PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between STO Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Bunnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for STO Ruiz has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ruiz
vs
Bunnell

175 cm
22
141 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

200 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, STO Ruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cody Bunnell!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruiz rushes Bunnell and presses him up against the cage.
Ruiz's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Bunnell gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ruiz.
Good body shot from Ruiz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Ruiz jumps guard and drags Bunnell to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ruiz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ruiz throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ruiz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Ruiz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ruiz is striking but Bunnell is not phased and passes to half guard.
Ruiz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two 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.
Ruiz controlling the position well.
Ruiz is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bunnell shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ruiz as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruiz clinches with his opponent.
Bunnell tries to score a body lock takedown but Ruiz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ruiz is trying to break free.
Ruiz misses with a knee strike.
Ruiz landing knees to the head.
Bunnell tries to score a body lock takedown but Ruiz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
STO Ruiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cody Bunnell.
Bunnell looks gassed!
Ruiz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bunnell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bunnell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ruiz prevents it.
Ruiz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ruiz misses with a knee strike.

Ruiz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ruiz tries to clinch but Bunnell is having none of it.
Ruiz fails with the takedown

and Bunnell counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ruiz!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruiz is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cody Bunnell will probably get the nod.
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.

Ruiz tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Bunnell decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ruiz's guard.
Bunnell sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ruiz looking to control but Bunnell passes into half guard.
Ruiz tries to get to full guard but Bunnell has control of the leg.
Ruiz gets back to full guard.
Bunnell is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz is trying to keep Bunnell in close.
Bunnell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ruiz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ruiz looking to control but Bunnell passes into half guard.

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.
Ruiz throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bunnell takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ruiz tries to roll over but Bunnell keeps him under control.
Ruiz is looking to control Bunnell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ruiz avoid being mounted?
Bunnell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ruiz gets a clinch.
Ruiz lands a damaging elbow.
Bunnell tries to score a body lock takedown but Ruiz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bunnell takes an elbow to the temple.

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.
Bunnell takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bunnell takes an elbow to the forehead.
A short left from Ruiz.
Ruiz lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Ruiz decides to pull guard.
Bunnell tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruiz is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bunnell sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruiz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bunnell is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Bunnell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ruiz tries to clinch

and Bunnell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bunnell works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ruiz is looking to control Bunnell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ruiz avoid being mounted?
Ruiz is trying to control but Bunnell passes into side control!
Bunnell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
You can see the frustration on Ruiz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz is looking to reverse the position.
Ruiz manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bunnell is thwarting Ruiz's attempts to control the position.
Ruiz wants to get back to full guard.
Bunnell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ruiz keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruiz tries to clinch but Bunnell moves away

and Bunnell counters with a takedown into side control.
Cody Bunnell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ruiz is looking to regain half guard here but Bunnell keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bunnell blocks the strikes from Ruiz.
Ruiz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ruiz is trying to stand.
Ruiz trying to control from the bottom.
Bunnell wants to control but Ruiz is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ruiz trying to control here.

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

and Bunnell counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ruiz trying to keep a closed guard but Bunnell is proving a slippery customer.

Ruiz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
STO Ruiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruiz is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cody Bunnell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bunnell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Bunnell!