PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hideo Tokoro (ranked 1383 p4p, 3177 weight class) and Anthony Ruiz (ranked 189 p4p, 367 weight class). Tokoro comes to the cage accompanied by Blksmiith - Gore-Tex Covers my Soul. Ruiz has chosen DB7 - Squid Game Drill as his entrance music. Anthony Ruiz will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Tokoro
vs
Ruiz

176 cm
21
174
6 - 4 - 0

188 cm
33
184
13 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hideo Tokoro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anthony Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Joseph Jones and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tokoro misses the jab.
Tokoro misses the jab.
Ruiz throws out a counter right but Tokoro avoids it with no problem.
Hideo Tokoro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tokoro misses with a hook.
Ruiz throws a front kick aimed at Tokoro's knee but Tokoro avoids it well.
Ruiz slips a jab and a cross from Tokoro.
A cross from Ruiz lands.
Ruiz connects with a looping right hand.
Tokoro 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.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Tokoro crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ruiz - the referee stops the clock and Tokoro gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ruiz. Tokoro manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ruiz blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lazy left from Ruiz finds it's target.
Ruiz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tokoro throws out the jab.
Ruiz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tokoro looks to score with a jab to the body but Ruiz is just out of range.
Tokoro misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokoro misses with a lunging right hand
and Ruiz counters with a straight right hand.
Ruiz throws a looping overhand right but Tokoro ducks down to avoid it.
Ruiz has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tokoro finds it's way round the side to connect with Ruiz's head.
Tokoro throws a right hand that Ruiz ducks under and follows up with a left that Ruiz also avoids with ease.
Ruiz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ruiz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tokoro looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
An inside leg kick lands from Ruiz.
Tokoro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ruiz unleashes a big counter combination but Tokoro bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ruiz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ruiz misses with a kick to the body.
Tokoro swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tokoro misses with a looping right.
A jab from Ruiz misses.
Ruiz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big left from Tokoro misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruiz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tokoro.
Ruiz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tokoro listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tokoro moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tokoro lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tokoro.

