PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rex Ruger (ranked 976 p4p, 102 weight class) and Ezekiel Ithamar (ranked 2042 p4p, 198 weight class). Ithamar is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Yamma Ensemble Psalms 104. 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?

Ruger
vs
Ithamar

169 cm
29
145 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

176 cm
22
145 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

XFighter Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rex Ruger!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ezekiel Ithamar!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruger gets caught napping as Ithamar dives in and scores a takedown. Ruger manages to retain guard.
Ithamar stopping the sweep attempt from Ruger.
Ithamar's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Ithamar thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ithamar sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ruger's guard.
Ruger wants to get back to full guard.
Ithamar wants to control but Ruger is keeping him busy.
Ithamar wants to pass the guard but Ruger is defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ithamar moves nicely into side control.
Ruger struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruger is trying to improve his position.
Ithamar tries to advance to mount but Ruger denies him.

Ithamar is trying to get an arm triangle but Ruger is defending well.
Ithamar is looking to take a break and control but Ruger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ruger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ruger can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ithamar is staying tight to Ruger's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Ithamar trying to control the position but Ruger is working away.
Ithamar has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at All Star Performance Institute. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Ruger tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ithamar wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ithamar works to advance to full mount. Ruger defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Ithamar with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ruger is squirming around, avoiding Ithamar's attempts to control the action.
Ruger is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruger tries to hold on but Ithamar pushes him away.

Ithamar working for a guillotine from mount but Ruger is in no mood to give up.

Ithamar jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ruger is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ruger and Ithamar has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Ithamar trying to control the action but Ruger is working from the bottom.
Ruger is looking to regain half guard here but Ithamar keeps moving and retains side control.
Ruger gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Ruger is defending against the submission attempts here by Ithamar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar prevents Ruger from improving his position.
Ithamar frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ruger really wants to buck Ithamar off and get back to his feet.

Ithamar has isolated one of Ruger's arms. Ruger looking to fight him off but Ithamar twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ezekiel Ithamar!
Ezekiel Ithamar is the new featherweight champion!
As Ezekiel Ithamar got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws, of which I said, "Whoever obeys them will live by them," and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.'.