PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sauvage Thibodeaux (ranked 2314 p4p, 2191 weight class) and Anthony Ruiz (ranked 312 p4p, 300 weight class). Ruiz has chosen DB7 - Squid Game Drill as his entrance music. Anthony Ruiz has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Thibodeaux
vs
Ruiz

180 cm
20
195
5 - 2 - 0

188 cm
27
192
6 - 3 - 1

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Vegan Gains
UNDEFEATED

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sauvage Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Ruiz!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Ruiz.
We've been hearing reports that Thibodeaux has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Thibodeaux takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ruiz throws a head kick but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ruiz throws a push kick but Thibodeaux slaps the foot to one side.

Thibodeaux shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ruiz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Thibodeaux prevents Ruiz from escaping the position.
Ruiz wants to control but Thibodeaux postures up.

Thibodeaux tries for a kimura but Ruiz is defending well.
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The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruiz seems a little lost for a moment, as Thibodeaux dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ruiz being controlled for a moment.
Ruiz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Thibodeaux is controlling him well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ruiz misses with a head kick.
Thibodeaux tries to counter with a takedown but Ruiz is quick to defend against it.
Ruiz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thibodeaux half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ruiz looks to land a body kick but Thibodeaux moved away.

Thibodeaux moves into range and clinches up with Ruiz.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ruiz obliges.
Ruiz unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ruiz working hard to break the clinch.
Ruiz tries to circle away but Thibodeaux has him pinned against the cage.
Ruiz trying to land knees to the body.
Thibodeaux is trying to pull guard but Ruiz has him pressed against the cage.
Ruiz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thibodeaux managing to block the knees to the body from Ruiz.
Ruiz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thibodeaux avoids it.
Ruiz throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thibodeaux blocks it with crossed arms.
Ruiz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thibodeaux avoids it.

Thibodeaux is trying to trip Ruiz. He has hold of a leg but Ruiz is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Thibodeaux persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz is pulling down on Thibodeaux's head. It's preventing any offense from Thibodeaux, at least for the moment.
Ruiz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Thibodeaux controls the pace.
Thibodeaux prevents Ruiz from getting back to his feet.
Ruiz wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Thibodeaux manages to pass to side control.
Thibodeaux not doing much here.

That's four 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.
Ruiz is looking to improve his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Thibodeaux in particular looking to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No luck for Thibodeaux with that takedown attempt.
Ruiz throws a head kick but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Ruiz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Ruiz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thibodeaux defending well as Ruiz loads up on a big left hand.
Ruiz lands a jab-cross combination.

Thibodeaux shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ruiz manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ruiz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thibodeaux is controlling him.
Thibodeaux loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ruiz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thibodeaux's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thibodeaux has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Ruiz doesn't defend quickly enough and Thibodeaux has managed to lock this one up! Can Ruiz escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Thibodeaux on a fantastic submission victory.

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