PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takumi Sagaki (ranked 6355 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Ruiz (ranked 9438 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Sagaki
vs
Ruiz

172 cm
18
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Takumi Sagaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ricardo Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sagaki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Sagaki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sagaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sagaki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ruiz is keeping the position for now.
Sagaki throwing strikes from guard but Ruiz blocks nicely.
Ruiz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ruiz pulls Sagaki in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sagaki drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ruiz dives on top into guard.

Ruiz controls from within his opponent's guard.

Sagaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sagaki controls Ruiz momentarily but Ruiz frees himself.
Ruiz tries to free his leg and advance position but Sagaki is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sagaki trying to control the position.

Ruiz gets to his feet - Sagaki follows without any prompting.

Ruiz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sagaki is trying to defend but Ruiz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sagaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sagaki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ruiz works his foot free and advances to mount.
Sagaki can't escape the position.
Sagaki is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ruiz prevents Sagaki from getting the reversal.
Ruiz landing strikes from the mount.
Sagaki looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Sagaki bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruiz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ruiz pulls Sagaki in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ricardo Ruiz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sagaki misses with a looping left.

Ruiz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Sagaki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ruiz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ruiz postures up and lands a big shot to Sagaki's brow.

Ruiz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagaki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ruiz.
A head kick misses from Ruiz.
Sagaki shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruiz sprawls well. He's pushed Sagaki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz throws a head kick that misses.
Ricardo Ruiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sagaki throws a series of punches but Ruiz avoids them all with ease.
Ruiz is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ruiz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sagaki.
Ruiz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ruiz misses with a body shot.
Sagaki throws the left hand but Ruiz avoids the punch easily.

Ruiz moves into the clinch.
Sagaki jumps guard but Ruiz stands there with Sagaki around his waist. Sagaki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sagaki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ruiz smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takumi Sagaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sagaki shoots in for a takedown but Ruiz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

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!
Sagaki trying to remain calm as Ruiz controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagaki manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ruiz's best efforts.
Nice strikes from Ruiz there.
Ruiz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sagaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ruiz stalling.
Sagaki is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ruiz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ruiz's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sagaki is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Ruiz with him. Ruiz is trying to defend but Sagaki has an arm under the chin now! Ruiz grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Takumi Sagaki!