PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lagi Lasa (ranked 5052 p4p, 25377 weight class) and Kody Ruiz (ranked 504 p4p, 575 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lasa
vs
Ruiz

186 cm
23
174
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
177
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lagi Lasa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kody Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Ruiz or perhaps it was just good defense by Lasa, which made it look bad.
It looked like Lasa wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ruiz or perhaps it was just good defense by Lasa, which made it look bad.
Ruiz shoots in but no luck this time.
Lagi Lasa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kody Ruiz.
Ruiz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lasa avoids it really well and circles away.
Lasa misses with a looping left.
A jab from Lasa misses.
Lasa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ruiz.
Lasa is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Lasa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruiz manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ruiz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lasa.
Ruiz slips under a jab.
Lasa stuffs the takedown.
Lasa throwing a counter right hand but Ruiz manages to avoid it.

Ruiz rushes Lasa and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lasa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ruiz has him pressed against the cage.
Ruiz lands a hook that snaps the head of Lasa backwards.

Lasa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ruiz doesn't manage to clinch there - Lasa circles away.
Ruiz fails with a takedown attempt.
Ruiz shoots in looking for a takedown but Lasa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ruiz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A swing and a miss from Lasa.
Lasa throws a hook to the side of Ruiz's head but Ruiz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lasa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ruiz wants to counter the offense by Lasa and move into the clinch position.

Ruiz moves into range and clinches up with Lasa.
A frustrated look appears on Lasa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ruiz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lasa prevents it.
Lasa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ruiz has him pressed against the cage.
Lasa has had enough of the clinch but Ruiz keeps him there for the moment.
Ruiz creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lasa wants to break the clinch but can't.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ruiz.
Ruiz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lasa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lasa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lasa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ruiz has him pressed against the cage.
Lasa is trying to force a seperation but Ruiz has the dominant position.
Lasa blocks the elbow strike.
Lasa has had enough of the clinch but Ruiz keeps him there for the moment.
Lasa has had enough of the clinch but Ruiz keeps him there for the moment.

Ruiz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ruiz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ruiz moves out of range as Lasa strikes.
Lasa throws a big shot that misses.
Lasa throws a lazy right hand but Ruiz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lasa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ruiz misses with a wild combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ruiz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz throwing shots but Lasa is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lasa manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Lasa throws a big shot that misses.
Ruiz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lasa avoids it really well and circles away.
Ruiz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lasa avoids it really well and circles away.
As Ruiz backs away, Lasa returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Lasa looks to throw the jab but Ruiz is out of range.
Ruiz shoots in and drives through. Lasa sprawls well.
Lasa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ruiz misses with a takedown attempt - Lasa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ruiz looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lasa defending well as Ruiz loads up on a big left hand.
Ruiz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lasa.
Ruiz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lasa went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Lasa misses with a double jab.
Ruiz needs to keep his hands up - Lasa had a free shot at his head there.
Some wild striking there from Lasa.
Lasa misses with an uppercut. Ruiz saw that one coming.
Ruiz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruiz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lasa.
Lasa throws out a loose jab but Ruiz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ruiz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ruiz tries a head kick but it misses.
Ruiz defending well as Lasa loads up on a big left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lagi Lasa dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ruiz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ruiz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lasa circles away.
Ruiz moves in looking to clinch but Lasa pushes him off.
Ruiz shoots in but Lasa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ruiz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lasa.
Lasa thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big right from Lasa misses.
Lasa throws a hook but Ruiz blocks it.
Ruiz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lasa as he avoids it easily.
Lagi Lasa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kody Ruiz.
Ruiz fails in his attempt to clinch.
It looked like Lasa wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz fails with the takedown.
An attempted straight right counter from Lasa misses the target.
Ruiz tries a head kick but it misses.
Ruiz is breathing heavily.
Lasa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ruiz can pounce on him.
Lasa missing with a left hand there. Ruiz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz tries to bum rush Lasa with a series of wild strikes but Lasa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lagi Lasa is winning the standup battle so far.
Ruiz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ruiz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lasa.
Lasa throws out a loose jab but Ruiz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lasa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ruiz.

Ruiz clinches up against the cage.
Lasa working hard to break the clinch.
Lasa is trying to break the clinch but Ruiz is controlling him.
Lasa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lasa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ruiz prevents Lasa from breaking the clinch.
Lasa is trying to break the clinch but Ruiz is controlling him.
Ruiz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lasa is defending well for now.
Lasa is looking to break free of the clinch but Ruiz has double underhooks.
Ruiz keeps control of Lasa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lasa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ruiz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz tries to clinch but Lasa is having none of it.
Lasa throws an off balance right hand
and Ruiz counters with a one-two to the body.
Ruiz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lasa tries to avoid it but Ruiz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lasa to the ground. Lasa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lasa throws a big shot that misses.
Ruiz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lasa.
Lasa loads up on a big right hand but Ruiz slips the punch.
As Lasa backs off Ruiz throws a huge counter combo but Lasa manages to avoid it all.
Lasa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lasa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ruiz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruiz checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ruiz dives in for a single leg takedown but Lasa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ruiz misses with the combination.
Ruiz dives in and grabs Lasa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lasa pushes down on Ruiz's head and hops out.

Ruiz shoots in and gets a takedown into Lasa's guard.
Ruiz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lasa working for a triangle but Ruiz defends it easily.
Ruiz trying to control but Lasa is working from the bottom.

Lasa working for a triangle but Ruiz defends it easily.

Lasa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ruiz defends well.

That's four 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.
Ruiz throws a big elbow that misses.

Lasa working for submissions but it's allowed Ruiz to get to half guard.
Ruiz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ruiz is trying to control the action in half guard but Lasa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lasa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ruiz pulls his head out easily.

Lasa actively working from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lagi Lasa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ruiz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Ruiz has Lasa pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ruiz pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lasa tumbling to the mat - Ruiz dives into Lasa's guard.

Lasa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lasa keeping moving, preventing Ruiz from controlling successfully.

Lasa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lasa has his foot on Ruiz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ruiz works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ruiz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Lasa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ruiz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ruiz postures up in Lasa's guard and throws a big left but Lasa blocks it.
Ruiz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Lasa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ruiz connects with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lasa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lasa keeping moving, preventing Ruiz from controlling successfully.

Lasa looking for a guillotine here but Ruiz defends easily.
Ruiz distracts Lasa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz working some strikes from top position.

Lasa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ruiz defends it easily.
Ruiz wants to control from the top but Lasa keeps moving.
Ruiz scoring with some ground and pound.
Ruiz distracts Lasa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Lasa is rocked!
Kody Ruiz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ruiz stands up over Lasa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Oh Lasa is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ruiz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz loads up on a big left hand. Lasa felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Ruiz looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Lasa can't hide his disappointment, as Ruiz celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kody Ruiz!