PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Erik Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nauer Stritek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nauer Stritek has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Erik Ruiz's chin.

Ruiz
vs
Stritek

187 cm
17
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Erik Ruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nauer Stritek!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruiz scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Nauer Stritek has been cut.
Stritek throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ruiz on the side of the head.
Decent striking displayed by Stritek there.
Stritek uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ruiz.
Stritek defending well as Ruiz loads up on a big left hand.
Stritek slips a jab and a cross from Ruiz.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ruiz. Stritek does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ruiz throws a jab but it's blocked by Stritek.

Ruiz feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Stritek sprawling to the canvas! Stritek rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Ruiz finish him?!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ruiz throws a series of punches but Stritek moves out of range.
Stritek lands a jab to the head.

Ruiz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stritek, pushing him back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Ruiz scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stritek is trying to pull guard but Ruiz has him pressed against the cage.
Ruiz scores with a shot to the side of Stritek's head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ruiz - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ruiz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stritek is trying to break free.
Stritek jumps guard but Ruiz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ruiz lands with a light punch inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Ruiz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ruiz lands a body shot.
Stritek slips a straight right by Ruiz.
Stritek scores with a nice strike.
Ruiz misses with a wild combination.
Stritek looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stritek ducks under a wild hook from Ruiz.
Ruiz throws a nice looking combination but Stritek bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ruiz throws a looping overhand right but Stritek ducks down to avoid it.
Stritek slips under a jab from Ruiz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stritek paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ruiz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stritek scores with a nice strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stritek clobbers Ruiz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Stritek uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ruiz.
Stritek looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ruiz throws a right hand that misses
and Stritek counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stritek ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruiz moves away.
It looked like Ruiz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stritek darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Stritek clobbers Ruiz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A lazy left from Stritek finds it's target.
Ruiz misses the shot to the body.
Stritek lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A big left from Ruiz misses.
A swing and a miss from Ruiz.
Stritek cracks Ruiz with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ruiz misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stritek was well out of range. Poor timing from Ruiz.
Stritek uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ruiz.
Stritek is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ruiz misses with a lunging right hand
and Stritek counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice defenses there by Stritek.
Ruiz looks to land a left hand but Stritek moved out of range nicely.
Ruiz throws a nice looking combination but Stritek bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ruiz throws a combination that misses
and Stritek counters with a nice body shot.
Ruiz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice uppercut lands for Stritek. That snapped Ruiz's head back.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A right hook to the body lands for Ruiz.
Ruiz holding his opponent close, against the cage.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stritek manages to avoid it.
Stritek looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed right hand from Ruiz misses the target.
Stritek throws a series of punches but Ruiz avoids them all with ease.
Stritek getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Stritek misses with a double jab.
Ruiz throws a looping overhand right but Stritek ducks down to avoid it.
Ruiz throws a combination that misses
and Stritek cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ruiz takes one to the side of the head.
Stritek slips under a jab.
Stritek lands with a hook. Ruiz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruiz misses with an uppercut.
Stritek throws a shot to the body.
Stritek on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ruiz throws a big shot that misses.
Stritek swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Ruiz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nauer Stritek's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ruiz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Stritek connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ruiz scrambles back to his feet.
Ruiz misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Stritek counters with a nice uppercut.
Erik Ruiz is winning the standup battle so far.
Stritek stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ruiz misses with a hook.
A big left from Ruiz misses.

Ruiz pushes Stritek up against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Ruiz.
Ruiz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ruiz just leaning against Stritek, taking a breather.
Stritek presses Ruiz against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stritek fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ruiz takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Stritek letting Ruiz take a breather here.
Ruiz effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stritek is looking to control Ruiz's arms but Ruiz gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stritek has his back to the cage.
Ruiz lands with a right to the head.
Stritek misses with a body punch.
Ruiz lands with a light punch inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ruiz is pressed up against the cage. Stritek has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ruiz down to the mat. Ruiz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Erik Ruiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nauer Stritek.

Ruiz rushes Stritek and presses him up against the cage.

