PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ismo Ruma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and navin johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruma kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me. johnson has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ruma
vs
johnson

182 cm
19
182 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ismo Ruma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, navin johnson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruma closes the distance and clinches up with johnson, looking for a takedown. Ruma pushes johnson against the cage but johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ruma throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around johnson's waist but johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ruma off to one side.
johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ruma counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in johnson's guard now.
johnson looks gassed!
Ruma trying to control the position from guard on top but johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruma seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Ruma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ruma slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ruma trying to control but johnson is working from the bottom.
Ruma stands and throws johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruma tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ruma has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Ruma looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Ruma wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by johnson, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ruma tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ruma is looking to take a break and control but johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
johnson is trying to improve his position.

Ruma is trying to get an arm triangle but johnson is defending well.
Ruma wants to control but johnson is keeping him busy.
johnson struggling a bit here.

Ruma is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
johnson is trying to control Ruma's posture but Ruma avoids it.

Ruma thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Ruma is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ruma wants to lay and pray for a moment but johnson keeps working.

Ruma is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

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.
Ruma looking to control but instead johnson has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
johnson trying to hold on to Ruma's head to control him but Ruma postures up.
Ruma passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for johnson!

Ruma working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
johnson has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismo Ruma dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

johnson with a poor takedown

and Ruma counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ruma.
johnson trying to control the position.
johnson keeping moving, preventing Ruma from controlling successfully.

johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ruma can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ruma showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruma stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruma won't allow johnson to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Ruma shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
johnson is looking to escape.

Ruma is sneakily working for an arm triangle but johnson sees it coming and defends easily.
Ruma is pressing down on johnson's thigh, looking to free his foot. johnson is holding on for now.
Ruma controlling the action here.
johnson is staying active underneath Ruma, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruma is working for a submission of some sort.
johnson is not content to let Ruma control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Ruma looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruma actively working from the bottom here.
Ruma wants to control but johnson is keeping busy.
johnson wants to take a breather but Ruma is having none of it.
Ruma is trying to maintain the position but johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Ruma is controlling johnson's position as best he can from this difficult position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
johnson throws a head kick that misses.
johnson shoots and misses

and Ruma counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ruma tries to pass to full mount but johnson defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ruma is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
johnson misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Ruma seems to be working for a kimura but johnson defends the submission attempt.
Ruma content to control rather than advance.

Ruma is trying to work for a kimura but johnson is defending well.
Ismo Ruma overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ruma looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismo Ruma dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

johnson clinches.
Ruma blocks the elbow strike.
Ruma is trying to drag johnson to the mat but johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ruma drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ruma is trying to work for a single leg takedown but johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ismo Ruma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

johnson pulls guard.
Ruma passes into half guard.

Ruma is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson trying to control but Ruma postures up.

Ruma is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and johnson defends it well.

Ruma is working for a kimura but johnson is defending it quite comfortably.

Ruma seems to be working for a kimura but johnson defends the submission attempt.
Ruma tries to pass the half guard into mount. johnson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ruma wants to lay and pray for a moment but johnson keeps working.
johnson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ruma trying to control the action but johnson is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ruma with a poor takedown
and johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Ruma backing up. Ruma nods at johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ruma decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in johnson's guard.

Ruma drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Ruma seems to have locked his on tight now - johnson screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Ruma, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Ismo Ruma!