PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Sylvia (ranked 3905 p4p, 25610 weight class) and Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bas Rutten has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sylvia
vs
Rutten

195 cm
25
214
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
206
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tom Sylvia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sylvia tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rutten sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sylvia somewhat.
Sylvia doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rutten moves into the clinch.
Rutten is trying to break free.
Rutten wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sylvia is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rutten is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Sylvia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sylvia changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rutten fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rutten throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sylvia fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rutten avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sylvia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sylvia shoots in looking for a takedown. Rutten tries to sprawl out of it but Sylvia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rutten manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rutten throws a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sylvia feints and as Rutten raises his hands in defense, Sylvia changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sylvia throws a big right hand that misses.
Sylvia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rutten is keeping the position for now.
Rutten is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sylvia is stalling in the full guard.
Sylvia with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sylvia content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sylvia lands a couple of digs.
Rutten is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia trying to control but Rutten is working from the bottom.
Sylvia chips away with some ground and pound.
Sylvia scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rutten is on top in guard.

Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Sylvia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rutten wanted to stand there but Sylvia had control of the position.
Sylvia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rutten manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Rutten being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rutten's head.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sylvia chips away with some ground and pound.
Rutten wants to sweep but no luck.
Sylvia postures up and lands a big shot to Rutten's brow.
Sylvia stays in close to Rutten's body and controls the position.
Rutten wants to sweep here but Sylvia controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rutten is on top in guard.

Sylvia is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia is working hard here to advance position.
Sylvia on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sylvia tries to get out of the position.
Sylvia is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sylvia wants to sweep here but Rutten controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sylvia has Rutten pulled in close to control his posture.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Sylvia keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tom Sylvia will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sylvia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sylvia looks for a takedown but Rutten sprawls well.
Sylvia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rutten is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Sylvia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rutten feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sylvia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rutten manages to get himself to full guard.

Sylvia tries to free his leg and advance position but Rutten is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sylvia slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sylvia stopping the sweep attempt from Rutten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten looking to control.
Sylvia keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rutten's head.
Sylvia not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rutten has momentary wrist control but Sylvia slips an elbow through the middle.
Rutten can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sylvia controls the pace.
Rutten keeping moving, preventing Sylvia from controlling successfully.
Rutten keeping full guard, as Sylvia tries to pass.
Sylvia wants to control from the top but Rutten keeps moving.
Sylvia is really struggling to control Rutten but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sylvia lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sylvia's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sylvia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sylvia trying to control the position from guard on top but Rutten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sylvia sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rutten keeping moving, preventing Sylvia from controlling successfully.
Rutten wants to sweep here but Sylvia controlling him for the moment.
Rutten is trying to control the position but Sylvia postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia goes for a double leg but Rutten avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rutten continues to drive forward.
Sylvia drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rutten pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rutten defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sylvia.
Sylvia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Sylvia shoots in and gets a takedown into Rutten's guard.
Sylvia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rutten swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rutten will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Sylvia trying to control but Rutten is working from the bottom.
Sylvia lands a couple of digs.
Sylvia seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sylvia trying to control the position from guard on top but Rutten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia distracts Rutten with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tom Sylvia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sylvia is in close to Rutten's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sylvia trying to control but Rutten is working from the bottom.
Sylvia passes into half guard.
Sylvia working the head and body with strikes.
Sylvia wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rutten keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sylvia in particular looking to stall.
Rutten is trying to maintain the position but Sylvia is very close to passing his half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Sylvia dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sylvia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rutten tries to clinch but Sylvia moves out of range.
Tom Sylvia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutten misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sylvia fails to land the takedown.
Sylvia shoots in but Rutten avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rutten is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Sylvia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sylvia closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rutten quickly recovers to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sylvia content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rutten is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sylvia scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sylvia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rutten does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Sylvia.
Rutten won't allow Sylvia to pass to mount.
Sylvia is stalling here. Rutten is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sylvia seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rutten has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rutten misses with the ground and pound.
Sylvia can't do much from the bottom here.
Rutten gets to mount! Sylvia was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Sylvia is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sylvia is looking to escape.

Rutten jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sylvia is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sylvia and Rutten has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sylvia holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
You can see the frustration on Sylvia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sylvia tries to buck Rutten off but Rutten is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia is trying to control Rutten's posture but Rutten avoids it.
Sylvia avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rutten.
Sylvia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rutten wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Rutten tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rutten has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sylvia controls the position for a moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sylvia tries to buck Rutten off but Rutten is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rutten in side control, throwing shots but Sylvia defends.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rutten fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sylvia changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sylvia changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rutten tries to avoid it but Sylvia manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rutten to the ground. Rutten escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sylvia sets himself, and Rutten steps forward looking for the clinch! Sylvia avoids it this time.
Rutten tries to land a front kick but Sylvia steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sylvia tries to counter with a takedown but Rutten is quick to defend against it.
Sylvia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rutten tries to counter by closing the distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sylvia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bas Rutten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tom Sylvia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rutten has closed the distance and engaged Sylvia in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bas Rutten comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sylvia 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Sylvia!