PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Ruane (ranked 2882 p4p, 4101 weight class) and Ricardo Duarte (ranked 280 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ruane
vs
Duarte

173 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
24
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brandon Ruane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ricardo Duarte!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruane closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ruane lands in his opponent's guard.
Duarte wants to get back to his feet but Ruane passes into half guard.

Ruane is trying to control the action in half guard but Duarte is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruane wants to stand up but Duarte has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Duarte trying to control but Ruane postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duarte manages to escape and get back to his feet!
An inside leg kick lands from Duarte.

Duarte drives through with a takedown into guard.
Duarte working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Duarte has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ruane is proving hard to escape from.
Duarte not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Ruane looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Duarte passes into half guard.
Duarte takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duarte stops Ruane from getting back to his feet.
Duarte not doing much here.
Duarte prevents Ruane from improving his position.
Duarte is taking a breather. Ruane 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
It looks like Duarte might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Duarte swats away the attempt to clinch by Ruane.

Duarte is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ruane's half guard.
Ruane tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Duarte manages to move to mount!
Duarte tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duarte is continuing to stall.
Ruane sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ruane is breathing heavily.
Duarte looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Duarte 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.

Duarte works over Ruane's head and body with a nice combination.
Ruane takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nice takedown defense from Ruane. No joy for Duarte on that attempt.
Duarte showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ruane.
Duarte throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Ruane gets caught napping as Duarte dives in and scores a takedown. Ruane manages to retain guard.

Ruane is rocked!
Duarte slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
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!
Duarte is looking to take a break and control but Ruane is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Duarte is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Ruane's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duarte advances to full mount.
Duarte has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ruane wants to hold on but Duarte pushes him away.

Duarte is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
A head kick by Ruane misses
and Duarte counters with a three punch combo that has Ruane backing up. Ruane nods at Duarte to acknowledge the strikes.
Oh Ruane is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A slapping body kick lands there for Duarte.
Ruane seems to have got his legs back now.

Duarte closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ruane's guard.
Ruane being controlled here, momentarily.
Ricardo Duarte has got the better of the ground game so far.
Duarte slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duarte is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Duarte is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Duarte scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ruane?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duarte content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duarte's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Let's hope that Duarte has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duarte dominating with strikes here.
Duarte controlling the position easily from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Duarte showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Duarte throws a head kick that half lands.
Duarte shoots in but no luck this time.
Duarte lands a front kick.

Duarte drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Duarte is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Duarte tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruane is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duarte 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.
Duarte postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Duarte content to stall in guard here.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Duarte.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Duarte drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruane is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Duarte tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruane is retaining full guard.

Duarte got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ruane has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Duarte has managed to get both his arms back between Ruane's legs - danger averted.
Duarte passes Ruane's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ruane is in trouble now - Duarte has advanced to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Duarte tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duarte is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Duarte extends the arm and Ruane is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ricardo Duarte!