PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vinny Ruggiero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Starner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ruggiero
vs
Starner

200 cm
31
223 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

196 cm
20
265 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vinny Ruggiero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Starner!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starner misses with the combination.
Ruggiero fails in his attempt to clinch.
Starner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ruggiero pinned against the cage. Ruggiero gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A combination from Starner does no damage.
Ruggiero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Starner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ruggiero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ruggiero doesn't manage to clinch there - Starner circles away.

Starner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ruggiero is looking to escape.
Starner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Starner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Starner not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Starner not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Starner is pressing down on Ruggiero's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ruggiero is holding on for now.
Starner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ruggiero is not content to let Starner control the position.
Ruggiero is trying to stand up here but Starner is controlling him well.
Starner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Starner throwing shots but Ruggiero is blocking nicely.
Ruggiero gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Starner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Starner has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ruggiero is proving hard to escape from.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Starner cracks Ruggiero with a solid left hand.
Starner is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ruggiero has a closed guard, preventing Starner from standing up.
Starner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starner trying to control but Ruggiero is working from the bottom.
Starner is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ruggiero avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Ruggiero is looking for a triangle but Starner pushes his legs off easily.
Starner wants to stand but Ruggiero is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ruggiero wants to get back to his feet but Starner is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Starner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ruggiero is keeping the position for now.
Starner would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruggiero working a defensive guard here.

Starner stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Starner shoots in looking for a takedown but Ruggiero manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Starner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sloppy strikes from Starner. Those never looked like landing.
Ruggiero stuffs the takedown attempt from Starner. Starner gets slowly back to his feet.
Vinny Ruggiero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Starner.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Starner with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ruggiero counters by clinching up.
A nice left hand lands by Ruggiero.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Starner dominated that round.
That's time! Ruggiero's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ruggiero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Starner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Starner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Starner swats away the attempt to clinch by Ruggiero.
Starner misses with a double jab
and Ruggiero counters with a nice body shot.
Ruggiero looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ruggiero looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ruggiero has closed the distance and engaged Starner in a clinch.
Ruggiero lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Ryan Starner has been cut.
Ruggiero lands an elbow inside.
Starner is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ruggiero scores a nice knee to the body.
Ruggiero leaning against his opponent.
Starner is trying to break the clinch but Ruggiero is controlling him.
Starner takes a knee right on the jaw!
Starner is breathing heavily.
Starner tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruggiero stalling against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Starner's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Starner takes a knee right on the jaw!
Starner wants a takedown.
Vinny Ruggiero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Starner.

Ruggiero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Starner getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Starner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vinny Ruggiero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ruggiero tries to clinch up.

Ruggiero closes the distance and clinches.
Starner doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ruggiero is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ruggiero landing knees to the head.

That has opened up Ryan Starner's cut even more.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A body shot lands from Ruggiero.
A knee to the head by Ruggiero.
Knees to the body from Ruggiero.
Ruggiero is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ruggiero lands a knee to the body.

Ruggiero drops Starner with a big knee straight up the middle! Starner is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Starner is rocked!

Starner tries to keep at a distance but Ruggiero has taken the fight into the clinch.
Starner is still on wobbly legs! Can Ruggiero finish him?
Ruggiero holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Ruggiero.
Starner seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starner drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ruggiero gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ruggiero with a knee to the head.

The cut above Ryan Starner's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Ruggiero lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees in the clinch landing for Ruggiero.
Ruggiero connects with a knee to the head.

Ruggiero drops Starner with a big knee straight up the middle! Starner is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Starner swats away the attempt to clinch by Ruggiero.
Starner misses with a body punch
and Ruggiero counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Ruggiero gets a clinch.
Ruggiero lands a nice knee to the body.
Starner takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ruggiero lands a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starner takes a knee to the side of the body.
Starner takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ruggiero has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head that stumbles Starner - he's in trouble! Another big knee to the head from Ruggiero, and another! Starner is out on his feet - the ref jumps in to save him and ends the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Vinny Ruggiero!
In his post fight interview, Vinny Ruggiero started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.