PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Orlando Cardigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhael Ruzinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruzinski is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Can't be touched. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cardigan
vs
Ruzinski

180 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
23
190 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Danger Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Orlando Cardigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mikhael Ruzinski!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Bruno Hogan and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruzinski tries to close the distance and clinch but Cardigan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cardigan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cardigan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ruzinski as he avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Ruzinski. No joy for Cardigan on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orlando Cardigan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardigan lands with a slapping head kick.
Horrible takedown by Cardigan or perhaps it was just good defense by Ruzinski which made him look bad.
Cardigan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ruzinski. Ruzinski obviously looking to wear him down.

Cardigan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ruzinski to the mat! Ruzinski manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruzinski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ruzinski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cardigan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ruzinski's guard.
Ruzinski is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cardigan wants to pass the guard but Ruzinski is keeping the position.
Ruzinski 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.
Cardigan 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardigan throws a big right hand that misses.
Ruzinski keeping moving, preventing Cardigan from controlling successfully.
Ruzinski pulls Cardigan in close to his closed guard and prevents Cardigan from doing any damage or advancing position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ruzinski.
Cardigan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruzinski circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ruzinski counters by moving into the clinch.
Ruzinski managing to block the knees to the body from Cardigan.
Cardigan tries to pull guard but Ruzinski won't allow it.
Cardigan lands a nice knee to the body.
Cardigan tries to score a body lock takedown but Ruzinski shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cardigan missing with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Ruzinski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruzinski manages to break the clinch.
Ruzinski cracks the inside of Cardigan's front leg.

Ruzinski bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cardigan is breathing heavily.
Cardigan pushes Ruzinski away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ruzinski gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Cardigan tries to bench press Ruzinski off him but Ruzinski keeps the position.
Cardigan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ruzinski not doing much here.

Ruzinski is working for a kimura but Cardigan is defending it quite comfortably.
Cardigan is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardigan misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ruzinski takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ruzinski tries to stand and escape but Cardigan is controlling the position.
Cardigan is looking to control Ruzinski's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cardigan avoid being mounted?
Ruzinski is tying to control. Cardigan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ruzinski shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cardigan's guard.
Cardigan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cardigan looking for a sweep. Not yet Cardigan, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardigan is working hard here to advance position.

Cardigan looking for a guillotine here but Ruzinski defends easily.
Ruzinski wants to control from the top but Cardigan keeps moving.
Cardigan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruzinski is one step ahead there.
Cardigan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhael Ruzinski dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cardigan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ruzinski misses with an uppercut.
Cardigan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruzinski but Ruzinski pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cardigan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ruzinski lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ruzinski slips a jab and a cross from Cardigan.
Cardigan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ruzinski as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orlando Cardigan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardigan tries to clinch up.

Ruzinski looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ruzinski is looking to advance position but Cardigan won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruzinski tries to stand and escape but Cardigan is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruzinski performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cardigan is looking to get back to full guard here but Ruzinski has managed to pass to side control instead.
Ruzinski looking to control but Cardigan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Ruzinski looking for a guillotine from mount but Cardigan is having none of it.
Cardigan is desperately trying to get back to half 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.
Ruzinski wants to control the pace but Cardigan is squirming around nicely.
Cardigan tries to control Ruzinski's body but Ruzinski pushes him off. Cardigan squirms to his side and now Ruzinski has his back!
Cardigan is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Ruzinski.
Cardigan manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ruzinski's guard. Nice work there by Cardigan.
Cardigan trying to control but Ruzinski is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardigan slips nicely into half guard.
Cardigan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ruzinski is trying to stand up here but Cardigan is controlling him well.
Cardigan wants to pass the guard but Ruzinski is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cardigan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cardigan works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cardigan wants to control the pace but Ruzinski is squirming around nicely.
Cardigan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ruzinski is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Cardigan working for a submission but Ruzinski is keeping him at bay.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cardigan is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ruzinski is surviving well by controlling Cardigan's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhael Ruzinski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cardigan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cardigan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ruzinski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cardigan swivels and escapes.
Ruzinski feints and then cracks Cardigan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cardigan down.

Ruzinski shoots in and bounces Cardigan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Cardigan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cardigan has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ruzinski off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cardigan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ruzinski is fending him off so far but Cardigan persists. Nope, Ruzinski circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardigan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ruzinski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cardigan's waist but Cardigan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ruzinski off to one side.
Cardigan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ruzinski's calf.

Cardigan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cardigan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ruzinski manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cardigan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cardigan is looking to stand up but Ruzinski won't let him.
Cardigan advances position into side control!
Cardigan laying and praying for a moment but Ruzinski takes advantage and regains half guard.
Ruzinski controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardigan is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Cardigan trying to control but Ruzinski is working from the bottom.
Cardigan looking to pass the guard.
Cardigan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruzinski controls Cardigan momentarily but Cardigan frees himself.
Ruzinski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cardigan stays in close to Ruzinski's body and controls the position.
Cardigan trying to control but Ruzinski is working from the bottom.
Orlando Cardigan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruzinski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cardigan fails with the takedown

and Ruzinski counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orlando Cardigan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardigan has Ruzinski pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ruzinski manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Ruzinski pulls guard effortlessly.
Cardigan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cardigan won't allow Ruzinski to sweep him here.
Cardigan postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cardigan won't allow Ruzinski to get back to his feet.
Cardigan advances to half guard.
Cardigan trying to mount his opponent but Ruzinski defends it.
Cardigan stops Ruzinski from getting back to his feet.
Cardigan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cardigan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cardigan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cardigan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mikhael Ruzinski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ruzinski is looking to control Cardigan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ruzinski avoid being mounted?

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 Orlando Cardigan.
Well Ruzinski 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikhael Ruzinski!