PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Austin Justice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Ruska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Dan Ruska was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Justice
vs
Ruska

175 cm
27
168 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

170 cm
27
166 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

[JMFC] 160!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Austin Justice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dan Ruska!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A leg kick checked by Justice.
Justice tests Ruska's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ruska leaves Justice with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ruska cracks Justice with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Justice stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ruska.
Ruska ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Justice moves away.
Justice takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Justice throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ruska on the side of the head.
Ruska looks to throw the jab but Justice is out of range.
Justice fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruska manages to avoid it.
Ruska wants to clinch.

Justice shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Justice showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruska has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Justice is working away from the top position though.
Justice is looking to advance position but Ruska won't allow it.
Justice trying to control the pace.
Ruska looks like he's trying to stand up.
Justice scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Justice stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruska wants to improve his position but Justice is controlling well.
Justice seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ruska does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ruska wants to control but Justice is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Justice throws a body punch but Ruska moves out of range.
Ruska keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Justice checks a leg kick.
Justice shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ruska as he avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Justice throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ruska thuds his right hand into Justice's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Justice shoots in for a takedown but Ruska shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Austin Justice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Justice throws a hook but Ruska blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justice keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ruska.
Ruska cracks Justice with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ruska jabs Justice to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ruska misses with a hook. Justice ducked under it nicely.
Ruska throws out a loose jab but Justice uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ruska connects with a nice looking jab.
Ruska fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Justice manages to avoid it.
Ruska avoids the body shot from Justice.
Ruska avoids the body shot from Justice.
Justice comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Justice shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Justice misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ruska.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Justice.
Justice ducks under a wild hook from Ruska.
Ruska throws a combination that misses
and Justice counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ruska doesn't manage to clinch there - Justice circles away.
Justice swings for the body but Ruska moves out of range.
Ruska tries to score a power double leg takedown but Justice sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ruska somewhat.
Ruska throws a body kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruska looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Some wild striking there from Ruska.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dan Ruska will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Justice stuns Ruska with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Dan Ruska seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Justice throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ruska's waist but Ruska gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Justice off to one side.
Justice keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ruska will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ruska defending well as Justice loads up on a big left hand.
Justice misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ruska.
Ruska tries to clinch up
and Justice counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ruska tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Justice counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Justice takes a swing at Ruska's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruska stuns Justice with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Justice throws a body punch but Ruska moves out of range.
Dan Ruska seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice uppercut lands for Justice. That snapped Ruska's head back.
Justice jabs Ruska right on the nose. Ruska blinks but takes it well.
Justice scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ruska in his tracks.
Ruska throws an overhand right that lands on Justice's shoulder, as Justice tries to avoid the shot.
Ruska misses with an uppercut
and Justice counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Justice throws a lazy right hand but Ruska sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Justice ducks right into an uppercut from Ruska.
Ruska throws a head kick but Justice moves out of range.
Ruska misses with a lunging right hand
and Ruska takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Justice fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruska displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Justice throws out the jab.
Justice throws a chopping leg kick but Ruska manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nice uppercut there from Justice.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Justice bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ruska's head.
The fighters circling - Justice throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Justice fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Austin Justice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruska turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Justice blocks a leg kick.
Ruska is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Justice.
Justice stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Justice wants it to stay on the feet.
Justice tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ruska was well out of range. Poor timing from Justice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruska uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Justice.
A swing and a miss from Justice.
Justice throws a hook but Ruska blocks it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ruska.
Ruska scores with a punch to the head.

Ruska has closed the distance and engaged Justice in a clinch.
Ruska using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Justice has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ruska goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Justice scores with a shoulder strike.
A short body shot lands from Justice as the two fighters clinch.
Ruska landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ruska lands with a right to the head.
Ruska swings wildly with an uppercut but Justice uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Justice creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Justice tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ruska smiles and moves away.
Ruska slips under a jab from Justice.
Ruska pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Justice takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ruska uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Justice.
Ruska uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Justice.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Justice keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Justice swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ruska takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Justice dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A big right from Ruska misses.
Ruska staying out of range there.
Ruska misses with a left hand
enabling Justice to counter with a crisp jab.
Justice lands with an overhand left.
Ruska throws a nice outside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ruska. Justice does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ruska tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Justice manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ruska uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Justice.
Justice throws a predictable looking body shot
and Justice takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Justice misses with a wild body shot.
Ruska throws a low kick but it's checked well by Justice.
Justice throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ruska's waist but Ruska gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Justice off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruska throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Justice throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ruska throws out a loose jab but Justice uses good head movement to avoid it.
Justice lands with a nice body punch.
Justice dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ruska throws a jab but it's blocked by Justice.
Ruska keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ruska moves to clinch but Justice breaks away
and Justice counters with a nice body shot.
Ruska scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ruska will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ruska shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Justice but Justice pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ruska takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justice shoots for a takedown but Ruska saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice cross by Justice.
A cross from Justice lands.
Ruska ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ruska connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Justice lands a nice looking body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A clash of legs there as Justice blocks the low kick.
Justice avoids the body shot from Ruska.
Ruska is looking to clinch but Justice is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruska with a nice cross.
Ruska throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Justice shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruska sprawls well. He's pushed Justice's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Austin Justice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Justice shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ruska sprawls well. Ruska wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Justice gets slowly back to his feet.
Justice takes a swing at Ruska's ribcage but misses.
Justice scores with a push kick.

Justice drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Justice wants to control from the top but Ruska keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Justice preventing the sweep.
Justice pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ruska is keeping the position for now.
Justice wants to control from the top but Ruska keeps moving.
Ruska is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Justice is looking to improve his position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Justice keeping control of the position.
Ruska is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Austin Justice showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Justice has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Austin Justice!