PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Christiaan Huygens (ranked 1087 p4p, 2628 weight class) and Rickson Ruas (ranked 177 p4p, 354 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Huygens
vs
Ruas

180 cm
27
192
10 - 4 - 0

188 cm
27
200
5 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

BE Younick

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Christiaan Huygens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rickson Ruas!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Huygens as he avoids it easily.
Ruas shoots in but no luck this time.
Ruas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Huygens defends well and Ruas ends up having to push Huygens into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Christiaan Huygens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Ruas.
Ruas fails with the takedown

and Huygens counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ruas is holding on to half guard well.
Ruas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ruas throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Huygens is thwarting Ruas's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huygens is trying to control the action in half guard but Ruas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Huygens takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huygens wants to take a breather but Ruas is having none of it.
Ruas is looking to control Huygens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ruas avoid being mounted?
Huygens tries to stand and escape but Ruas is controlling the position.

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

Huygens closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ruas's guard.
Huygens 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.
Huygens is looking to stand up but Ruas won't let him.
Huygens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ruas being controlled here, momentarily.
Ruas looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruas pulls Huygens in close to his closed guard and prevents Huygens from doing any damage or advancing position.
Huygens wants to control from the top but Ruas keeps moving.
Ruas throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Huygens changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ruas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Huygens is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ruas will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Ruas is not content to let Huygens control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruas manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ruas is trying to get back to full guard.
Huygens definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ruas punching from the bottom.
Ruas tries to get to full guard but Huygens has control of the leg.
Ruas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Huygens.

Ruas actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ruas throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
It looks like Huygens is going to stand back up.
Huygens thows a huge punch but Ruas dodges it nicely.
Ruas tries to get to full guard but Huygens has control of the leg.
Ruas trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Huygens swinging wildly here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ruas fails with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Christiaan Huygens dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Huygens. No joy for Ruas on that attempt.

Ruas gets tackled into the cage by Huygens. Huygens maintains the clinch.

Ruas successfully pulls guard.
Huygens is looking to work some ground and pound but Ruas has wrist control.
Ruas striking off his back but it's not causing Huygens any problems.
Ruas pulls Huygens in close to prevent any damage.

Ruas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ruas looking for a sweep. Not yet Ruas, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ruas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Huygens doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Huygens manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ruas being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Christiaan Huygens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ruas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Huygens defends well.
Huygens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Huygens trying to control but Ruas is working from the bottom.
Huygens stopping the sweep attempt from Ruas.

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.
Ruas keeping moving, preventing Huygens from controlling successfully.

Ruas looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Huygens passes into half guard.
Ruas is looking for a sweep. Huygens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Huygens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruas can do to turn this around?

Ruas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ruas tries to get to full guard but Huygens has control of the leg.
Huygens works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruas struggling a bit here.
Ruas sneaks back into half guard.
Huygens wants to stand but Ruas has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Ruas is looking for a sweep. Huygens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ruas is looking to control Huygens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ruas avoid being mounted?
Huygens thows a huge punch but Ruas dodges it nicely.
Ruas wants to control but Huygens is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ruas is looking for a sweep. Huygens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Huygens is controlling the pace.
Huygens tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ruas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Huygens thows a huge punch but Ruas dodges it nicely.
Ruas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ruas gets back to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Huygens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Christiaan Huygens will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ruas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ruas wants to take a breather but Huygens is having none of it.
Ruas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Huygens defending well though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Ruas is working for a submission of some sort.
Ruas throwing shots but Huygens is blocking nicely.
Huygens on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Huygens tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ruas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ruas is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huygens trying to control from the bottom.
Ruas prevents Huygens from improving his position.
Ruas is taking a breather. Huygens says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ruas trying to pass the guard but Huygens defending well.
Huygens wants to control but Ruas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ruas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ruas is trying to control. Huygens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Huygens tries to roll over but Ruas keeps him under control.
Christiaan Huygens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ruas throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Huygens to regain full guard.
Ruas trying to control but Huygens is working from the bottom.
Huygens is trying to hold Ruas in close to prevent damage but Ruas has managed to pass into half guard.
Huygens is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ruas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ruas's back!
Huygens keeps control of the position easily here as Ruas tries to buck him off.
Ruas is trying to break free.
Ruas trying to control the action but Huygens just sinks the hooks in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huygens biding his time, looking for the opening.
Ruas turns into Huygens and is now in his guard.
Huygens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Huygens has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ruas preventing the sweep.
Huygens looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ruas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Huygens knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ruas on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huygens is controlling Ruas's posture.
Huygens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ruas drops back looking for a leg! Huygens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Huygens manages to kick Ruas off! Ruas jumps back into Huygens's guard.
Ruas stands and throws Huygens's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Huygens pushes Ruas away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ruas gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rickson Ruas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Huygens is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickson Ruas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Huygens has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Christiaan Huygens!
A relieved looking Christiaan Huygens thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.