PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carter Ruck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Bardugo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robert Bardugo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ruck
vs
Bardugo

178 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Carter Ruck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Bardugo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruck gets a clinch.
Ruck prevents Bardugo from breaking the clinch.
Ruck lands with a short shot to the head.
Ruck lands a shoulder strike.
Ruck misses with the head strike.
Ruck working aggressively here.
Ruck lands a shoulder strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ruck.
Ruck keeps control of Bardugo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ruck has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bardugo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bardugo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bardugo is looking to break free of the clinch but Ruck has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruck fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Ruck drags the fight down to the ground.
Ruck 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.
Ruck is looking to stand up but Bardugo isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bardugo wanted to stand there but Ruck had control of the position.
Bardugo prevents Ruck from getting back to his feet.
Ruck looking for a sweep. Not yet Ruck, not yet.
Ruck is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bardugo is controlling him.

Ruck scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ruck wants to clinch up but Bardugo keeps it at a distance.
Bardugo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ruck moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ruck moves in looking to clinch but Bardugo pushes him off.
Bardugo throws a nice looking combination but Ruck bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ruck is looking to clinch.
Ruck tries to clinch but Bardugo is having none of it.
Bardugo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ruck stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruck bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ruck will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bardugo stalks Ruck and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ruck's face. Ruck staggers backwards, shaken.
Robert Bardugo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ruck forces Bardugo back against the cage and clinches.
Bardugo wants to break free but Ruck has control.
Bardugo is trying to break the clinch but Ruck has him pressed against the cage.
Bardugo wants a takedown but no success here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ruck takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Bardugo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ruck has him pressed against the cage.
Bardugo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ruck lands a right hand.

Ruck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ruck doesn't manage to clinch there - Bardugo circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruck has managed to clinch.
Ruck tries to score a body lock takedown but Bardugo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bardugo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ruck takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Bardugo is trying to break free.

Ruck gets control of Bardugo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ruck will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ruck has a closed guard, preventing Bardugo from standing up.
Ruck on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ruck tries to get out of the position.
Bardugo looks gassed!
Ruck working a defensive guard here.
Bardugo stops Ruck from standing up.
Ruck working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ruck has his hands on Bardugo's head, controlling the position.

Ruck has his foot on Bardugo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bardugo works his way back into a safe position though.
Ruck wants to stand but Bardugo is controlling the position.
Ruck has a closed guard, preventing Bardugo from standing up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ruck fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carter Ruck. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bardugo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ruck tries to clinch up but Bardugo circles away and keeps his distance.
Ruck tries to close the distance and clinch but Bardugo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Carter Ruck will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ruck tries to clinch there but Bardugo circles away.
Ruck looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bardugo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ruck at a distance.
Bardugo looks to land a combination but Ruck avoids it well.

Ruck instigates a clinch.
Bardugo is trying to break the clinch but Ruck has him pressed against the cage.
Ruck lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bardugo.
Bardugo wants to break free but Ruck has control.

Ruck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bardugo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ruck tries to clinch up.
Ruck tries to close the distance and clinch but Bardugo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bardugo is breathing heavily.
Ruck with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bardugo keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bardugo throws a series of punches but Ruck avoids them all with ease.
Bardugo throws out a loose jab but Ruck uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ruck wants to clinch.
Ruck fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ruck swinging wilding here.
Ruck is looking to land body kicks.
Ruck fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ruck fails with the takedown.
Ruck fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ruck wants to clinch.

Ruck has closed the distance and engaged Bardugo in a clinch.

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.
Bardugo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ruck lands a shot to the body.
Ruck lands a body shot.

Ruck breaks from the clinch.
Ruck lands a jab to Bardugo's midsection.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruck looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ruck doesn't manage to clinch there - Bardugo circles away.

Ruck clinches up with Bardugo and pushes him back against the cage.
Ruck lands a nice shot to the body.

Ruck breaks the clinch.
Bardugo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bardugo takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Ruck gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bardugo can't break the clinch.
Ruck using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bardugo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ruck lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ruck gets through Bardugo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ruck pushes Bardugo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ruck.
Ruck lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bardugo.
Ruck scores with a shoulder strike.
Ruck is pushing Bardugo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short right from Ruck on the inside.
Ruck slows down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ruck tries to score a body lock takedown but Bardugo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carter Ruck. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot in the inside from Ruck.
Ruck digs a right hand underneath Bardugo's ribcage. Bardugo let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ruck leaning against his opponent.
Ruck jumps guard but Bardugo stands there with Ruck around his waist. Ruck gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ruck lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ruck lands a shoulder strike.

Ruck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ruck closes the distance and clinches up with Bardugo, looking for a takedown. Ruck pushes Bardugo against the cage but Bardugo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ruck wants to clinch up but Bardugo keeps it at a distance.
Ruck is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carter Ruck dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ruck doesn't manage to clinch there - Bardugo circles away.
Ruck tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ruck wants to clinch up but Bardugo keeps it at a distance.
Ruck is looking to clinch.
Bardugo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ruck tries to clinch there but Bardugo circles away.
Bardugo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ruck fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ruck is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruck wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Bardugo misses.
Bardugo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bardugo circles away from the clinch attempt.

Bardugo tries to keep at a distance but Ruck has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruck prevents Bardugo from breaking the clinch.
Ruck stalling the fight.
Ruck softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ruck drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bardugo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ruck tries to clinch but Bardugo is having none of it.

Ruck gets a clinch.
Bardugo wants to break free but Ruck has control.
Ruck scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bardugo wants to get back to striking at distance but Ruck won't allow it.

Ruck breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ruck throws a right and a left that both miss.

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.
Bardugo missing with a left hand there. Ruck was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ruck tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bardugo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carter Ruck is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruck wants to clinch.
Carter Ruck seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruck is looking to clinch.

Ruck fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bardugo, pushing him back against the cage.
Bardugo tries to break the clinch but Ruck is controlling the position.
Ruck tries to pull guard but Bardugo won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carter Ruck. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bardugo wants to break free but Ruck has control.
Bardugo tries for a takedown. No joy.

Ruck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ruck tries to clinch up.

Ruck darts in and clinches Bardugo up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Ruck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruck lands a hook that snaps the head of Bardugo backwards.

Ruck pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ruck forces Bardugo back against the cage and clinches.
Ruck pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ruck drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short uppercut from Ruck.

Ruck breaks from the clinch.
Ruck listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Ruck has managed to clinch.
A short body shot lands from Ruck as the two fighters clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Ruck.
Ruck changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bardugo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ruck tries to clinch but Bardugo moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ruck. That's going to slow Bardugo down.
Ruck fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ruck tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ruck tries for a takedown but Bardugo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bardugo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Ruck instigates a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A short uppercut from Ruck.

Ruck jumps into guard, dragging Bardugo to the mat.
Robert Bardugo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carter Ruck is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ruck is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carter Ruck showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ruck, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carter Ruck!