PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mauri Ruoska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruoska comes to the cage accompanied by Sympathy for the Devil. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ruoska
vs
Sanchez

178 cm
27
169 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

183 cm
28
179 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

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 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mauri Ruoska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rico Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ruoska counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sanchez thinking.
A big left from Sanchez misses.
Sanchez lands a slapping body shot.
Sanchez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Sanchez moves into the clinch successfully.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ruoska creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ruoska on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ruoska changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanchez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ruoska looks to land a left hand but Sanchez moved out of range nicely.
Sanchez slips under a jab.
Sanchez goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ruoska dips to his left and cracks Sanchez with an uppercut!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruoska moves away.
Sanchez lands a two punch combo.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Ruoska moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruoska shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Ruoska shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ruoska circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ruoska checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sanchez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ruoska. Sanchez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sanchez works the jab nicely.
Sanchez misses with a head kick.
Sanchez lands a high kick!
Sanchez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sanchez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Sanchez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ruoska quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Sanchez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ruoska is just riding it out for now. Sanchez eventually gives up the hold.
Ruoska is controlling Sanchez's trapped leg to prevent Sanchez from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Sanchez swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Ruoska is now in Sanchez's guard. A big mistake from Sanchez there, giving up the dominant position!
Ruoska lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ruoska doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ruoska manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ruoska working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Sanchez wriggles free and stands up.
Sanchez scores with a three punch combo!
Sanchez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ruoska throws the left hand but Sanchez avoids the punch easily.
Sanchez throws out a powerful jab.
Sanchez throws a nice looking combination but Ruoska bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ruoska checks a low kick from Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with the combination.
Sanchez looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ruoska scores with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ruoska paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sanchez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sanchez defending well as Ruoska loads up on a big left hand.
Sanchez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ruoska.
Ruoska looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sanchez is fending him off so far but Ruoska persists. Nope, Sanchez circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauri Ruoska. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Sanchez.
A swing and a miss from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to clinch up
and Ruoska counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A head kick misses from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Ruoska circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Sanchez dominated that round.
That's time! Ruoska's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanchez's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sanchez duly obliges.
Rico Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses.

Sanchez clinches up against the cage.
Sanchez missing with knees to the body.
Ruoska avoiding damage as Sanchez throws knees to the body.
Ruoska working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sanchez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ruoska lands a body punch.
Ruoska dodges an elbow strike from Sanchez.
Ruoska is trying to break the clinch but Sanchez is controlling him.
Sanchez misses with some punches.
Sanchez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ruoska.
A frustrated look appears on Ruoska's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sanchez landing knees to the body.
Sanchez misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sanchez pushes off an throws an elbow but Ruoska leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ruoska prevents a body shot from Sanchez.
Sanchez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ruoska prevents a body shot from Sanchez.
Sanchez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sanchez prevents the takedown attempt.
Ruoska tries to stall but Sanchez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ruoska avoids the elbow strike from Sanchez, against the cage.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ruoska blocks an elbow strike.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Ruoska blocks the elbow strike.
Sanchez misses with a knee to the head.
Sanchez throws a punch but it's blocked by Ruoska.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska avoids a wild elbow strike from Sanchez.
Ruoska blocks the elbow strike.
Sanchez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
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!
Ruoska lands a hook that snaps the head of Sanchez backwards.
Sanchez misses with a punch on the inside.
Sanchez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sanchez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ruoska blocks it with crossed arms.
Ruoska blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sanchez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ruoska.
Ruoska avoids the elbow strike from Sanchez, against the cage.
Ruoska drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauri Ruoska. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice left hand lands by Ruoska.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ruoska blocks it with crossed arms.
Sanchez throws an elbow that misses.
Nice elbow from Sanchez.
Ruoska lands a shoulder strike.
Ruoska is looking to take this one to the mat.
Knees to the body from Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ruoska blocks it with crossed arms.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Ruoska dodges an elbow strike from Sanchez.
Ruoska has a couple of punches blocked by Sanchez.
Ruoska takes an elbow to the temple.
Sanchez scores a nice knee to the body.

Ruoska escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Ruoska swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A clash of legs there as Sanchez blocks the low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Ruoska avoids nicely.
Sanchez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ruoska sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sanchez fails with the takedown.
No joy there for Sanchez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ruoska shoots in for a double leg but Sanchez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez punishes Ruoska's body with a nice straight punch.
Ruoska showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sanchez.
Rico Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ruoska.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Ruoska avoids nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Sanchez. Those never looked like landing.
Ruoska scores with a nice strike.
Ruoska moves away from the strike by Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ruoska misses with a straight left.
Ruoska has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sanchez throws a head kick but Ruoska moves out of range.
A head kick by Sanchez misses
and Ruoska connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Ruoska closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ruoska lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Ruoska there.
Nice strikes from Ruoska there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez wants to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ruoska connects with a nice short shot to Sanchez's temple.
Sanchez trying to control but Ruoska postures up.
Ruoska drops an elbow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sanchez tries to roll over but Ruoska keeps him under control.
Sanchez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanchez manages to get to full guard.
Sanchez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruoska landing with the ground and pound.
Ruoska throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ruoska postures up and lands a big shot to Sanchez's brow.
Ruoska scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruoska pushes down on Sanchez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ruoska prevents Sanchez from improving his position.

Sanchez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ruoska wants to free his trapped foot but Sanchez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ruoska prevents Sanchez from improving his position.
Sanchez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mauri Ruoska has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska postures up.

Sanchez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ruoska defends it easily.
Ruoska forces his way into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruoska is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ruoska seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ruoska slips a nice elbow through Sanchez's hands, connecting with Sanchez's forehead.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back.
Ruoska working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ground and pound from Ruoska.
Ruoska looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sanchez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mauri Ruoska overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sanchez actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Sanchez is rocked!
Ruoska is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sanchez is still in real trouble! Can Ruoska finish him?
Ruoska lands strikes from half guard.
Sanchez has hold of Ruoska's hands but Ruoska slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ruoska is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ruoska working over Sanchez with some ground and pound. Sanchez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rico Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ruoska is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Sanchez is hurt! He's hurt bad - Ruoska fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Sanchez from any more punishment! Congratulations to Ruoska! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mauri Ruoska!