PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cris Ruhl (ranked 4022 p4p, 3327 weight class) and Thomas Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruhl comes to the cage accompanied by Courtesy of the Red White and Blue. Davis has chosen Not like us as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Thomas Davis acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Ruhl
vs
Davis

183 cm
20
135
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
130
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Cris Ruhl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Davis!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Roberts and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruhl throws a leg kick but Davis sees it coming and moves out of range.
Davis lands a slapping body shot.
Ruhl slips a jab and a cross from Davis.
Ruhl really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ruhl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Davis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ruhl fails in his attempt to clinch.
Davis is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ruhl scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ruhl stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ruhl wants it to stay on the feet.
Ruhl feinted with a counter takedown.
Some wild striking there from Ruhl.
Davis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ruhl is looking to counter the offense by Davis and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruhl darts in looking for a takedown but Davis gets double underhooks and turns Ruhl into the cage.
Davis feints the counter takedown.
Ruhl stalling in the clinch but Davis improves position.

Davis gets control of Ruhl's arms and successfully pulls guard. Davis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Davis has his hands on Ruhl's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis trying to control the position.
Ruhl wants to control from the top but Davis keeps moving.
Ruhl stops Davis from standing up.
Davis is trying to keep Ruhl in close.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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.
Davis being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Davis closes the distance and clinches up with Ruhl, looking for a takedown. Davis pushes Ruhl against the cage but Ruhl circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cris Ruhl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Davis.
Davis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Davis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ruhl as he avoids it easily.
Ruhl shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Davis counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ruhl thinking.
Davis is looking to clinch but Ruhl is avoiding it.
Ruhl looks to score with a jab to the body but Davis is just out of range.
Ruhl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Davis paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruhl lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Davis circles away quickly and effectively.
Ruhl shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Davis as he jumps to the side.

Davis instigates a clinch.
Ruhl tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Davis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ruhl is defending well.
Ruhl looking to stall.

Davis manages to break the clinch.
Ruhl keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ruhl or perhaps it was just good defense by Davis, which made it look bad.

Ruhl gets tackled into the cage by Davis. Davis maintains the clinch.
Davis blocks the elbow strike.
Davis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ruhl walks away with a smile on his face. Davis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruhl looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Davis wants to counter the offense by Ruhl and move into the clinch position.
Ruhl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Davis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Davis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ruhl tries to avoid it but Davis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ruhl to the ground. Ruhl escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ruhl shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Davis defends it nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thomas Davis will probably get the nod.
That's time! Ruhl's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ruhl throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ruhl swings away with a body shot that misses

and Davis moves into the clinch.
Ruhl gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Davis.

Davis breaks the clinch.
Ruhl moves in looking to clinch but Davis pushes him off.
Ruhl throws a left and a right that both miss
and Davis counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ruhl throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Davis moves into range and clinches up with Ruhl.
Davis is looking to take this one to the mat.
Davis jumps guard but Ruhl stands there with Davis around his waist. Davis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cris Ruhl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Davis.
Davis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ruhl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruhl wants a takedown.
Ruhl wants a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Davis jumps guard but Ruhl turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Davis tries to score a body lock takedown but Ruhl shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ruhl is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Davis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ruhl smiles and moves away.
Ruhl darts in trying to clinch
and Davis counters with a body kick that stops Ruhl in his tracks momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A head kick misses from Davis.
Davis shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruhl sprawls well. He's pushed Davis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters circling a little - Davis finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ruhl. Davis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ruhl tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Davis swivels and escapes.
Davis tries to counter by closing the distance.
Davis looks for a takedown but Ruhl sprawls well.
Ruhl misses with a looping right.
Davis shoots in but no luck this time.
Davis closes the distance and clinches up with Ruhl, looking for a takedown. Davis pushes Ruhl against the cage but Ruhl circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ruhl has his takedown stuffed
and Davis counters with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruhl tries to clinch up.
No luck for Davis with that takedown attempt.
Thomas Davis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ruhl throws a head kick but Davis moves out of range.
Ruhl shoots for a takedown but Davis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Davis rushes Ruhl and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ruhl prevents a body shot from Davis.
Davis blocks a body shot from Ruhl.
Davis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ruhl is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruhl blocks a body shot from Davis.
Davis jumps guard but Ruhl stands there with Davis around his waist. Davis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Davis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ruhl throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Davis's waist but Davis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ruhl off to one side.
Davis tries to counter by closing the distance.
Davis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ruhl sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Davis somewhat.
Cris Ruhl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruhl shoots in for a double leg but Davis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but Ruhl shows good takedown defense.
Ruhl tries to clinch but Davis moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Davis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ruhl misses with a hook. Davis ducked under it nicely.
Davis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ruhl tries to clinch but Davis is having none of it.
Despite the aggression on Davis's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ruhl throws a head kick that misses.
Davis fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Davis shoots in and drives through. Ruhl sprawls well.
Ruhl misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ruhl misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ruhl.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruhl misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Davis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ruhl might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Davis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Ruhl throws his legs up looking for a submission but Davis uses it to pass to side control.
Davis gets to mount! Ruhl was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Ruhl tries to reverse the position but Davis maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Davis with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Davis thowing shots but they're missing.

Davis wants to finish this one by submission but Ruhl is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Davis.
Davis looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruhl regains half guard.

Davis decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Ruhl shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Davis as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cris Ruhl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Davis scores with a push kick.
Davis dives in and grabs Ruhl's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ruhl pushes down on Davis's head and hops out.

Davis gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Davis ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Davis no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ruhl trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.
Davis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Davis is taking a breather. Ruhl 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cris Ruhl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas Davis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Ruhl looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Davis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Davis 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Davis!
A victorious Thomas Davis thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.