PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Falco (ranked 7182 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Ruiz (ranked 4525 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.

Falco
vs
Ruiz

193 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

205 cm
25
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Manuel Falco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Randy Ruiz !
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Falco takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ruiz looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ruiz looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Falco rushes Ruiz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Falco content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ruiz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Falco is looking to break free of the clinch but Ruiz has double underhooks.

Falco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Falco lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ruiz backs up against the cage.
Ruiz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Falco shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Falco goes for a double leg but Ruiz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ruiz continues to drive forward.

Falco clinches up with Ruiz and pushes him back against the cage.
Falco wants to take the fight to the mat but Ruiz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manuel Falco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruiz tries to circle away but Falco has him pinned against the cage.
Falco wants to break the clinch but can't.

Falco pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falco is trying to keep Ruiz in close.

Falco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Falco looking for a sweep. Not yet Falco, not yet.

Falco working for a triangle but Ruiz defends it easily.
Falco trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Falco manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ruiz manages to get himself to full guard.

Falco is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Falco tries to free his leg and advance position but Ruiz is retaining full guard.
Falco throwing strikes but missing.
Falco postures up in Ruiz 's guard and throws a big left but Ruiz blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falco trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Falco wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.

Falco stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Falco throws a head kick but Ruiz moves out of range.
Falco dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Falco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ruiz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ruiz is looking for the big counter here.
Falco looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ruiz is fending him off so far but Falco persists. Nope, Ruiz circles away and we're back to standing.
Ruiz misses with a body kick.
Falco fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falco has a takedown stuffed.
Falco shoots in but no luck this time.
Falco tries for a takedown but Ruiz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Falco fails with a takedown attempt.

Falco darts in and clinches Ruiz up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Falco drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ruiz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Falco dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Randy Ruiz 's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Falco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ruiz is trying to break free.
Falco has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ruiz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Falco wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Falco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruiz can do to turn this around?
Falco has Ruiz pressed against the cage, preventing Ruiz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Falco working hard to break the clinch.
Falco is trying to push Ruiz away but Ruiz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falco lands a shoulder strike.
Falco is looking to take this one to the mat.
Falco changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ruiz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manuel Falco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruiz is breathing heavily.
Falco doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ruiz counters with a low kick, right behind Falco 's knee.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Falco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Falco goes for a takedown attempt but Ruiz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Falco tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ruiz swivels and escapes.

Falco darts in and clinches Ruiz up against the cage.
Ruiz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Falco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ruiz 's efforts to push away.
Falco tries to pull guard but Ruiz won't allow it.
Ruiz is trying to break the clinch but Falco has him pressed against the cage.
Ruiz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falco keeps control of Ruiz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Falco jumps guard but Ruiz stands there with Falco around his waist. Falco gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ruiz wants to break free but Falco has control.
A frustrated look appears on Ruiz 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ruiz is trying to push Falco away but Falco has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Falco tries to score a body lock takedown but Ruiz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Falco fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Falco wants to get back to striking at distance but Ruiz won't allow it.
Ruiz wants to break free but Falco has control.
Falco tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ruiz just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ruiz tries to circle away but Falco has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falco goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ruiz prevents it.
Falco is trying to pull guard but Ruiz has him pressed against the cage.
Falco tries to circle away but Ruiz has him pinned against the cage.
Falco fails to pull guard.
Falco tries to pull guard but Ruiz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Falco lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Ruiz 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Falco wants to break free but Ruiz has control.
Ruiz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Falco has had enough of the clinch but Ruiz keeps him there for the moment.
Falco tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Falco missing with knees to the body.
Falco pushes off an throws an elbow but Ruiz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Falco avoiding damage.

Falco pulls guard effortlessly.
Falco is looking to stand up but Ruiz isn't so interested in that idea.

Falco throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ruiz wants to stand and escape but instead Falco has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Falco dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Randy Ruiz 's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Falco goes for a double leg but Ruiz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ruiz continues to drive forward.
Ruiz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Falco.
Ruiz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Manuel Falco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Falco throws a leg kick
and Ruiz counters with a thumping low kick.
Randy Ruiz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Falco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ruiz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manuel Falco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Falco clinches.
Falco is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Falco trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falco is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ruiz to keep the fight standing.
Manuel Falco has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ruiz keeps control of Falco as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ruiz is trying to break the clinch but Falco has him pressed against the cage.

Falco manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falco wants to stand but Ruiz is controlling the position.
Falco is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Falco wants to stand but Ruiz is controlling the position.
Ruiz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Falco trying to strike off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Falco is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Falco has his foot on Ruiz 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ruiz works his way back into a safe position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Falco looks for a takedown but Ruiz sprawls well.
Falco tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Falco sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Falco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Falco tries for a takedown but Ruiz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Falco moves into the clinch.
Ruiz is trying to break free.
Falco tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ruiz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ruiz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Falco has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ruiz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Falco can't get the takedown.
Falco goes for a takedown attempt but Ruiz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ruiz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ruiz throws a counter combo.
Ruiz lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Falco has a takedown stuffed.
Ruiz throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Falco tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ruiz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Falco somewhat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Falco has Ruiz up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Ruiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Falco has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manuel Falco!