PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hone Huia (ranked 1737 p4p, 240 weight class) and John Ruth (ranked 1575 p4p, 217 weight class). Huia comes to the cage accompanied by Poi E - Patea Maori Club. John Ruth acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Huia
vs
Ruth

190 cm
38
202 lbs
21 - 18 - 0

178 cm
25
195 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 21 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hone Huia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Ruth!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Ruth does no damage.
Huia swings for the body but Ruth moves out of range.
Huia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ruth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Huia has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Huia avoids a punch combination nicely.
It looked like Huia was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ruth.
Huia on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Huia throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Huia scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ruth in his tracks.
Ruth keeps the fight on the outside.
Huia throws a big shot that misses.
Huia takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Huia on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Huia looks to land a left hand but Ruth moved out of range nicely.
Huia takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Huia throws a big shot that misses.
Huia throws a jab but it's blocked by Ruth.
Huia just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruth swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A quick step to the side and Huia tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ruth's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Huia connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ruth scrambles back to his feet.

It looks like John Ruth has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Ruth.
Ruth jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Huia takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ruth has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Huia with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ruth scores with a decent looking hook.
Ruth lands with a straight right. Huia didn't see that one coming.
Hone Huia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Huia gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ruth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruth 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.

Huia is rocked!
Huia tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Ruth counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Oh Huia is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ruth is in close to Huia's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Ruth has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Huia to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Ruth is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Huia pulls down on the head and he's put Ruth to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Hone Huia!
A relieved looking Hone Huia thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.