PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Ruiz (ranked 5441 p4p, 24935 weight class) and Yaroslav Borkechev (ranked 0 p4p, 539 weight class). The key to victory for Jose Ruiz has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ruiz
vs
Borkechev

172 cm
18
155
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
155
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Ruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yaroslav Borkechev!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Borkechev feints and as Ruiz raises his hands in defense, Borkechev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ruiz wants to stand up but Borkechev is controlling him.
Borkechev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ruiz striking off his back but it's not causing Borkechev any problems.
Ruiz wants to sweep here but Borkechev controlling him for the moment.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ruiz manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz wants to break free but Borkechev has control.
Ruiz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Borkechev drags the fight down to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Borkechev is keeping the position for now.
Ruiz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Borkechev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Borkechev trying to keep a closed guard but Ruiz is proving a slippery customer.
Borkechev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Borkechev looking to control.
Ruiz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ruiz being controlled here momentarily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Borkechev trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Borkechev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Borkechev keeping moving, preventing Ruiz from controlling successfully.
Ruiz slips nicely into half guard.
Ruiz is thwarting Borkechev's attempts to control the position.
Still in half guard, Ruiz seems content to control.
Ruiz tries to pass to full mount but Borkechev defends it.
Borkechev is trying to stand up here but Ruiz is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ruiz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Borkechev is trying to maintain the position but Ruiz is very close to passing his half guard.

Ruiz is looking for a kimura but Borkechev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ruiz to get the leverage.
Borkechev is looking to control Ruiz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Borkechev avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ruiz shoots in looking for a takedown. Borkechev tries to sprawl out of it but Ruiz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Borkechev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Borkechev throws a good cross that connects.
Borkechev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ruiz.
Borkechev is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Ruiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz misses the jab.
Ruiz is breathing heavily.

Borkechev forces Ruiz back against the cage and clinches.
Ruiz being controlled against the cage.
Ruiz goes for a takedown attempt but Borkechev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ruiz shoots for a takedown but Borkechev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Borkechev changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Borkechev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Borkechev misses with a hook.
Ruiz appears to be looking for a big counter.
Borkechev throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ruiz's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Borkechev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ruiz letting Borkechev take a breather here.

Borkechev wants the takedown. Ruiz is fighting it off but Borkechev persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ruiz's guard against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yaroslav Borkechev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Borkechev fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ruiz to the ground. Borkechev is now in Ruiz's guard.
Borkechev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ruiz wants to stand but Borkechev is controlling the position.
Ruiz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruiz is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Borkechev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borkechev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ruiz's guard.

Ruiz lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Borkechev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ruiz trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Borkechev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Borkechev distracts Ruiz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Borkechev stays in close to Ruiz's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borkechev chips away with some ground and pound.
Ruiz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Borkechev is controlling him.
Ruiz wants to sweep but no luck.

Borkechev stands up and waves to Ruiz to follow him.
Ruiz misses with a takedown attempt

and Borkechev holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Borkechev manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ruiz is defended easily by Borkechev.
Jose Ruiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Borkechev fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ruiz sprawls well initially but Borkechev persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ruiz is trying to escape back to his feet but Borkechev uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Ruiz tries to improve position but can't.
Borkechev taking a breather here.
Ruiz tries to buck Borkechev off but Borkechev is having none of it.
Borkechev staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borkechev has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Ruiz!
Borkechev tries to control but Ruiz wriggling away.
Ruiz tries to reverse the position but Borkechev maintains control.
Ruiz wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Borkechev is punishing Ruiz with strikes - can he finish him?!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Borkechev looking for the choke from the back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Borkechev looking for the choke but no joy.
Borkechev controls the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yaroslav Borkechev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Borkechev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruiz circles away.

Borkechev moves into the clinch successfully.
Ruiz tries to pull guard but Borkechev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Ruiz is fighting off a takedown attempt but Borkechev is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ruiz to the mat. Ruiz regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Ruiz is looking to stand up but Borkechev isn't so interested in that idea.
Borkechev postures up and lands a big shot to Ruiz's brow.
Ruiz throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Borkechev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ruiz is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Yaroslav Borkechev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Borkechev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ruiz's head.
Ruiz keeping moving, preventing Borkechev from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borkechev won't allow Ruiz to sweep him here.

Borkechev stands up and waves to Ruiz to follow him.
Borkechev shoots in for a takedown but Ruiz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Borkechev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Borkechev stays in close to Ruiz's body and controls the position.
Borkechev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Borkechev controls from within his opponent's guard.

Borkechev decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Borkechev sprawls well. Borkechev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ruiz gets slowly back to his feet.
Ruiz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Borkechev.
Jose Ruiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yaroslav Borkechev.
Ruiz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Borkechev.
Ruiz is looking to counter punch.
No luck for Ruiz with that takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Borkechev's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Ruiz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Borkechev pushes Ruiz off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Borkechev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruiz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Borkechev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Borkechev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Borkechev trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Borkechev stands up over Ruiz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borkechev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Borkechev trying to control but Ruiz is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Borkechev lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ruiz's sensitive parts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Borkechev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ruiz is trying to get back to full guard.
Jose Ruiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yaroslav Borkechev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ruiz lands a couple of sideways elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yaroslav Borkechev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Borkechev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yaroslav Borkechev!