Ruiz is rocked!
Tokoro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruiz moves away.
Ruiz is still on wobbly legs! Can Tokoro finish him?
Good leg kick by Ruiz.
Ruiz seems to have recovered his senses.
Tokoro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruiz manages to avoid it.
Ruiz moves away from the strike by Tokoro.
Tokoro takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tokoro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ruiz throws out a counter right but Tokoro avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro scores with the left hand. Ruiz knows he should have avoided that one.
Tokoro misses with a double jab.
Tokoro moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromRuiz.
Tokoro misses with a hook
and Ruiz counters with an inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ruiz. That's going to slow Tokoro down.
Jab by Tokoro.
Tokoro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruiz moves away.
Tokoro is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Tokoro misses with a shot to the body
and Ruiz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ruiz scores with a kick to the body.
Tokoro takes one on the button.
Ruiz slips under a jab from Tokoro.
Tokoro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ruiz sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tokoro gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ruiz.
Ruiz is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Tokoro had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Tokoro tries to bum rush Ruiz with a series of wild strikes but Ruiz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Despite the aggression on Ruiz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ruiz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ruiz avoids the body shot from Tokoro.
Tokoro misses the shot to the body.
Tokoro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ruiz tries to work over Tokoro's front leg with a kick but Tokoro checks it.
Ruiz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tokoro throws a series of punches but Ruiz avoids them all with ease.
Tokoro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tokoro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ruiz throws a low kick, looking for Tokoro's leg but Tokoro calmly moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruiz shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Tokoro eats them both and turns towards Ruiz to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hideo Tokoro will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ruiz connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tokoro lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ruiz throws a leg kick but Tokoro sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tokoro misses with a series of wild punches.
Tokoro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tokoro swinging wildly here.
Ruiz has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ruiz lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tokoro misses with an uppercut
and Ruiz counters with a straight right hand.
Ruiz lands a head kick. Tokoro smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Tokoro checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz lands with an overhand left.
Ruiz thuds his shin into the meat of Tokoro's side.
Ruiz is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Tokoro throws a series of punches but Ruiz moves out of range.
Tokoro cracks Ruiz with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ruiz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ruiz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tokoro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ruiz.
Anthony Ruiz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tokoro takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tokoro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ruiz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ruiz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tokoro.
Ruiz steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Ruiz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruiz throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tokoro.
Ruiz throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Tokoro missing with a left hand there. Ruiz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tokoro throws a series of strikes that have Ruiz backpedaling.
Tokoro takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ruiz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tokoro.
Ruiz appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tokoro misses with a two punch combination.
Ruiz lands with a right hand.
Tokoro closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tokoro throws a series of punches but Ruiz moves out of range.
Tokoro looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hideo Tokoro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tokoro throws a one two combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro throws out a loose jab but Ruiz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tokoro throws a right and a left that Ruiz avoids nicely.
As Tokoro backs off Ruiz throws a huge counter combo but Tokoro manages to avoid it all.
Tokoro swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ruiz finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Ruiz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tokoro.
Despite the aggression on Ruiz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Left hook, right uppercut from Tokoro.
Tokoro is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tokoro takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A big right from Tokoro misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ruiz.
Good exchange - Ruiz coming out on top.
Tokoro throws a sloppy body shot
and Ruiz counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tokoro is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ruiz throws a looping overhand right but Tokoro ducks down to avoid it.
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!
Tokoro slips a straight right by Ruiz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tokoro. Ruiz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tokoro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ruiz counters with a nice leg kick.
Tokoro looks to land a combination but Ruiz avoids it well.
Ruiz unleashes a big counter combination but Tokoro bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ruiz throws a front kick aimed at Tokoro's knee but Tokoro avoids it well.
A quick step to the side and Tokoro tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tokoro ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ruiz scores with a kick to the midsection.
Tokoro bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ruiz's head.
Tokoro throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tokoro misses with a looping left.
Tokoro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ruiz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anthony Ruiz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Tokoro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ruiz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ruiz throws a counter combo.
Ruiz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ruiz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tokoro throws out the jab.
Tokoro throws a shot from downtown. Ruiz moves away and avoids it.
Tokoro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ruiz.
Tokoro misses with a looping left.
Tokoro misses with the combination.
Tokoro misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tokoro chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ruiz can pounce on him.
Tokoro throws a sloppy body shot
and Ruiz counters with a left and a right that stings Tokoro.
Ruiz dodges the punch combination from Tokoro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A combination from Tokoro does no damage.
Ruiz lands a high kick!
Ruiz defending well as Tokoro loads up on a big left hand.
Tokoro looks to score with a jab to the body but Ruiz is just out of range.
Ruiz avoids the body shot from Tokoro.
Tokoro looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Ruiz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ruiz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ruiz misses with a head kick.
Tokoro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ruiz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Tokoro takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ruiz throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Ruiz misses with an uppercut. Tokoro saw that one coming.
Tokoro blocks the body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tokoro throws a lazy right hand but Ruiz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ruiz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tokoro looks to land a right hand but Ruiz moved out of range.
Tokoro just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruiz throws out a counter right but Tokoro avoids it with no problem.
Ruiz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tokoro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruiz moves away.
Ruiz lands a two punch combo.
Tokoro will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tokoro.
Ruiz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ruiz misses with a series of wild punches.
Ruiz tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice uppercut lands for Tokoro. That snapped Ruiz's head back.
A telegraphed right hand from Tokoro misses the target.
Ruiz counters with a body kick.
Nice body punch from Tokoro.
Tokoro misses the body punch
and Ruiz counters with a head kick.
Ruiz lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ruiz counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tokoro is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A nice leg kick from Ruiz, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ruiz scores with a push kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruiz is looking to chop away at Tokoro's legs.
Ruiz throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tokoro lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Tokoro throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
It seemed like Ruiz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A lazy left from Ruiz finds it's target.
A cross from Ruiz lands.
Tokoro moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tokoro steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ruiz. That one must have hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Ruiz!
Anthony Ruiz seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.