PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sanderlei Bitetti (ranked 4345 p4p, 417 weight class) and Carlos Ruas (ranked 3085 p4p, 315 weight class). Sanderlei Bitetti has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bitetti
vs
Ruas

177 cm
19
253 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
20
280 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sanderlei Bitetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carlos Ruas!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Bitetti. Ruas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bitetti closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ruas counters with a takedown into side control.
Bitetti is trying to control Ruas's posture but Ruas avoids it.
Ruas wants to control but Bitetti is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Bitetti's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bitetti gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Ruas seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruas moves into full mount! Bitetti won't be happy about that!
Ruas with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitetti really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ruas pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Bitetti is desperately trying to improve his position but Ruas has a good base and remains in mount.
Bitetti might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ruas in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Ruas wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

Ruas has hold of Bitetti's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Bitetti manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Ruas wants to take his opponent's back but Bitetti doesn't allow it.
Bitetti can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruas controlling his opponent.
Ruas wants to control the pace but Bitetti is squirming around nicely.
Bitetti tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bitetti is controlling an arm, preventing Ruas from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Bitetti is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Ruas moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Bitetti has worked his arm free - good work by Bitetti!
Bitetti prevents Ruas from moving into mount.
Ruas cracks Bitetti with a big right hand but Bitetti just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bitetti is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ruas is looking to take a break and control but Bitetti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ruas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bitetti sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ruas frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ruas wants to take Bitetti's back here but Bitetti is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ruas working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Bitetti regains half guard.
Bitetti is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bitetti is refusing to be controlled, as Ruas sits in half guard.
Ruas drops an elbow to the side of Bitetti's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ruas lands a nice short elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruas slows the pace down in half guard.

Bitetti looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bitetti looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruas looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bitetti is not content to let Ruas control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ruas swings for the body but Bitetti moves out of range.
Ruas misses with a straight right.
Bitetti was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bitetti slips a straight right by Ruas.

Ruas throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bitetti was covering up waiting for the punch and Ruas finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bitetti can't keep his opponent in guard - Ruas advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ruas tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bitetti knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ruas passes to full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruas wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

Ruas has hold of Bitetti's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Bitetti manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Bitetti sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bitetti gets full guard.
Carlos Ruas has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bitetti looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ruas advances position into side control!
Bitetti is not content to let Ruas control the position.
Bitetti is trying to improve his position.
Ruas tries to advance to mount but Bitetti denies him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruas thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bitetti is trying to get back to half guard.
Bitetti gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Bitetti tries to lock up and control but Ruas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bitetti slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bitetti wants to improve his position but Ruas is controlling well.
Ruas is keen to just control but Bitetti is a slippery customer.

Ruas wants to work for an arm triangle but Bitetti is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ruas trying to control from half guard but Bitetti is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruas trying to pass the guard but Bitetti defending well.
Bitetti is looking for a sweep. Ruas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ruas looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bitetti trying to control here.
Bitetti manages to get to full guard.

Bitetti is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Ruas has his hands clasped together but Bitetti extends and breaks Ruas's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Bitetti.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sanderlei Bitetti!