's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ruth fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ruth lands a hook to the side of the head.
Voronin prevents the takedown attempt.
Ruth working aggressively here.
Voronin tries to work over Ruth's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Ruth gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Voronin manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Voronin lands with a thumping leg kick.
Voronin thuds a left hand into Ruth's body.
Voronin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruth avoids the head kick by Voronin.
Voronin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ruth tries to close the distance and clinch up but Voronin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A slapping leg kick lands for Voronin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voronin moves in looking to clinch but Ruth pushes him off.
Ruth throws out a counter right but Voronin avoids it with no problem.
Ruth tries to clinch up.
Voronin swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Voronin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ruth has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Voronin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ruth swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That kick from Voronin tenderised Ruth's leg. Ruth is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ruth on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ruth walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Voronin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruth manages to avoid it.
Voronin throws a hook but Ruth avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Ruth throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Voronin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ruth has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Voronin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andriy Voronin clearly takes that 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.

A slow jab from Voronin misses its intended target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Voronin, right into the meat.
Voronin scoring well with a low kick there.
Voronin tries to clinch but Ruth moves out of range.
Ruth wants to counter with a clinch but Voronin pushes him away.
Ruth throws a shot to the body.
Voronin connects with a right hand. Ruth shakes it off.
Voronin throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
It seemed like Ruth was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ruth slips a straight right by Voronin.
A jab lands there for Voronin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voronin misses with a hook.
Voronin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ruth's hands.
Ruth misses with an uppercut.
Voronin lands a right hook to the body.
Ruth checks a low kick from Voronin.
Ruth now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voronin connects with the punch.
Voronin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ruth swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The fighters circle momentarily. Voronin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Voronin throws a hook to the side of Ruth's head but Ruth sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Voronin thuds his right hand into Ruth's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Voronin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Voronin motions for Ruth to come forward. Voronin throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Voronin.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Voronin lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ruth has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ruth and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Voronin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ruth sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Voronin lands a nice looking body kick.
Voronin tries to clinch there but Ruth circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruth swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Voronin throws a leg kick which misses Ruth's front leg but catches the back leg as Ruth tries to avoid it.
Ruth is looking to clinch.
Voronin moves out of range of the strikes.
Voronin throws a leg kick that misses.
Voronin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jab by Voronin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Voronin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Voronin connects with a nice looking jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Voronin.

Ruth closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
John Ruth has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ruth scores with punches from side control.
Voronin is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ruth is controlling him well.
Ruth lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voronin is trying to buck Ruth off.
Ruth working the ground and pound.
Ruth wants to control but Voronin is keeping him busy.
Voronin is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ruth working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ruth cracks Voronin with a big elbow.
Ruth scores with punches from side control.
Ruth lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voronin wants to get back to his feet.
Ruth working the body and head with strikes.
Ruth lands a few punches from side control.

Voronin is rocked!

Ruth looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Oh Voronin is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Ruth has hold of Voronin's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Voronin seems comfortable defending it but Ruth has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Voronin is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Voronin is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Ruth couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:23 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). John Ruth!
John Ruth is the new middleweight champion!
John Ruth very nearly forgot to thank Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.