PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mario Ruskov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Skip Torres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ruskov
vs
Torres

170 cm
26
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

168 cm
19
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mario Ruskov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Skip Torres!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Torres throws a right and a left that Ruskov avoids nicely.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Torres has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Ruskov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Torres is trying to get back to full guard.
Torres is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Ruskov jumps into side control!
Torres manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ruskov is staying active underneath Torres, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ruskov is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres is trying to control. Ruskov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruskov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Skip Torres was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Torres has Ruskov up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruskov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Torres is defending well.
Torres lands a hook to the side of the head.

Torres breaks from the clinch.
Ruskov throws a poor cross that misses
and Torres makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mario Ruskov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Torres buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ruskov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Torres counters with a three punch combo that has Ruskov backing up. Ruskov nods at Torres to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Ruskov misses
and Torres counters with a two punch combo.
Ruskov is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Torres.
Torres avoids the head kick by Ruskov.
Ruskov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Torres counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Torres throws a series of strikes that have Ruskov backpedaling.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruskov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ruskov needs to keep his hands up - Torres had a free shot at his head there.
Torres shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ruskov as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruskov gets caught napping as Torres dives in and scores a takedown. Ruskov manages to retain guard.
Torres looking to sit in guard and control but Ruskov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Torres wants to control but Ruskov passes easily into half guard.
Ruskov is nestled in close to Torres, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Torres trying to control from the bottom.
Torres is looking to improve his position.
Torres trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruskov is trying to control. Torres wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Torres with the active half guard here but Ruskov passes nicely into side control.
You can see the frustration on Torres's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Torres is trying to improve his position.
Torres tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ruskov presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruskov trying to control but Torres is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skip Torres dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ruskov misses with a takedown
and Torres counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ruskov throws a predictable looking body shot

and Torres holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ruskov throws a punch but it's blocked by Torres.
Ruskov jumps guard but Torres stands there with Ruskov around his waist. Ruskov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Torres blocks a body shot from Ruskov.

Torres breaks the clinch.
Torres throws a series of punches but Ruskov avoids them all with ease.
Torres tries a head kick but it misses.
Torres shoots for a takedown but Ruskov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Torres shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruskov sprawls well. He's pushed Torres's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruskov sprawls well. He's pushed Torres's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mario Ruskov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Skip Torres.
Torres keeps the fight on the outside.
Torres lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ruskov circles away quickly and effectively.
Ruskov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Torres closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ruskov did well to prevent Torres getting side control.
Torres is looking to take a break and control but Ruskov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ruskov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Torres is looking to advance position but Ruskov has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Ruskov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Torres really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ruskov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Ruskov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Torres is surviving well by controlling Ruskov's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres tries to improve his position but instead Ruskov has taken his back!
Torres can't escape the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ruskov keeps control of the position easily here as Torres tries to buck him off.
Torres tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Torres tries to lock up and control but Ruskov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Ruskov.
Ruskov is landing with some decent strikes but Torres is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Torres can't escape the position.
Torres tries to hold on but Ruskov pushes him away.
Ruskov tries to control but Torres wriggling away.
Torres wants to control but Ruskov is having none of it.
Ruskov working Torres over with strikes here.
Ruskov wants to control but instead Torres manages to regain half guard.

Torres looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruskov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Torres is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ruskov pulls his head out easily.
Torres is pressing down on Ruskov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Torres not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Torres preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Torres looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruskov is one step ahead there.
Ruskov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Torres is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Skip Torres will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Torres blocks a jab.
Mario Ruskov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Torres shoots in but no luck this time.
Ruskov shoots and misses
and Torres counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ruskov fails with the takedown.
Torres lands with a shot to the body.
Torres fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ruskov throws a sloppy head kick and Torres moves out of range easily.
Ruskov throws a series of punches but Torres avoids them all with ease.

Torres clinches up with Ruskov and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruskov trying to control the position but instead, Torres has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ruskov into the cage.
Ruskov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Torres avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Ruskov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Torres breaks from the clinch.
Ruskov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Torres as he avoids it easily.
Ruskov tries for a takedown but Torres sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Torres misses with a low kick as Ruskov jumps back.

Torres darts in and clinches Ruskov up against the cage.
Ruskov tries to stall but Torres uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ruskov is trying to break the clinch but Torres is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres just leaning against Ruskov, taking a breather.
Ruskov jumps guard but Torres stands there with Ruskov around his waist. Ruskov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Torres breaks the clinch.
Ruskov darts in trying to clinch
and Torres counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Torres moves into range and clinches up with Ruskov.

Torres pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ruskov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Torres to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres postures up.
Torres stands and throws Ruskov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ruskov can't do much from the bottom here.

Torres working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Torres wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ruskov keeps working.
Ruskov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Torres's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torres is keen to just control but Ruskov is a slippery customer.
Ruskov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Torres lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Torres tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruskov is retaining full guard.
Torres keeps trying to improve his position.
Skip Torres is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Torres wants to control from the top but Ruskov keeps moving.
Torres must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruskov trying to strike off his back.
Mario Ruskov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Torres is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Skip Torres comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Torres has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Skip Torres!