PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryu Uska (ranked 2817 p4p, 1684 weight class) and Rickson Ruas (ranked 378 p4p, 247 weight class). Rickson Ruas told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Uska
vs
Ruas

177 cm
26
190
4 - 3 - 0

188 cm
26
200
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Highland Clothing

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryu Uska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rickson Ruas!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Uska stuffs the takedown.
No joy there for Uska, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Uska bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

It looks like Rickson Ruas has been cut.
Uska throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Uska seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Ruas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Uska to the mat! Uska manages to get full guard.
Ruas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Uska looking for a sweep. Not yet Uska, not yet.
Ruas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Uska bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ruas's guard.

Our spies down at at HB Training center inform us that Ruas has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Uska trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ruas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Uska defends it easily.
Ruas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Uska manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruas seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Uska might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Uska working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ruas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ruas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ruas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ruas throws a big right hand that misses.
Ruas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ruas postures up in Uska's guard and throws a big left but Uska blocks it.
Ruas is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ruas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Uska looking for a guillotine here but Ruas defends easily.
Ruas looking to pass the guard.

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.
Uska looking for a sweep. Not yet Uska, not yet.

Uska has his foot on Ruas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ruas works his way back into a safe position though.
Ruas is looking to work some ground and pound but Uska has wrist control.
Ruas scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Uska keeping full guard, as Ruas tries to pass.
Ruas trying to control the position from guard on top but Uska is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Uska is trying to keep Ruas in close.
Uska preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Uska lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ruas keeping moving, preventing Uska from controlling successfully.
Uska postures up in Ruas's guard and throws a big left but Ruas blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uska trying to control but Ruas is working from the bottom.
Uska preventing the sweep.

Ruas is looking for a triangle but Uska pushes his legs off easily.
Ruas is striking but Uska is not phased and passes to half guard.
Uska is looking to take a break and control but Ruas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ruas wants to control but Uska is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ruas misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ruas wants to get back to full guard.
Ruas trying to control but Uska postures up.
Ruas misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruas wants to control but Uska is keeping busy.

Uska looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Uska is looking to take a break and control but Ruas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ruas is trying to control Uska's posture. Uska takes advantage of the lull and advances to side control. He also appears to have an arm triangle here! Uh oh, big trouble for Ruas! Uska is rotating here... this could be the end... Ruas is out! Uska has ended this one emphatically! Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ryu Uska!
After winning the bout, Ryu Uska thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.