PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Trent Ruta (ranked 6394 p4p, 579 weight class) and Tim St John (ranked 5291 p4p, 536 weight class). St John has chosen Machine gun Kelly - Till I Die as his entrance music. Tim St John will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ruta
vs
St John

167 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
165 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Top Nutrition 160Q\250$ 140Q\150$ 100Q\50$

Top Nutrition 160Q\250$ 140Q\150$ 100Q\50$
Juggernaut And Gladiators(90% Laundry)

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Trent Ruta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tim St John!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Alyssa Summers and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St John circles away from the clinch attempt.
St John unleashes a big counter combination but Ruta bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Ruta has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ruta definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Ruta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that St John has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Ruta is looking to clinch but St John is avoiding it.
St John swinging wildly here.
Ruta went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
St John lands a jab to the nose.
St John throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ruta swings away with a leg kick that misses.
St John defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ruta.
St John digs a good hook to Ruta's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruta tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
St John throws a leg kick but Ruta checks it.
Ruta is looking to clinch but St John is avoiding it.
Ruta tries to close the distance and clinch up but St John swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Ruta moves into range and clinches up with St John.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruta tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
St John looks to throw an elbow but misses.
St John is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ruta blocks the elbow strike.
Ruta jumps guard but St John stands there with Ruta around his waist. Ruta gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
St John working hard to break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from St John.
A right hook to the body lands for St John.
Ruta tries to pull guard but St John forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Trent Ruta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruta unloads a knee to the mid-section.
St John gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Trent Ruta has been cut.
St John stalls.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

St John breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St John throws a body punch but Ruta moves out of range.
Ruta seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Trent Ruta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ruta takes the fight into the clinch.
St John is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ruta is defending well for now.
St John stalling against the cage.
Ruta tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. St John smiles and moves away.
Ruta fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
St John lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ruta dodges the punch combination from St John.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St John throws a lazy body kick
and Ruta counters with a series of strikes. St John will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ruta tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ruta misses with the combination.
Nice defenses there by Ruta.
Ruta went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Ruta tries to clinch up but St John circles away and keeps his distance.
St John scores with a nice head shot.
Ruta wants to clinch up but St John keeps it at a distance.
Sloppy strikes from Ruta. Those never looked like landing.
St John lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ruta circles away quickly and effectively.
Good work by Ruta as he checks the leg kick.
St John throws a leg kick but Ruta sees it coming and moves out of range.

Ruta clinches.
Ruta taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

St John tightens his grip and picks Ruta up, before dumping him to the ground. Ruta manages to land in guard.

Ruta has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. St John is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee calls for Ruta to work.
St John can't get the takedown.
Ruta avoiding damage.
Ruta taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ruta goes for a takedown attempt but St John pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
St John circles away from the clinch attempt
and St John counters with a nice uppercut.
Ruta is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tim St John will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Trent Ruta's cut.
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.

St John cracks Ruta with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ruta doesn't manage to clinch there - St John circles away.
St John throws a head kick that misses.
Ruta tries to close the distance and clinch but St John swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

St John gets caught flat footed, as Ruta shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ruta sitting in guard, not really doing much.
St John wants to control but Ruta passes easily into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Ruta is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St John has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ruta is working away from the top position though.
Ruta perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ruta throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing St John to regain full guard.
Ruta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. St John is keeping the position for now.
Ruta stands and throws St John's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
St John is looking for a sweep.
Ruta throws an elbow but St John slips to the side and avoids it well.
Ruta controlling the position.
Ruta passes to full mount! That's big trouble for St John!
Ruta controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St John manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ruta not doing much here.
St John is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Ruta postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for St John to stand up.
Ruta moves out of range as St John strikes.
St John pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ruta checks a leg kick.
Ruta is looking for a counter combo.
Ruta tries to clinch but St John moves out of range.
Trent Ruta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruta pushes St John away with a front kick.
St John turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ruta wants to clinch up but St John keeps it at a distance.
St John smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ruta checks the leg kick.
St John swats away the attempt to clinch by Ruta.
Ruta closes the distance and clinches up with St John, looking for a takedown. Ruta pushes St John against the cage but St John circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tim St John will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Trent Ruta's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ruta misses with a takedown attempt
and St John counters with a two punch combo.
St John throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
St John circles away from the clinch attempt.
St John keeps the fight on the outside.
Ruta ducks under a wild hook from St John.
St John lands a jab-cross combination.
St John misses with a wild combination.
St John works over Ruta's head and body with a nice combination.
Ruta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but St John paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ruta doesn't manage to clinch there - St John circles away.

St John closes the distance and pushes Ruta back into the cage.
St John has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
St John tries to break the clinch but Ruta is controlling the position.

St John breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruta shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has St John pinned against the cage. St John gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Despite the aggression on St John's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
St John throws a looping overhand right but Ruta ducks down to avoid it.

Ruta gets a clinch.
St John tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ruta avoids it.
Ruta is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but St John is keeping busy.
St John throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ruta blocks it with crossed arms.
Ruta blocks the elbow strike.
Trent Ruta has scored more points in the clinch so far.
St John pushes off an throws an elbow but Ruta leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ruta dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
St John goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruta displaying some good clinch control by pressing St John up against the cage.
Ruta is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
St John missing with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for St John.
Ruta jumps guard but St John turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Trent Ruta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruta stalling against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from St John.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruta is leaning against St John and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ruta is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but St John is keeping busy.
St John is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ruta is trying to pull guard but St John has him pressed against the cage.
Tim St John is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ruta taking a breather.
St John wants to break the clinch but can't.
Come on St John - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

St John manages to break the clinch.
Ruta fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Ruta moves into the clinch successfully.
Ruta blocks the elbow strike.

St John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
St John on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ruta. Ruta obviously looking to wear him down.
Ruta fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Trent Ruta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruta slips a jab and a cross from St John.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim St John comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got St John winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim St John!
Tim St John very nearly forgot to thank Top Nutrition 160Q250$ 140Q150$ 100Q50$ amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.