PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Ruas (ranked 549 p4p, 27 weight class) and Zdravko Saric (ranked 420 p4p, 19 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.

Ruas
vs
Saric

200 cm
28
280 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

195 cm
35
267 lbs
28 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Sportivité

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carlos Ruas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Zdravko Saric!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saric throws out a leg kick but Ruas moves out of range and Saric only half commits.
Ruas moves out of range as Saric strikes.
Ruas has a takedown stuffed.
Ruas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Saric counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ruas lands with an overhand left.
Ruas shoots in looking for a takedown but Saric manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ruas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Ruas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from Saric does it's job there.

It looks like Carlos Ruas has been cut.
Carlos Ruas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruas throws a sloppy body shot
and Saric counters with a straight right hand.
Saric uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ruas.
Saric doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've been informed that Saric has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Ruas ducks right into an uppercut from Saric.

Ruas gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ruas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saric won't allow Ruas to pass to mount.
Saric is holding on to half guard well.
Saric is looking for a sweep. Ruas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ruas is stalling here. Saric is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ruas seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Saric has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Ruas's face as Saric controls the position.
Ruas is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruas manages to work his way to half guard, despite Saric's best efforts.
Saric looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ruas tries to get to full guard but Saric has control of the leg.
Ruas is working hard here to advance position.
Ruas trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruas is pressing down on Saric's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ruas looking for a sweep. Not yet Ruas, not yet.
Ruas being controlled here, momentarily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruas is on top in guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saric is on top in guard.

Ruas 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ruas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saric manages to get himself to full guard.

Ruas trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Saric manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Ruas working a defensive guard but Saric passes into half guard.
Ruas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ruas moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ruas keeping full guard, as Saric tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zdravko Saric dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Ruas's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ruas scores with a jab.
Saric cracks the inside of Ruas's front leg.
Ruas blocks the body kick.

Ruas drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Saric wants to stand and escape but Ruas is having none of it.
Ruas wants to control from the top but Saric keeps moving.

Ruas postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Saric is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ruas, into his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saric got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ruas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saric has managed to get both his arms back between Ruas's legs - danger averted.
Saric stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ruas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saric manages to get himself to full guard.

Ruas sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Saric's guard.
Ruas looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Ruas is working for a kimura but Saric is defending it quite comfortably.

Ruas trying to work for an americana but Saric has managed to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saric is keeping the position for now.
Ruas wants to control from the top but Saric keeps moving.
Ruas stands and throws Saric's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saric prevents Ruas from moving into mount.
Saric regains half guard there - taking advantage of Ruas's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Ruas is trying to control. Saric wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Saric is positioning himself well to prevent Ruas advancing to mount.
Saric is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ruas wants to control but Saric is keeping him busy.

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.
Ruas wants to free his trapped foot but Saric is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ruas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Saric does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ruas has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Ruas swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Saric is now in Ruas's guard. A big mistake from Ruas there, giving up the dominant position!
Ruas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saric won't allow Ruas to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Ruas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Ruas's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ruas dives in and grabs Saric's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saric pushes down on Ruas's head and hops out.
Saric closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saric. Ruas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saric scores with a jab to the head.
Saric is looking to chop away at Ruas's legs.
Ruas tries to counter with a takedown but Saric is quick to defend against it.
Nice defenses there by Saric.
Saric looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ruas lands with a right hand.
Ruas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ruas feinted with a counter takedown.
A lazy left from Saric finds it's target.
Ruas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Saric counters with a body kick that stops Ruas in his tracks momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saric scores with a nice head shot.

Carlos Ruas's cut is getting worse.

Saric lands a big right hand that sends Ruas crashing to the mat! Saric stays standing though and waves Ruas back to his feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ruas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Ruas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruas darts in looking for a takedown but Saric gets double underhooks and turns Ruas into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruas fails to land the takedown.
Zdravko Saric is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saric thows a body kick. Ruas tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Saric scores with a punch to the head.

Carlos Ruas's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Ruas fails to land the takedown.
Saric lands a front kick.
Saric has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saric lands a body shot.
Ruas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Saric.
A big right from Saric misses.
Ruas looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Saric throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ruas misses with a hook
and Saric counters with a good, hard body kick but Ruas shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saric lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ruas will feel that in the morning.
Saric throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ruas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ruas takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saric with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ruas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saric defends it nicely.
Saric doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A swing and a miss from Saric.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ruas or perhaps it was just good defense by Saric, which made it look bad.
Saric looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ruas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saric defends it nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Saric! But no joy.
A swing and a miss from Saric.
Ruas appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saric bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ruas's head.
Ruas fails with a takedown attempt.
Saric scores with a jab. Ruas acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Jeez, Carlos Ruas's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Saric jabs at Ruas's body.
Saric looks to land a right hand but Ruas moved out of range.
Ruas appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Saric feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Ruas sprawling to the canvas! Ruas rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Saric finish him?!

Ruas is rocked!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Carlos Ruas's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Zdravko Saric!
After winning the bout, Zdravko Saric thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Carlos Ruas spoke after the fight, saying 'No one likes seeing their opponent's hand raised, but that just means that they were the better man today. My team at 3Band MMA and I will break down this match and make the proper changes for my next camp.'.