Ed Ruth defeats Keith Gavin in World Team Trials finals rematch in FPL 2 Main Event

Ed Ruth and Keith Gavin battle at the 2014 World Team Trials in Madison, Wis.

In a battle of the last two 86 kg U.S. World Team members, Ed Ruth topped Keith Gavin 10-7 at 190 lbs. in the FPL 2 Main Event Saturday afternoon in Troy, N.Y.


Ruth opened the match strong scoring a takedown 20 seconds into the bout, taking an early 2-0 lead. Ruth added a second takedown to close the first period with a 4-0 lead.


Gavin secured his first points of the match midway through the second period on an arm drag takedown, however Ruth would tack on two takedowns of his own in the second stanza to lead 8-2 heading into the final period.


Trailing late, Gavin closed the gap quickly, securing a takedown, leg lace and push out to cut Ruth’s lead to 8-7 with under 30 seconds remaining. Ruth countered a late Gavin shot attempt to win by the final tally of 10-7.


“I feel like I performed as best as I could,” Ruth said. “I started out strong. I wanted to hold my lead but against someone as seasoned as good as Gavin it’s kind of hard to do that.”


Ruth defeated Gavin in an epic three-match series in the finals of the World Team Trials in June, two matches to one, to make his first senior level World Team in men’s freestyle. This victory came just three months after Ruth won his third NCAA title for Penn State University in March.


“I want him to feel that every time I go on the mat against this guy, he is going to take a shot, he is going to be aggressive, and I want to put him on his toes early because that is when I can do my best work,” Ruth said.


Gavin represented the U.S. at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He is now Assistant Coach at the University of Virginia.


Prior to the featured Ruth vs. Gavin bout, two top UFC stars, Gray “The Bully” Maynard and Dennis “The Menace” Bermudez, squared off at 165 lbs. in the FPL 2 Co-Main Event.


Utilizing top-level transition wrestling and solid leg attacks, Maynard defeated Bermudez in a high scoring affair, 18-9.


“It was fun to be back on the mat,” Maynard said. “I like how they did this because it makes you compete. It keeps you in the middle. It keeps you going. It is a high paced match. It is just good to get back to the sport.”


Maynard led 12-1 after the first period of wrestling, tallying three takedown-to-turn combinations to build an overwhelming lead. Bermudez came on strong in the final two periods scoring three takedowns and two push outs, but it would not prove enough to top Maynard.


The Flo Premiere League will continue its inaugural campaign with FPL 3: Gomez vs. Metcalf on Dec. 20 in New Lenox, Ill.

FPL 2: RUTH VS. GAVIN RESULTS

At Troy, N.Y. on November 29


Main Event

Ed Ruth dec. Keith Gavin 10-7

Co-Main Event

Gray Maynard dec. Dennis Bermudez 18-9