PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ray Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Ruden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rice
vs
Ruden

190 cm
30
215 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

187 cm
29
215 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Fast

GREEN!160
Bullet Proof System

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ray Rice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Ruden!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rice takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rice shoots in for a takedown but Ruden shows good takedown defense.
Rice tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ruden sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rice somewhat.

Rice shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rice showed some decent athleticism there.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Rice is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ruden doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rice.
Ruden is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rice controlling the action here.
Rice wants to pass the guard but Ruden is defending well.
Ruden is trying to get back to full guard.
Ruden manages to get to full guard.
Ruden looking for a sweep. Not yet Ruden, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ruden is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rice works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rice looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've been hearing that Rice has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
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. Rice connects with a nice short shot to Ruden's temple.
Rice is thwarting Ruden's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ruden is refusing to be controlled, as Rice sits in half guard.

Rice is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ruden wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice is looking to stall here but Ruden recovers full guard.
Ruden keeping full guard, as Rice tries to pass.

Ruden is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rice defends well.
Rice is working Ruden over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rice preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.
Rice is pushing down on Ruden's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ruden is fighting to maintain full guard but Rice has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rice wants to take a breather but Ruden is having none of it.
Ruden wants to control but Rice is keeping busy.
Rice is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rice sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rice is thwarting Ruden's attempts to control the position.
Rice is trying to control the action in half guard but Ruden is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rice is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ruden defends it well.

Rice is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Rice dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rice looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ruden is fending him off so far but Rice persists. Nope, Ruden circles away and we're back to standing.
Ruden now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Rice uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ruden.
Ruden thumps Rice with a low kick.
Ruden scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ruden dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ruden misses with a body shot.
Rice shoots and misses
and Ruden counters with a straight right hand.
Rice staying out of range there.
Ruden misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rice.
Ruden connects with a leg kick. Rice looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ruden jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruden connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rice momentarily.
Ruden stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ruden wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Rice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Ruden.
Ruden connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rice's hands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rice displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ruden throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ruden. That one must have hurt.
Rice misses with a takedown
and Ruden counters with a stiff right hand.
Ruden stuffs the takedown.
No luck for Rice with that takedown attempt.
Rice misses the jab.
Ruden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Donk. Ruden catches Rice right on the button with a cross.
Rice misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Ruden feints and as Rice raises his hands in defense, Ruden changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ruden is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rice bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ruden's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruden controls Rice momentarily but Rice frees himself.
Ray Rice overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rice controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ruden not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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!
Rice throwing strikes from guard but Ruden blocks nicely.

Ruden had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rice defends it easily.
Rice postures up.
Ruden wants to sweep here but Rice controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruden seems keen to control Rice's posture.
Rice slips nicely into half guard.
Rice wants to pass to mount but Ruden is defending the position.
Ruden wants to control but Rice is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ruden wants to get back to full guard but Rice has mounted him!
Ruden wants to control but Rice is having none of it.
Ruden is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rice trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rice scores with a couple of good head shots there.

It looks like Joe Ruden has been cut.
Ruden wants to control but Rice is having none of it.

Rice is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ruden is surviving well by controlling Rice's body position as best he can.
Rice connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rice wants to control the pace but Ruden is squirming around nicely.
Ruden is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Ruden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joe Ruden's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Ruden.
Ruden lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ruden has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Rice thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ruden displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rice.
Ruden slaps away a takedown attempt from Rice, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ruden connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ruden enables Rice to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ruden manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Ruden working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rice doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rice manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rice advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruden with the active half guard here but Rice passes nicely into side control.
Ruden is letting Rice control him for a moment.
Rice throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Ruden works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Rice wants to pass to mount but Ruden is defending the position.
Ruden is looking for a sweep. Rice is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ruden trying to hold on to Rice's head to control him but Rice postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rice wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ruden keeps working.
Rice looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ruden is not content to let Rice control the position.
Ruden trying to hold on to Rice's head to control him but Rice postures up.
Rice is trying to control the action in half guard but Ruden is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ruden is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ruden moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice passes Ruden's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ruden is trying to control but can't.
Rice trying to control from half guard but Ruden is working away.
Rice is looking to advance position but Ruden won't allow it.
Ruden is refusing to be controlled, as Rice sits in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A jab from Ruden misses.
Some wild striking there from Ruden.
Rice takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rice moves out of range of the strikes.
Rice shoots in but Ruden avoids the takedown attempt easily.
It seemed like Ruden was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Rice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rice avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rice fails with the takedown
and Ruden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rice defending well as Ruden loads up on a big left hand.
Ruden stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ruden wants it to stay on the feet.

Rice looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Ruden!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rice swings around for an armbar but Ruden sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rice's guard.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ruden avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ruden throws a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joe Ruden.
I think Ruden 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Ruden!
Joe Ruden seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.