PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maximo Ruiz (ranked 25175 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikos Passakos (ranked 5212 p4p, 0 weight class). Passakos is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Def Leppard - Women. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ruiz
vs
Passakos

166 cm
23
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

185 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Maximo Ruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nikos Passakos!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Winston Howard and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruiz dodges the punch combination from Passakos.
Passakos shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ruiz eats them both and turns towards Passakos to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Passakos closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ruiz to the mat! Ruiz manages to get full guard.
Passakos trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruiz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Passakos is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Passakos's guard.

Passakos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ruiz's guard.

Passakos advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Passakos is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ruiz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Passakos.

Passakos is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Passakos trying to pass the guard but Ruiz defending well.
Passakos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ruiz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Passakos seems to be working for a kimura but Ruiz defends the submission attempt.
Ruiz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ruiz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ruiz working a defensive guard here.
Passakos working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

It looks like Maximo Ruiz has been cut.
Passakos content to stall in guard here.
Passakos wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Passakos looking to sit in guard and control but Ruiz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Passakos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ruiz is controlling him.
Passakos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ruiz's guard.

Passakos wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.
Passakos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Passakos trying to control but Ruiz is working from the bottom.
Ruiz is controlling Passakos's posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Passakos must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Passakos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ruiz could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Passakos wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Passakos clinches.

Passakos pulls guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikos Passakos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maximo Ruiz'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.

Ruiz moves to clinch but Passakos breaks away

and Passakos counters with a crisp one two that drops Ruiz! Passakos thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Ruiz to his feet! Ruiz is in big trouble!

Ruiz is rocked!

Passakos gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Oh Ruiz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Passakos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ruiz seems to have got his legs back now.

Passakos looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Ruiz!

Passakos working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Passakos wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ruiz, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Passakos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ruiz keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Passakos throws an elbow but Ruiz slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Passakos goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ruiz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Passakos but great work by Ruiz.
Passakos tries to improve position but can't.
Passakos is trying to get back to his feet.

Ruiz decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Passakos closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Passakos is breathing heavily.
Ruiz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Passakos is looking for the big counter here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Passakos dives in and gets a big takedown. He lands in full mount and immediately unloads a series of heavy strikes! Ruiz has had enough and taps out.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:17 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Nikos Passakos!
Nikos Passakos thanked the fans post fight for their support.