Ruiz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stritek scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ruiz in his tracks.
A telegraphed right hand from Ruiz misses the target.
Ruiz throws a series of punches but Stritek moves out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Ruiz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ruiz just misses with a punch to the body.
Stritek looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stritek slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Ruiz misses.
Ruiz misses with a left hand
enabling Stritek to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruiz throws a body punch but Stritek moves out of range.
Stritek displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ruiz throws out the jab.
Ruiz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Stritek lands a glancing blow to the side of Ruiz's head.
A right-left combo lands from Stritek.
Ruiz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ruiz throws a body shot but no joy.
Ruiz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ruiz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ruiz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stritek is breathing heavily.
Ruiz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ruiz looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Ruiz throws a body shot but no joy.
Ruiz walks into a stiff left hand from Stritek.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ruiz misses with a body shot.
Stritek cracks Ruiz with an open hand slap.
Ruiz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ruiz throws a sloppy body shot
and Stritek counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ruiz closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ruiz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Stritek might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Stritek cracks Ruiz with a good jab.
Ruiz throws a shot from downtown. Stritek moves away and avoids it.
Ruiz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stritek connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ruiz. Ruiz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ruiz scores with a punch to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice shot lands for Stritek.
Ruiz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz throws a predictable looking body shot
and Stritek counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ruiz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ruiz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ruiz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stritek feints a jab promting Ruiz to slip. Stritek then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ruiz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Stritek scores with a hook.
Stritek keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ruiz.
Stritek moves out of range as Ruiz strikes.
Ruiz with a hook.
Ruiz has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Stritek finds it's way round the side to connect with Ruiz's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice defenses there by Stritek.
Stritek looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Stritek lands a nice shot that snaps Ruiz's head back.
Stritek tests Ruiz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nauer Stritek will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Nauer Stritek's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

Stritek ducks under a wild hook from Ruiz.
Stritek scores with a decent looking hook.
Stritek swinging wildly here.
Stritek stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Stritek avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ruiz swings widly with a right hand
and Stritek makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ruiz connects with a nice looking jab.
Stritek lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ruiz throws a lazy right hand but Stritek sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stritek.
A shot to the body from Ruiz misses
and Stritek counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stritek with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruiz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A punch combination from Ruiz misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stritek connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ruiz momentarily.
Ruiz throws a right hand that misses
and Stritek counters with a stiff right hand.
The fighters circling - Ruiz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ruiz misses with a left hand
enabling Stritek to counter with a crisp jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ruiz. Stritek does a little dance to reset his feet.

Ruiz moves into the clinch successfully.
Stritek misses with the head strike.
Ruiz lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ruiz lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ruiz slows down the pace here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ruiz as Stritek tries to tie him up.
Ruiz manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stritek throws a head punch that misses.
Stritek jumps guard but Ruiz stands there with Stritek around his waist. Stritek gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ruiz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ruiz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Stritek backwards.

That has opened up Nauer Stritek's cut even more.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruiz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stritek.
Ruiz throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Striteks head.

Stritek is rocked!
Stritek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stritek has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ruiz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Erik Ruiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nauer Stritek.
Stritek jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ruiz walks away with a smile on his face. Stritek gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stritek.
Stritek wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ruiz misses with a hook. Stritek ducked under it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Stritek.
A swing and a miss from Ruiz.
Stritek throws a poor cross that misses
letting Ruiz counter with a right hand.
Stritek is still on wobbly legs! Can Ruiz finish him?
Stritek slips under a jab from Ruiz.
Ruiz misses with a looping right.
Ruiz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stritek sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stritek seems to have recovered his senses.
Stritek uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ruiz.
Ruiz lands with an overhand left.
Ruiz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Stritek cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Stritek tries to keep at a distance but Ruiz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stritek is looking for a takedown.
Stritek is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stritek is looking for a takedown.
Ruiz dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ruiz.
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!
Stritek misses with the head strike.
Ruiz is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ruiz pushes Stritek back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Ruiz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A jab from Stritek misses.
Ruiz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Stritek is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ruiz.
Stritek moves out of range as Ruiz strikes.

Ruiz has Stritek up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Ruiz showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

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