PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Myles Ruth (ranked 1929 p4p, 2233 weight class) and Paulius Zurauskas (ranked 241 p4p, 277 weight class). Myles Ruth could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Paulius Zurauskas's chin.

Ruth
vs
Zurauskas

195 cm
26
250
7 - 4 - 0

195 cm
22
239
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Myles Ruth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Paulius Zurauskas!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Lou da Vinci and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruth takes a swing at Zurauskas's ribcage but misses.
Zurauskas throws out a counter right but Ruth avoids it with no problem.
Zurauskas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ruth misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zurauskas wants to counter the offense by Ruth and move into the clinch position.
A jab from Zurauskas misses.
Ruth throwing a counter right hand but Zurauskas manages to avoid it.
Zurauskas jabs Ruth to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ruth throws a jab when Zurauskas was well out of range.
Ruth throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ruth slips a jab from Zurauskas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruth circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ruth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zurauskas swings for the body but Ruth moves out of range.
It looked like Ruth wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ruth avoids a kick to the body.
Ruth throwing a counter right hand but Zurauskas manages to avoid it.
Zurauskas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ruth.
Zurauskas looks to land a right hand but Ruth moved out of range.
Zurauskas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ruth.
Zurauskas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ruth throwing a counter right hand but Zurauskas manages to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Zurauskas.
Ruth throwing a counter right hand but Zurauskas manages to avoid it.
Ruth connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ruth lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zurauskas at a distance.
Ruth throws a lazy uppercut
and Zurauskas counters with an inside leg kick.
Ruth with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Ruth misses.
Zurauskas cracks Ruth with a right hand to the side of the head.

It looks like Myles Ruth has been cut.
Zurauskas misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Ruth to counter with a crisp jab.
Zurauskas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ruth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruth thuds his right hand into Zurauskas's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ruth pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zurauskas slips under a jab.
Ruth misses with a body shot.
Zurauskas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zurauskas misses with a hook.
Ruth was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruth will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ruth throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ruth throws a lazy uppercut
letting Zurauskas counter with a right hand.
Ruth looks to score with a jab to the body but Zurauskas is just out of range.
Ruth uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Zurauskas misses with a looping right.
Zurauskas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zurauskas flicks out a counter leg kick but Ruth steps away.
Ruth's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zurauskas under the eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruth fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ruth swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zurauskas throws out a counter right but Ruth avoids it with no problem.
Zurauskas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ruth was well out of range. Poor timing from Zurauskas.
Myles Ruth is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ruth takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zurauskas connects with a solid leg kick.
Zurauskas misses with a kick to the body
and Ruth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ruth scores with a decent looking hook.
Zurauskas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ruth swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice shot lands for Zurauskas.
Zurauskas takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Myles Ruth dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Myles Ruth's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ruth drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Zurauskas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A big right from Ruth misses.
Zurauskas is trying to counter with his kicks.
Ruth stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zurauskas.
Zurauskas scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A swing and a miss from Ruth.
Ruth misses with the combination.
Myles Ruth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruth lands with a right hand.
Zurauskas just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruth fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zurauskas manages to avoid it.
Zurauskas flicks out a counter leg kick but Ruth steps away.
Zurauskas works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zurauskas has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zurauskas there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ruth throws a shot from downtown. Zurauskas moves away and avoids it.
Ruth looks to score with a jab to the body but Zurauskas is just out of range.
Zurauskas tries a low kick but Ruth avoids it.
Ruth just misses with a punch to the body.
Zurauskas throws a leg kick which misses Ruth's front leg but catches the back leg as Ruth tries to avoid it.
A nice leg kick from Zurauskas, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ruth throws out a loose jab but Zurauskas uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Ruth.
Ruth with a hook.
A slow jab from Ruth misses its intended target.
Zurauskas throws a big counter head kick but Ruth avoids it with no problem.
Ruth throws the left hand but Zurauskas avoids the punch easily.
Zurauskas flicks out a counter leg kick but Ruth steps away.
A head kick misses from Zurauskas.
Ruth is looking to counter punch.
Ruth avoids the body shot from Zurauskas.
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!
Zurauskas defending well as Ruth loads up on a big left hand.
Ruth tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zurauskas was well out of range. Poor timing from Ruth.
Ruth connects with a body shot that sends Zurauskas's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruth throws a lazy uppercut
and Zurauskas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Zurauskas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruth tries to buck Zurauskas off but Zurauskas is having none of it.
Ruth is trying to control Zurauskas's posture but Zurauskas avoids it.

Zurauskas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ruth is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ruth tries to buck Zurauskas off but Zurauskas is having none of it.
Ruth sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Zurauskas trying to pass the guard but Ruth defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zurauskas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ruth keeps working.
Zurauskas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ruth trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruth regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zurauskas seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Ruth looking for a guillotine here but Zurauskas defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paulius Zurauskas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Myles Ruth's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Zurauskas.
Ruth works the jab nicely.
Zurauskas throws a lazy head kick
and Ruth counters with a stiff right hand.
Zurauskas throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zurauskas cracks Ruth with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ruth jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A swing and a miss from Zurauskas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zurauskas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
No joy there for Ruth, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Myles Ruth is winning the standup battle so far.
Zurauskas just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruth misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zurauskas is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zurauskas.
A counter left hand to the body from Ruth misses its target.
Ruth throws a body punch but Zurauskas moves out of range.
Ruth waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zurauskas.
And Zurauskas responds with a good body kick, but Ruth manages to step out the way in time.
A telegraphed right hand from Zurauskas misses the target.
Nice straight punches there by Ruth. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ruth.
Ruth throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruth throws a nice looking combination but Zurauskas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zurauskas tries to bum rush Ruth with a series of wild strikes but Ruth uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zurauskas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zurauskas connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ruth just misses with a punch to the body.
Zurauskas only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Zurauskas misses with a low kick.
Ruth throws a series of punches but Zurauskas avoids them all with ease.
Ruth backing away here, and Zurauskas unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Zurauskas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ruth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zurauskas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ruth misses with an uppercut. Zurauskas saw that one coming.
Zurauskas misses with a takedown attempt
and Ruth counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Zurauskas thinking.
Ruth lands a jab-cross combination.
Ruth misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Zurauskas on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ruth misses with a series of wild punches.
Ruth comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zurauskas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruth throws a body punch but Zurauskas moves out of range.
Zurauskas motions for Ruth to come forward. Zurauskas throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ruth misses the shot to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Zurauskas 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ruth tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zurauskas was well out of range. Poor timing from Ruth.
Zurauskas tries to counter by closing the distance.
Ruth misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zurauskas.
Zurauskas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ruth throws a hook to the side of Zurauskas's head but Zurauskas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ruth moves out of range of the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Myles Ruth showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ruth 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Myles Ruth!
Myles Ruth seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.