PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bill Dance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bas Rutten (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.

Dance
vs
Rutten

177 cm
19
181 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bill Dance!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dance uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rutten.
Dance avoids the body shot from Rutten.
Dance circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dance scores with a hook to the body. Rutten takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rutten.
Dance showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rutten.
Dance throws a sloppy head kick and Rutten moves out of range easily.
Rutten throws a series of punches but Dance moves out of range.
Dance chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rutten can pounce on him.
Dance misses with a body shot.
Rutten throws a body punch but Dance moves out of range.

Dance shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Dance missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dance lands with a punch from half guard.

It looks like Bas Rutten has been cut.
Dance has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Dance missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rutten keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rutten trying to control from the bottom.
Dance throwing shots but Rutten is blocking nicely.
Rutten is trying to control but can't.
Rutten keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dance thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dance thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rutten's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rutten rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dance moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dance avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rutten throws a series of punches but Dance moves out of range.
Dance looks for the body kick but Rutten saw that one coming.
Rutten pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big right from Dance misses.
Rutten throws a lazy right hand but Dance sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rutten throws a jab when Dance was well out of range.
Nice jab there from Rutten.
Rutten looks to land a combination but Dance avoids it well.
Dance keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rutten.
Rutten throws a lazy right hand but Dance sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rutten chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dance throws a body punch but Rutten moves out of range.
Bas Rutten is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dance throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rutten tries to clinch up but Dance circles away and keeps his distance.
Rutten will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rutten tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dance was well out of range. Poor timing from Rutten.
Rutten throws a big shot that misses.
Rutten looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rutten throws a body kick that misses.
Dance throws a jab when Rutten was well out of range.

Dance throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rutten was covering up waiting for the punch and Dance finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Dance loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dance with a nice head shot there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dance's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rutten looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dance is one step ahead there.
Dance trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rutten manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Dance wants to sweep here but Rutten controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Dance dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bas Rutten's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters circling - Dance throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dance dodges the punch combination from Rutten.
Rutten swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rutten throws an overhand right that lands on Dance's shoulder, as Dance tries to avoid the shot.
Rutten misses with a wild combination.
Bas Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dance throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rutten.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Dance counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dance postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rutten working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dance.
Dance working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dance throws a big right hand that misses.

Rutten had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Dance is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rutten Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Dance's back instead.
Dance rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Dance wants to get back to full guard.
Rutten is taking a breather. Dance says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rutten wants to control but Dance is keeping him busy.
Rutten works his way into side control.
Dance is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dance throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Dance is not content to let Rutten control the position.
Dance is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rutten's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Dance is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rutten tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dance knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dance regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dance 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.
Rutten is looking to work some ground and pound but Dance has wrist control.
Rutten looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A slow jab from Rutten misses its intended target.
Rutten lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rutten tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four 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.
Dance missing with a left hand there. Rutten was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rutten tries a head kick but it misses.

Rutten gets caught flat footed, as Dance shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dance looking to pass the guard.
Dance postures up in Rutten's guard and throws a big left but Rutten blocks it.
Dance in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dance trying to control but Rutten is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rutten trying to keep a closed guard but Dance is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Dance dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bas Rutten's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rutten gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Dance.
Dance displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rutten throws out the jab.
Dance swats away the attempt to clinch by Rutten.
Rutten pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
Rutten misses with an uppercut.
Dance does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten misses with a double jab

and Dance counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dance 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.
Bill Dance overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dance thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dance tries to pass to full mount but Rutten defends it.
Dance scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rutten has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dance is working away from the top position though.
Dance scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dance sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rutten defending well though.
Dance not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dance not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two 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.
Dance lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dance not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rutten keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rutten is trying to control but can't.
Rutten is staying active underneath Dance, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rutten punishes Dance's body with a nice straight punch.
Dance uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rutten.
Dance looks to throw the jab but Rutten is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten throws a nice looking combination but Dance bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rutten misses with a head kick.
Rutten looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rutten takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rutten takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rutten displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dance throws out the jab.
Rutten on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dance.
Dance checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rutten ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rutten throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rutten tries to clinch up
and Dance connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten misses with a hook. Dance ducked under it nicely.
Dance slips under a jab from Rutten.
Rutten ducks under a wild hook from Dance.
The fighters circling - Dance throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dance avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rutten wants to clinch up but Dance keeps it at a distance.
Dance blocks a leg kick.
Rutten misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dance thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dance fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Dance clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Bas Rutten's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rutten throws a hook but Dance blocks it.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
Rutten tries to clinch but Dance is having none of it.
Rutten closes the distance but Dance moves to the side
and Dance counters with a nice uppercut.
Rutten swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rutten thows a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten looks for the body kick but Dance saw that one coming.
Rutten takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rutten steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dance.
Rutten misses with an uppercut. Dance saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dance gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Dance shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rutten napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dance wants to control but Rutten is keeping him busy.
Rutten tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dance cracks Rutten with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Dance immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Rutten is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Dance!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bill Dance!
Bill Dance retains his welterweight title!