PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Ruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Tincher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruiz comes into the arena with Pitbull - The Anthem blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ruiz
vs
Tincher

170 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Ruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Tincher!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tincher decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Tincher.
Tincher wants to pass to mount but Ruiz is defending the position.
Ruiz wants to get back to full guard.
Ruiz is working hard here to advance position.
Tincher wants to take a breather but Ruiz is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ruiz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ruiz moves into full mount! Tincher won't be happy about that!
Tincher is working to get back to half guard.
Tincher is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Tincher tries to reverse the position but Ruiz maintains control.

Ruiz jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Tincher is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Tincher and Ruiz has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tincher is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Tincher looks gassed!

Ruiz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tincher knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Tincher's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Ruiz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tincher knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tincher is trying to improve his position.
Ruiz lands some shots froms side control.
Ruiz works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ruiz scoring with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tincher struggling a bit here.
Tincher manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ruiz's best efforts.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ruiz lands a nice short elbow.
Tincher moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Ruiz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ruiz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ruiz preventing the sweep.
Tincher doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tincher working a defensive guard here.
Tincher wants to get back to his feet but Ruiz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tincher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ruiz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tincher is keeping the position for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tincher feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tincher wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.
Tincher sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ruiz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tincher puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Tincher is looking to take a break and control but Ruiz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tincher wants to get back to his feet.
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. Tincher connects with a nice short shot to Ruiz's temple.

Tincher decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Tincher tries to clinch up but Ruiz circles away and keeps his distance.
Ruiz misses with a takedown attempt
and Tincher counters with a three punch combo that has Ruiz backing up. Ruiz nods at Tincher to acknowledge the strikes.
Tincher throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Tincher wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tincher tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Tincher does no damage.
Tincher fails to land the takedown.
Tincher lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ruiz will feel that in the morning.

Ruiz gets the takedown into side control.
Ruiz lands an elbow.
Tincher is trying to improve his position.
Tincher tries to escape but Ruiz is in control.
Tincher is looking for a sweep.
Ruiz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tincher keeps working.
Tincher is looking to reverse the position.
Tincher is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ruiz is controlling him well.
Ruiz lands a nice forearm strike.
Tincher is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ruiz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruiz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Tincher is defending against the submission attempts here by Ruiz.
Ruiz blocks the strikes from Tincher.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ryan Tincher will probably get the nod.
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.

Tincher is looking to clinch.
Ruiz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tincher counters with a left to the body.
Tincher throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ruiz fails with the takedown

and Tincher decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ruiz's guard.
Tincher trying to control but Ruiz is working from the bottom.
Tincher has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ruiz is proving hard to escape from.
Tincher forces his way into half guard.

Ruiz kicks off Tincher and gets to his feet.
Tincher tries to clinch there but Ruiz circles away.
Ruiz has his takedown stuffed

and Tincher counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ruiz's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Ruiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tincher postures up in Ruiz's guard and throws a big left but Ruiz blocks it.
Tincher distracts Ruiz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ruiz wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruiz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tincher manages to get himself to full guard.
Tincher looking for a sweep. Not yet Tincher, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Tincher looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ryan Tincher has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ruiz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tincher is trying to control the position but Ruiz postures up.
Ruiz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tincher controls Ruiz momentarily but Ruiz frees himself.
Ruiz advances to half guard.
Tincher throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ruiz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tincher wants to improve his position but Ruiz is controlling well.
Ruiz passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tincher!
Ruiz fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ruiz tries to push Tincher's head away but Tincher is holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruiz has control of Tincher's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tincher regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Tincher taking shots to the head.
Tincher tries to hold on but Ruiz pushes him away.
Tincher working to try and regain half guard.
Tincher taking shots to the head.
Ruiz lands a big elbow.
The referee warns Tincher that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Tincher is trying to stand up.
Ruiz connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Tincher really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tincher is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tincher is trying to stand up.
Tincher tries to hold on but Ruiz pushes him away.
You get the feeling that Tincher really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The referee warns Tincher that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Tincher is trying desperately to improve position.
Tincher is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ruiz with the ground and pound from mount.
BOOM! Ruiz connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ruiz scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Tincher?
Tincher is trying to escape the mount.
Ruiz working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tincher regains half guard.
Tincher moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tincher is trying to control the position but Ruiz postures up.
Tincher will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Ruiz stands up and waves to Tincher to follow him.

Tincher changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ruiz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ruiz is looking to regain half guard here but Tincher keeps moving and retains side control.
Tincher lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ruiz down.
Ruiz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ruiz missing with punches from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruiz moves into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruiz is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Tincher will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Tincher doesn't manage to clinch there - Ruiz circles away.
Ruiz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ruiz.
Tincher shoots in but Ruiz avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Ruiz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ruiz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Tincher is trying to get back to full guard.
Ruiz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tincher looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tincher wants to control but Ruiz is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Tincher kicks Ruiz off and gets back to his feet.
Tincher tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ruiz tries for a takedown but Tincher sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ruiz has his takedown stuffed
and Tincher counters with a head kick.
Ricardo Ruiz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tincher takes the fight into the clinch.
Tincher lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ruiz or not.

Tincher jumps into guard, dragging Ruiz to the mat.
Ruiz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tincher is keeping the position for now.
Tincher is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Tincher has momentary wrist control but Ruiz slips an elbow through the middle.
Ruiz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ruiz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ruiz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tincher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ruiz with a nice head shot there.
Ruiz won't allow Tincher to get back to his feet.

Ruiz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ruiz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Tincher has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ruiz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ruiz tries to free his leg and advance position but Tincher is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tincher throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tincher is looking to clinch.
Tincher fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ruiz misses with a takedown
and Tincher counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Ruiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tincher throws a nice looking combination but Ruiz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tincher takes a swing at Ruiz's ribcage but misses.
Ruiz misses with a takedown attempt

and Tincher counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Ruiz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ruiz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ruiz has a closed guard, preventing Tincher from standing up.
Tincher stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruiz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ruiz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tincher doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tincher manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ricardo Ruiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruiz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ruiz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ruiz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tincher in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Ruiz lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Tincher tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ruiz avoids the attempt from Tincher to control.
Tincher is trying to escape the mount.
Ruiz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Ruiz lands a big shot there that rocks Tincher but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Ruiz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tincher slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Tincher is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ruiz pulls his head out easily.
Tincher is trying to control but can't.
Ruiz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tincher with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tincher is trying to stand.
Tincher wants to get back to full guard.

Ruiz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tincher defends it well.
Tincher tries to roll over but Ruiz keeps him under control.
Tincher works his way to full guard. Good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruiz stopping the sweep attempt from Tincher.
Tincher wants to stand up but Ruiz is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ricardo Ruiz.
I think Tincher has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!