PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marco Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shah Rokhan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruiz kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is U're the Best Around. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Ruiz
vs
Rokhan

183 cm
21
176 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
180 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marco Ruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shah Rokhan!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rokhan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ruiz trying to control the position.
Rokhan won't allow Ruiz to get back to his feet.
Ruiz wants to sweep here but Rokhan controlling him for the moment.
Rokhan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rokhan is working Ruiz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ruiz controlling the position.
Rokhan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rokhan wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rokhan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ruiz misses with a takedown attempt - Rokhan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rokhan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokhan shoots and misses
and Ruiz counters with an outside leg kick.
Ruiz takes a swing at Rokhan's ribcage but misses.
Rokhan shoots and misses
and Ruiz counters with a three punch combo that has Rokhan backing up. Rokhan nods at Ruiz to acknowledge the strikes.
Rokhan fakes the leg kick and cracks Ruiz in the body.
Ruiz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ruiz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rokhan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
A lull in the action here.

Ruiz stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Ruiz misses with a double jab

and Rokhan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rokhan.
Ruiz is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rokhan wants to pass the guard but Ruiz is keeping the position.
Rokhan passes Ruiz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ruiz wants to get back to his feet.
Rokhan wants to pass to mount but Ruiz is defending the position.
Rokhan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rokhan is keen to just control but Ruiz is a slippery customer.
Rokhan looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ruiz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rokhan wants to get back to his feet.
Rokhan uses his free foot to push down on Ruiz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ruiz.
Ruiz tries to hold on but Rokhan pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokhan controlling from mount.
Ruiz tries to improve his position but instead Rokhan has taken his back!
Rokhan has good solid back control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rokhan patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Ruiz staying busy and making it hard for Rokhan to control.
Rokhan gets his hands free as Ruiz looks to control.
Rokhan throwing sloppy strikes.
Ruiz trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Rokhan throwing sloppy strikes.
Rokhan just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Ruiz looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four 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.
Ruiz avoids the strikes from Rokhan.
Rokhan slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Ruiz looking very determined here, making life difficult for Rokhan.
Ruiz looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Good control from Rokhan.

Rokhan working for the choke.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruiz is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rokhan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shah Rokhan 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.

Rokhan closes the distance but Ruiz moves to the side
and Ruiz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rokhan tries to clinch but Ruiz moves out of range.
Rokhan misses with a takedown

and Ruiz counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Rokhan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rokhan can't keep his opponent in guard - Ruiz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ruiz content to control rather than advance.
Rokhan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ruiz is working away from the top position though.
Rokhan is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz wants to stand up but Rokhan is controlling the position.
Rokhan wants to get back to full guard.
Shah Rokhan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ruiz wants to free his trapped foot but Rokhan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rokhan wants to control but Ruiz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rokhan tries to roll over but Ruiz keeps him under control.
Ruiz is trying to control the action in half guard but Rokhan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rokhan has a takedown stuffed.
Rokhan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ruiz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A punch combination from Ruiz misses.
Rokhan fails with the takedown
and Ruiz counters with an inside leg kick.
Marco Ruiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shah Rokhan.

Rokhan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ruiz is trying to get back to full guard.
Ruiz trying to hold on to Rokhan's head to control him but Rokhan postures up.
Rokhan wants to take a breather but Ruiz is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Rokhan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rokhan tries to pass to full mount but Ruiz defends it.
Ruiz is trying to stand.
Rokhan is controlling the pace.
Rokhan is looking to advance position but Ruiz won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rokhan lands a head kick. Ruiz smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rokhan shoots in for a takedown but Ruiz shows good takedown defense.

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.
Rokhan with a poor takedown

and Ruiz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rokhan's guard now.
Rokhan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rokhan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ruiz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ruiz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rokhan controlling Ruiz's posture.
Rokhan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ruiz preventing the sweep.
Rokhan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Rokhan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ruiz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ruiz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rokhan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Ruiz dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rokhan falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Ruiz to counter with a crisp jab.
Rokhan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ruiz counters with a left and a right that stings Rokhan.
Rokhan tries for a takedown but Ruiz circles away easily
and Ruiz counters with a left and a right that stings Rokhan.
Ruiz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Rokhan counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rokhan postures up.
Ruiz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rokhan.
Rokhan content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rokhan gets to his feet - Ruiz follows without any prompting.
Ruiz misses with the combination.
Rokhan closes the distance but Ruiz moves to the side
letting Ruiz counter with a right hand.
Ruiz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rokhan shoots in and drives through. Ruiz sprawls well.
Marco Ruiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shah Rokhan.
Ruiz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rokhan counters with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rokhan slips a jab and a cross from Ruiz.
Rokhan wants to clinch.
Rokhan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ruiz is fending him off so far but Rokhan persists. Nope, Ruiz circles away and we're back to standing.
Ruiz stuffs the takedown attempt from Rokhan. Rokhan gets slowly back to his feet.
Ruiz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Shah Rokhan has been cut.

Ruiz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rokhan's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz controlling from the top position.
Rokhan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ruiz!
Rokhan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rokhan wants to control the pace but Ruiz is squirming around nicely.
Ruiz is controlling an arm, preventing Rokhan from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Ruiz is trying to stand.
Rokhan wants to control the pace but Ruiz is squirming around nicely.
Rokhan content just to control the position here.
Ruiz is squirming around, avoiding Rokhan's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rokhan controlling the position easily from mount.

Rokhan is working for a guillotine from mount but Ruiz frees his head quite easily.

Rokhan is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Rokhan has his takedown stuffed
and Ruiz counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rokhan doesn't manage to clinch there - Ruiz circles away.
Rokhan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ruiz counters with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marco Ruiz.
I think Ruiz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Ruiz!