PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tong Po (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Ruiz (ranked 0 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.

Po
vs
Ruiz

171 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tong Po!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Diego Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Topper Green and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruiz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Po quickly recovers to half guard.
Ruiz is looking to advance position but Po won't allow it.
Po is trying to stand up here but Ruiz is controlling him well.
Ruiz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Po's head.
Ruiz wants to stand up but Po has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Po wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Ruiz 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruiz gets a takedown into half guard.
Po is trying to stand up here but Ruiz is controlling him well.
Ruiz wants to free his trapped foot but Po is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ruiz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Po pushes Ruiz off looking to stand but Ruiz dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Po is trying to stand.
Ruiz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ruiz stops Po from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Po tries to close the distance and clinch but Ruiz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Po turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ruiz throws a sloppy head kick and Po moves out of range easily.
Po tries to clinch up.
Ruiz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Ruiz drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz controlling from the top position.
Ruiz prevents Po from getting back to his feet.
Ruiz tries to free his leg and advance position but Po is retaining full guard.
Ruiz won't allow Po to get back to his feet.
Ruiz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ruiz looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Po is looking to clinch.
Ruiz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Ruiz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ruiz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Po is looking to stand up but Ruiz isn't so interested in that idea.
Ruiz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ruiz won't allow Po to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Ruiz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Po throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Ruiz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Po wants to stand but Ruiz is controlling the position.

Ruiz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Po, up you get!
Ruiz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ruiz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Po is trying to defend but Ruiz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Ruiz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Po has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ruiz.
Po is in trouble now - Ruiz has advanced to mount!
Po trying desperately to get to his feet.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ruiz. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruiz looking to finish with strikes here!
Ruiz won't let Po get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Ruiz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Po avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ruiz.
Po really wants to buck Ruiz off and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Po is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Ruiz controlling the position well here. Po rolled but Ruiz kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Po is trying to get back to his feet but Ruiz has full control of the position and if anything, Po has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Po trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

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 thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Po wants to get back to his feet.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Ruiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Po's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Po wants to slow Ruiz down by chopping away at his legs.
Po tries to clinch there but Ruiz circles away.

Ruiz takes the fight into the clinch.
Po tries to pull guard but Ruiz won't allow it.
Ruiz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Ruiz manages to pull guard.
Po is looking to work some ground and pound but Ruiz has wrist control.
Ruiz pulls Po in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Po throws a strike but Ruiz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ruiz stays in close to Po's body and controls the position.

Ruiz stands and steps away. Po gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po wants to clinch.
That kick from Po tenderised Ruiz's leg. Ruiz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Po misses with an attempted mid kick.

Ruiz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ruiz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ruiz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Po is being controlled here.
Po tries to escape but Ruiz is in control.
Ruiz is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Po will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Po is looking to get back to his feet here but Ruiz is keeping cool and he's managed to take Po's back.
Diego Ruiz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Po trying to get back to his feet but Ruiz is in full control for now.
Po covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruiz tightening his grip on Po, looking for the choke.
Even with his hooks in, Ruiz manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Po wants to get back to his feet.

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.
Ruiz punches the canvas rather than the man.
Po is trying to get back to his feet but Ruiz has full control of the position and if anything, Po has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Po defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Ruiz just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Ruiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ruiz 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight for Diego Ruiz!
Judge Topper Green scores the fight for Diego Ruiz!
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight for Diego Ruiz!

Diego Ruiz wins by unanimous decision!