PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kody Ruiz (ranked 5030 p4p, 25666 weight class) and Wilbur Bickell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kody Ruiz has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ruiz
vs
Bickell

188 cm
18
177
2 - 1 - 0

160 cm
25
175
0 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kody Ruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Wilbur Bickell!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruiz shoots in but no luck this time.

Bickell has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ruiz lands a nice uppercut.
Bickell is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bickell slowing the pace effectively.

Bickell gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ruiz regains guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bickell trying to control but Ruiz is working from the bottom.
Bickell throwing strikes from guard but Ruiz blocks nicely.
Bickell sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ruiz's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bickell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ruiz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bickell has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz is trying to escape the mount.
Ruiz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ruiz regains half guard.
Ruiz is pressing down on Bickell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ruiz looking for a sweep. Not yet Ruiz, not yet.
Bickell wants to control from the top but Ruiz keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bickell manages to get himself to full guard.

Ruiz postures up.

Bickell 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.
Bickell working a defensive guard here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bickell can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bickell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ruiz.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ruiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bickell throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Bickell is striking but Ruiz is not phased and passes to half guard.
Ruiz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bickell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ruiz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruiz seems to be working for a kimura but Bickell defends the submission attempt.
Ruiz is trying to control the action in half guard but Bickell is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ruiz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ruiz stops Bickell from getting back to his feet.
Ruiz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bickell's head.
Ruiz prevents Bickell from improving his position.
Ruiz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ruiz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ruiz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bickell trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ruiz in particular looking to stall.
Ruiz is looking to advance position but Bickell won't allow it.
Ruiz wants to control but Bickell is keeping him busy.
Bickell tries to get to full guard but Ruiz has control of the leg.
Bickell has hold of Ruiz's hands but Ruiz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ruiz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruiz passes to full mount!
Bickell tries to hold on but Ruiz pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kody Ruiz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ruiz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ruiz.
Ruiz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bickell moves into the clinch.
Bickell gets underhooks to prevent Ruiz's takedown attempt.

Bickell has Ruiz pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bickell pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ruiz tumbling to the mat - Bickell dives into Ruiz's guard.
Ruiz striking off his back but it's not causing Bickell any problems.
Bickell trying to control but Ruiz is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruiz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bickell's guard.

Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Bickell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bickell wants to sweep but no luck.
Ruiz postures up.
Ruiz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ruiz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bickell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ruiz lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Bickell is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ruiz is aware though and is defending well.
Ruiz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ruiz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ruiz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ruiz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ruiz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ruiz 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ruiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ruiz connects with a couple of short punches.
Ruiz lands a couple of digs.
Bickell keeping moving, preventing Ruiz from controlling successfully.
Ruiz looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Ruiz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bickell is breathing heavily.
Ruiz stays in close to Bickell's body and controls the position.
Ruiz trying to control but Bickell is working from the bottom.
Ruiz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz is looking to work some ground and pound but Bickell has wrist control.
Ruiz stopping the sweep attempt from Bickell.
Ruiz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ruiz trying to control but Bickell is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Bickell shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ruiz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ruiz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bickell is pressing down on Ruiz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ruiz is holding on for now.
Ruiz moves into full guard.
Bickell won't allow Ruiz to get back to his feet.

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

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bickell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruiz is one step ahead there.
Ruiz throwing strikes but missing.
Ruiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Bickell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruiz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kody Ruiz dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bickell shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ruiz is trying to defend but Bickell finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Ruiz kicks off Bickell and gets to his feet.

Bickell gets tackled into the cage by Ruiz. Ruiz maintains the clinch.
Ruiz working aggressively here.
Bickell misses with a body punch.

Ruiz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ruiz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bickell avoids it really well and circles away.
Ruiz closes the distance and clinches up with Bickell, looking for a takedown. Ruiz pushes Bickell against the cage but Bickell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ruiz shoots in but Bickell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kody Ruiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruiz moves to clinch but Bickell breaks away
and Bickell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bickell circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bickell counters with a leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bickell gets caught flat footed, as Ruiz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Bickell scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Bickell gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Bickell has picked Ruiz up - he's going for a ride! Bickell dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Ruiz manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Bickell keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ruiz is trying to trip Bickell. He has hold of a leg but Bickell is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ruiz persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Bickell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bickell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bickell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ruiz stands up over Bickell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bickell trying to control the position.
Ruiz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bickell trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bickell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ruiz throws an elbow that misses. Bickell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ruiz's guard. Nice move by Bickell!

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruiz is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruiz wants to control from the top but Bickell keeps moving.
Ruiz pushing down on Bickell's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ruiz slips a nice elbow through Bickell's hands, connecting with Bickell's forehead.
Bickell is trying to control but can't.
Ruiz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bickell can do to turn this around?
Ruiz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ruiz prevents Bickell from improving his position.
Ruiz scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bickell is trying to maintain the position but Ruiz is very close to passing his half guard.
Ruiz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bickell with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ruiz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bickell is trying to maintain the position but Ruiz is very close to passing his half guard.
Ruiz working the head and body with strikes.
Ruiz tries to pass to full mount but Bickell defends it.
Ruiz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from Ruiz there.
Wilbur Bickell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kody Ruiz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ruiz is nestled in close to Bickell, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kody Ruiz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ruiz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kody Ruiz!