PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Kaplan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Ruas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kaplan
vs
Ruas

187 cm
26
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
21
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dave Kaplan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luis Ruas!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kaplan shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruas sprawls well. He's pushed Kaplan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kaplan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kaplan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ruas moves in looking to clinch but Kaplan pushes him off.
Kaplan shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruas sprawls well. He's pushed Kaplan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Kaplan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kaplan fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice body kick from Ruas.
Kaplan shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruas sprawls well. He's pushed Kaplan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kaplan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ruas as he jumps to the side.
Ruas wants to clinch.
Ruas slaps away a takedown attempt from Kaplan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Ruas as Kaplan shoots in.
Kaplan is breathing heavily.
Ruas tries to clinch but Kaplan moves out of range.
Ruas lands a head kick!

It looks like Dave Kaplan has been cut.
Kaplan takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ruas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ruas throws a head kick but Kaplan moves out of range.
Kaplan shoots in but Ruas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ruas throws a sloppy head kick and Kaplan moves out of range easily.
Ruas moves in looking to clinch but Kaplan pushes him off.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ruas. Kaplan shrugs it off though.

Ruas lands a big head kick that sends Kaplan tumbling to the mat! Ruas takes a step backwards and waves Kaplan back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Kaplan blocks a head kick by Ruas.

Ruas moves into range and clinches up with Kaplan.
Ruas scores a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ruas breaks the clinch.
Ruas throws a head kick that misses.
Ruas is looking to clinch but Kaplan is avoiding it.
Ruas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruas misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruas drives through and clinches with Kaplan against the cage.

Ruas is trying to trip Kaplan. He has hold of a leg but Kaplan is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ruas persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Kaplan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ruas wants to get up but he can't break Kaplan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Ruas gets to his feet - Kaplan follows without any prompting.
Ruas is looking to clinch.
Ruas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ruas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ruas as he avoids it easily.
Dave Kaplan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaplan keeps the fight on the outside.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Ruas - that will leave a mark!
Ruas is looking to clinch.
Kaplan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ruas avoids it really well and circles away.
Ruas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ruas tries to clinch but Kaplan is having none of it.
Kaplan dives in and grabs Ruas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ruas pushes down on Kaplan's head and hops out.
Ruas lands a jab-cross combination.

Dave Kaplan's cut is getting worse.
Kaplan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kaplan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ruas sprawls well. Ruas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kaplan gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Luis Ruas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch but Kaplan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kaplan avoids the head kick by Ruas.

Ruas clinches with his opponent.
Ruas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kaplan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ruas backwards.
Ruas comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ruas looking to stall.
A nice left hand lands by Kaplan.
Kaplan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kaplan lands a right hand.
Kaplan lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ruas backwards.
Kaplan gets through Ruas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kaplan lands a left hand.
Still in the clinch, Kaplan scores with a nice short uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruas tries to break free but Kaplan pushes him back against the cage.
Kaplan gets through Ruas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kaplan.
Ruas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ruas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kaplan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Ruas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dave Kaplan's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ruas lands with a cross.

Kaplan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kaplan lands in his opponent's guard.
Ruas has control of Kaplan's left arm, preventing Kaplan from doing any damage.
Ruas keeping full guard, as Kaplan tries to pass.

Kaplan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kaplan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kaplan showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruas is trying to stand back up but Kaplan is controlling him
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kaplan controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruas is trying to stand back up but Kaplan is controlling him
Kaplan controlling the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ruas flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ruas is not content to let Kaplan control the position.

Dave Kaplan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ruas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kaplan swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kaplan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ruas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Ruas bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan fails with a takedown attempt.
Ruas tries to clinch but Kaplan moves out of range.
Kaplan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ruas fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ruas instigates a clinch.

Ruas jumps guard and drags Kaplan to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Kaplan gets to his feet - Ruas follows without any prompting.
Kaplan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Kaplan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kaplan.
Ruas wants to clinch up but Kaplan keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ruas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kaplan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ruas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kaplan.

Ruas has Kaplan up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruas working hard to break the clinch.

Ruas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dave Kaplan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruas wants to clinch.
Kaplan tries for a takedown but Ruas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Luis Ruas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kaplan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ruas moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kaplan shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruas sprawls well. He's pushed Kaplan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ruas fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kaplan.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kaplan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ruas tries to clinch but Kaplan is having none of it.
Ruas wants to clinch up but Kaplan keeps it at a distance.
Ruas doesn't manage to clinch there - Kaplan circles away.
Ruas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kaplan fails with a takedown attempt.
Kaplan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruas swivels and escapes.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kaplan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ruas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kaplan takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
No joy there for Ruas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dave Kaplan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dave Kaplan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kaplan is defended easily by Ruas.
Horrible takedown by Kaplan or perhaps it was just good defense by Ruas which made him look bad.
Kaplan sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ruas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruas moves in looking to clinch but Kaplan pushes him off.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kaplan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ruas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kaplan's head.
Kaplan will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Ruas is looking to clinch.

Ruas takes the fight into the clinch.
Kaplan stops a takedown attempt from Ruas.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kaplan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kaplan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kaplan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruas tries to clinch but Kaplan moves out of range.

Kaplan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kaplan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Kaplan is standing up, even though he is in mount.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ruas!
Ruas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kaplan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Kaplan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ruas misses with a series of wild punches.
Kaplan avoids the body shot from Ruas.
Kaplan fails with the takedown.
Ruas moves in looking to clinch but Kaplan pushes him off.
Ruas tries to clinch there but Kaplan circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ruas sprawls well. Ruas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kaplan gets slowly back to his feet.
Ruas is looking to clinch but Kaplan is avoiding it.
Kaplan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ruas's waist but Ruas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kaplan off to one side.
Ruas pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kaplan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ruas did well to prevent Kaplan getting side control.

Kaplan stands up and beckons Ruas to join him on the feet.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kaplan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ruas stuffs the takedown.
Kaplan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kaplan shoots in for a takedown but Ruas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Kaplan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kaplan gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ruas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kaplan.
Kaplan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kaplan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ruas avoids it really well and circles away.
Kaplan fails with a takedown attempt.
Kaplan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kaplan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ruas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kaplan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kaplan shoots in for a takedown but Ruas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kaplan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ruas pinned against the cage. Ruas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch but Kaplan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ruas wants to clinch up but Kaplan keeps it at a distance.

Kaplan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Kaplan decides to return to a standing position.
Kaplan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruas but Ruas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kaplan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ruas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice takedown defense from Ruas. No joy for Kaplan on that attempt.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kaplan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ruas tries to close the distance and clinch but Kaplan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kaplan shoots for a takedown but Ruas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Kaplan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kaplan 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!