PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Gordon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Ruffier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gordon
vs
Ruffier

150 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
23
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brendan Gordon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Ruffier!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruffier gets caught napping as Gordon dives in and scores a takedown. Ruffier manages to retain guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gordon trying to control but Ruffier is working from the bottom.
Gordon controlling from the top position.
Gordon could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gordon wants to control from the top but Ruffier keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Brendan Gordon.
Ruffier misses with a series of wild punches.
Ruffier scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gordon doesn't seem bothered though.
Mark Ruffier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gordon looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ruffier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gordon. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gordon trying to control the action but Ruffier is working from the bottom.
Gordon controlling the pace.
Gordon trying to control from half guard but Ruffier is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Brendan Gordon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gordon is defended easily by Ruffier.
Gordon tries to clinch there but Ruffier circles away.
Gordon tries to clinch there but Ruffier circles away.
Nice body punch from Ruffier.
Gordon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gordon darts in trying to clinch

and Ruffier counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gordon looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ruffier puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Gordon trying to hold on to Ruffier's head to control him but Ruffier postures up.
Gordon is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

We're going to have a standup here because Brendan Gordon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gordon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ruffier sprawls well. Ruffier wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gordon gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendan Gordon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gordon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruffier swivels and escapes.
Gordon takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gordon dives in and grabs Ruffier's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ruffier pushes down on Gordon's head and hops out.
Brendan Gordon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gordon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gordon has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruffier fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gordon looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ruffier throws a one two combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brendan Gordon will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ruffier misses with a body shot.
Gordon throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ruffier.
Good exchange - Ruffier coming out on top.
Ruffier lands a head shot.
Ruffier blocks the body kick.
A jab lands there for Ruffier.
Gordon throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

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

Gordon is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruffier preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gordon trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruffier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gordon tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruffier is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gordon throws a strike but Ruffier rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ruffier has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gordon is proving hard to escape from.

Gordon looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ruffier passes into side control.
Ruffier working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gordon is looking to regain half guard here but Ruffier keeps moving and retains side control.
Gordon gets back to half guard.

Ruffier decides to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruffier thuds a left hand into Gordon's body.
Ruffier stuffs the takedown.
Gordon looks to score with a jab to the body but Ruffier is just out of range.
Gordon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice shot by Ruffier.
Gordon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ruffier's waist but Ruffier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gordon off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendan Gordon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot to the liver by Ruffier. Beautiful body shot.
Ruffier is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gordon rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gordon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ruffier counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gordon's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Ruffier 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. This is the final round!

Gordon shoots in but Ruffier avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ruffier lands an overhand right.
Gordon tries to clinch but Ruffier moves out of range.
Gordon tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ruffier counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gordon's guard now.
Gordon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gordon seems keen to control Ruffier's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ruffier ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gordon moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gordon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruffier but Ruffier pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gordon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruffier swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendan Gordon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gordon tries to clinch up.
Gordon takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ruffier wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Gordon doesn't manage to clinch there - Ruffier circles away.
Ruffier has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gordon fails with the takedown.
Gordon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gordon misses with a takedown attempt - Ruffier sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gordon darts in looking for a takedown but Ruffier gets double underhooks and turns Gordon into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ruffier breaks from the clinch.
Ruffier defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gordon.
Ruffier circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ruffier counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruffier wants to stand up but Gordon is controlling the position.
Gordon is trying is best to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A shot to the liver by Ruffier. Beautiful body shot.
Ruffier connects with the punch.
Gordon shoots in looking for a takedown but Ruffier manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gordon's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gordon throws a sloppy head kick and Ruffier moves out of range easily.
Gordon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ruffier.
Gordon is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ruffier sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Brendan Gordon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruffier lands with an overhand left.
Gordon has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruffier lands a nice shot to the body.
Gordon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ruffier is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nice shot lands for Ruffier.
Ruffier throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gordon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jab from Ruffier.
Ruffier tries to bum rush Gordon with a series of wild strikes but Gordon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gordon takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ruffier slaps away a takedown attempt from Gordon, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Ruffier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ruffier 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 Josh West scores the fight for Mark Ruffier!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Mark Ruffier!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Mark Ruffier!

Mark Ruffier wins by unanimous decision!