PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claude LaCroix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rutten comes to the cage accompanied by Joe Esposito - Your the Best Around. LaCroix is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sash - Encore Une Fois. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rutten
vs
LaCroix

187 cm
24
205 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

183 cm
21
212 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bas Rutten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Claude LaCroix!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten misses with a wild combination.
LaCroix slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

It looks like Bas Rutten has been cut.
Rutten dodges the punch combination from LaCroix.
LaCroix getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rutten looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rutten is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
LaCroix avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

LaCroix drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as LaCroix accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
LaCroix keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rutten's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as LaCroix accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
LaCroix controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaCroix wants to control from the top but Rutten keeps moving.

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.
LaCroix with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rutten wants to stand but LaCroix is controlling the position.
Rutten working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from LaCroix.
LaCroix working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
LaCroix slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaCroix throwing strikes but missing.
LaCroix throwing strikes from guard but Rutten blocks nicely.

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.
LaCroix stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rutten swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A left and a right from Rutten both land. Nice combination.
Rutten misses the shot to the body.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick and LaCroix moves out of range easily.
LaCroix lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
LaCroix lunges at Rutten with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rutten's hand.
Rutten takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
LaCroix misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rutten tries to clinch but LaCroix is having none of it.
LaCroix lands a jab-cross combination.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
Rutten takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Bas Rutten's cut is getting worse.
LaCroix drops Rutten with a huge uppercut! Rutten drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. LaCroix is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Claude LaCroix!