PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fred Sanford (ranked 4739 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Ruggiero (ranked 4804 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sanford
vs
Ruggiero

180 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

208 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fred Sanford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Benjamin Ruggiero!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Columbo Gatti and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanford tries to close the distance and clinch but Ruggiero swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ruggiero was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Sanford tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ruggiero was well out of range. Poor timing from Sanford.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ruggiero.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ruggiero. That's going to slow Sanford down.
Ruggiero throws a front kick that sends Sanford stumbling back into the cage.
Ruggiero lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sanford will feel that in the morning.
Ruggiero thows a body kick. Sanford tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Sanford looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sanford controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sanford might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruggiero wants to sweep here but Sanford controlling him for the moment.
Sanford tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruggiero is retaining full guard.
Sanford passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sanford really is a fat lump.
Sanford controlling from side mount.
Ruggiero really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanford. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ruggiero struggling a bit here.
Sanford is staying tight to Ruggiero's torso, preventing him from escaping.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ruggiero takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sanford grinds an elbow into Ruggiero's temple.
Sanford moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Sanford in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanford working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ruggiero trying his best to control but Sanford has mounted him.
Sanford content just to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanford has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Sanford dominated 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.

Ruggiero buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ruggiero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ruggiero feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sanford's calf.
Sanford wants to clinch up but Ruggiero keeps it at a distance.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sanford 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 Ruggiero has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ruggiero and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Sanford tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sanford throws a push kick but Ruggiero slaps the foot to one side.
Ruggiero feints a counter leg kick.
Sanford throws a body punch but Ruggiero moves out of range.
Sanford sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruggiero goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ruggiero avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ruggiero is trying to counter with his kicks.

Sanford feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanford gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fred Sanford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good leg kick by Ruggiero there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sanford attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ruggiero throws a leg kick which misses Sanford's front leg but catches the back leg as Sanford tries to avoid it.

Sanford shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ruggiero manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sanford controls from within his opponent's guard.

Sanford stands up from Ruggiero's guard - Sanford perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sanford if he has to take too many more of those.
Ruggiero goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Sanford closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ruggiero's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanford landing with the ground and pound.
Sanford sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sanford is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruggiero can do to turn this around?
Sanford chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanford passes Ruggiero's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sanford is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Ruggiero is defending against the submission attempts here by Sanford.
Ruggiero taking some punishment here, with Sanford in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanford is taking a breather. Ruggiero says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sanford works his way into side control.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Sanford here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Sanford looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Sanford is trying to get an arm triangle but Ruggiero is defending well.
Sanford content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Sanford 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sanford shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ruggiero is trying to defend but Sanford finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ground and pound from Sanford.
Sanford content to control rather than advance.

Sanford in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Ruggiero tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Sanford!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Fred Sanford!