Hoffman Estates, IL … Saturday, May the 19th, in the main event of the International Fight League’s Chicago-area debut, after a near five and a half year layoff, mixed martial arts legend, Marco Ruas returned to the sport he helped usher into the United States, losing to Maurice Smith. Smith, a former UFC heavyweight champion, was himself coming off a near six and a half year vacation from MMA (though Smith had seven kickboxing matches with the K1 organization during that span).

In many ways, each man represented an evolutionary step in the world of MMA. Smith was the first high-level kickboxer to make the transition to MMA while Ruas was one of the earliest competitors to bring both the ability to strike and grapple to the table. The two had fought once before, in July of 1999, a fight that was stopped when Ruas’ corner threw in the towel due to a knee injury and the suburban-Chicago crowd was eagerly anticipating the return of two certifiable legends after a long evening of fights.

While two legends did indeed return, it was entertaining only in a perverse sense. For the first two minutes of round one, neither man engaged. Ruas seemed content to back-peddle and Smith wasn’t about to recklessly chase after the Brazilian. Finally, Smith lunged forward only for Ruas to get a low body lock and gently bring Smith to the mat. Unlike some of the slams earlier in the night, where men were hoisted high above and brought down with power, this was a takedown befitting two men whose combined age is 91. Following the takedown, Ruas laid inside Smith’s guard, unwilling to engage in any offense. The round ended to a chorus of ever-growing boos and people filing out of the arena.

Round two was like watching a re-run of a bad movie. Again, Ruas refused to fight and Smith refused to force the issue. With 3:00 remaining in the stanza, Ruas finally got a takedown, ever so slowly maneuvered into mount and … then … did … nothing. He rode out the round by sitting on Smith’s chest, in a completely dominant position, and never opening up one iota.

By the time the third round began, at least half of the crowd had left and more were following suit. Those that braved stay behind voiced their displeasure loudly. As in the first two rounds, Ruas got a takedown. Perhaps in an effort to salvage some face, Ruas, to his credit, passed Smith’s guard and then attempted a painfully ineffective north-south choke. The crowd, though, didn’t seem to notice or care that Ruas had bothered to move this time the bout was on the ground, and just booed with abandon.

In between rounds three and four it was clear that despite likely winning the first three rounds, Ruas was in trouble. Smith wasn’t winded at all as he headed to his corner while Ruas was gasping for breath. Though he had a chiseled physique for any age, let alone someone that is 45, the aesthetics of Ruas’ body couldn’t make up for years of inactivity. Smith had legendary cardio master, Frank Shamrock, in his corner and simply being in better shape was ultimately the deciding factor in the fight.

Smith treated those fans that still remained to a striking clinic. Immediately after the bell began the fourth, Smith pounced on Ruas and battered him with hard punches and a high kick that landed square on Ruas’ jaw. After another series of strikes, Ruas was walking around the ring with his hands by his waist and it was obvious he was on borrowed time. On multiple occasions Ruas would get hit by a punch and literally somersault to the mat in an effort to avoid more punishment – it was embarrassing to watch as at one point it took the “King of the Streets” almost 15 seconds to get to his feet. Finally, after one last flip to the ground, it was apparent Ruas simply did not possess the strength needed to stand – a combination of absorbed strikes and fatigue. Just as had happened the first time they fought, once again Ruas’ corner threw in the towel to end the fight.

Following 17+ minutes of “fighting,” it was evident why the California State Athletic Commission had decided to not sanction this fight. Though Smith looked fine, and fought well, Ruas left a tarnished image to a generation of fans who likely came to the sport well after he was at his best. To those that had only heard of Marco Ruas, the fighter they saw on Saturday was anything but special. Like so many great athletes, from Willie Mays playing with the Mets to Muhammad Ali fighting Trevor Berbick, Ruas simply overstayed his welcome. The final image of Ruas - crawling around the mat on his hands and knees, unable to rise one last time - was a sad ending to the fight and a likely even sadder ending to his career. {plug}