PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hidetoshi Nakata (ranked 3003 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mervin Ruiz (ranked 4642 p4p, 0 weight class). Mervin Ruiz will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Nakata
vs
Ruiz

158 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

The Glue Factory

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hidetoshi Nakata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mervin Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Daniel Franklin and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruiz works over Nakata's head and body with a nice combination.
Ruiz throws a nice looking combination but Nakata bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Nakata has managed to clinch.
Ruiz tries to break free but Nakata pushes him back against the cage.
Nakata is working for takedown but Ruiz is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ruiz is looking to break free of the clinch but Nakata has double underhooks.
Ruiz wants to get back to striking at distance but Nakata won't allow it.
Ruiz is trying to force a seperation but Nakata has the dominant position.
Nakata really is a fat lump.
Ruiz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ruiz tries to break the clinch but Nakata is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakata tries for a takedown but Ruiz manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hidetoshi Nakata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruiz tries to break the clinch but Nakata is controlling the position.
Ruiz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nakata.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ruiz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nakata has him pressed against the cage.
Ruiz has had enough of the clinch but Nakata keeps him there for the moment.
Nakata is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ruiz is defending well.
Nakata looking for a takedown.
Nakata is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ruiz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nakata is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ruiz has had enough of the clinch but Nakata keeps him there for the moment.
Ruiz can't break the clinch.
Ruiz is trying to force a seperation but Nakata has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nakata changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ruiz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ruiz throws a head kick but Nakata moves out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ruiz!
Mervin Ruiz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ruiz misses with a series of wild punches.
Ruiz throws a shot to the body.
Ruiz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nakata tries to counter by clinching up but Ruiz breaks away and moves out of range.
Ruiz misses with a double jab.
Nakata takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ruiz throws a right hand that Nakata ducks under and follows up with a left that Nakata also avoids with ease.
Nakata wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Nakata tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruiz swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz connects with a leg kick. Nakata looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nakata shoots in looking for a takedown. Ruiz tries to sprawl out of it but Nakata keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ruiz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nakata closes the distance but Ruiz moves to the side
and Ruiz counters with a three punch combo that has Nakata backing up. Nakata nods at Ruiz to acknowledge the strikes.
Mervin Ruiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruiz throws a series of punches but Nakata avoids them all with ease.
Nakata is looking to counter the offense by Ruiz and move into the clinch.

Nakata clinches up with Ruiz and pushes him back against the cage.
Ruiz tries to circle away but Nakata has him pinned against the cage.
Ruiz is trying to push Nakata away but Nakata has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nakata has Ruiz pressed against the cage, preventing Ruiz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata looking for a takedown.
A frustrated look appears on Ruiz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Ruiz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ruiz tries to circle away but Nakata has him pinned against the cage.
Nakata drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ruiz wants to get back to striking at distance but Nakata won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruiz tries to circle away but Nakata has him pinned against the cage.
Ruiz is trying to break the clinch but Nakata is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Ruiz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mervin Ruiz 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.

A left and a right from Ruiz both land. Nice combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Ruiz scores with a four punch combination!
Ruiz throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nakata.
Ruiz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ruiz scores with a head kick. Nakata tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ruiz goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
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!
Nakata doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ruiz counters with a one-two to the body.
Ruiz throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ruiz throws a series of punches but Nakata moves out of range.
Nakata shoots in and drives through. Ruiz sprawls well.
Ruiz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nakata.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hidetoshi Nakata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruiz throws a head kick that misses

and Nakata holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ruiz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nakata has him pressed against the cage.
Nakata tries for a takedown but Ruiz manages to get underhooks.
Ruiz tries to break free but Nakata pushes him back against the cage.
Ruiz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nakata is trying to drag Ruiz to the mat but Ruiz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ruiz is trying to force a seperation but Nakata has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nakata looking for a takedown.
Nakata keeps control of Ruiz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ruiz is looking to break free of the clinch but Nakata has double underhooks.
Ruiz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ruiz breaks the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Ruiz. Those never looked like landing.
Nakata doesn't manage to clinch there - Ruiz circles away.
Ruiz misses with a head kick.
Ruiz scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ruiz throws a right and a left that Nakata avoids nicely.
Nakata takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mervin Ruiz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz misses with a few strikes there.
Ruiz is looking to slow Nakata down with leg kicks.
Nakata takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A left and a right from Ruiz both land. Nice combination.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ruiz.
As Ruiz tries to get set, Nakata tries to push him back and clinch up but Ruiz manages to avoid the attempt.
Ruiz thuds his right hand into Nakata's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nakata blocks a head kick by Ruiz.
Some wild striking there from Ruiz.
Ruiz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nakata counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ruiz is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz gets underhooks to prevent Nakata's takedown attempt.
Nakata tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ruiz tries to break the clinch but Nakata is controlling the position.
Nakata is working for takedown but Ruiz is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nakata is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Ruiz tries to circle away but Nakata has him pinned against the cage.
Ruiz stops a takedown attempt from Nakata.
Ruiz is trying to break free.
Ruiz tries to circle away but Nakata has him pinned against the cage.
Ruiz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mervin Ruiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Ruiz throws a head kick that half lands.
Nakata looks for a takedown but Ruiz sprawls well.
Ruiz lands a jab.
Ruiz throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nakata.
Ruiz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz lands a high kick!
Ruiz digs a good body shot into Nakata's ribs.
A nice combination there by Ruiz.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruiz looks to land a combination. Nakata sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nakata wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Ruiz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ruiz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ruiz misses with a two punch combination.
Ruiz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nakata has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ruiz displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ruiz misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Nakata holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ruiz working hard to break the clinch.
Ruiz is trying to force a seperation but Nakata has the dominant position.
Nakata can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Ruiz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ruiz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hidetoshi Nakata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruiz working hard to break the clinch.

Ruiz breaks from the clinch.
Nakata on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Nakata has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ruiz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ruiz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nakata drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ruiz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ruiz tries to break free but Nakata pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz tries to circle away but Nakata has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Ruiz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ruiz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ruiz tries to break free but Nakata pushes him back against the cage.
Ruiz working hard to break the clinch.
Nakata is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ruiz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ruiz is trying to force a seperation but Nakata has the dominant position.
Ruiz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hidetoshi Nakata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ruiz is trying to force a seperation but Nakata has the dominant position.
Ruiz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ruiz wants to break free but Nakata has control.
Ruiz wants to get back to striking at distance but Nakata won't allow it.
Ruiz can't break the clinch.
Ruiz working hard to break the clinch.
Nakata keeps control of Ruiz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nakata has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ruiz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruiz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nakata.
Ruiz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mervin Ruiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ruiz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mervin Ruiz!
Mervin Ruiz decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.