PBP Commentary

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

Rutten
vs
Rolston

185 cm
21
201 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

194 cm
20
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alistair Rutten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Rolston!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rolston misses with a body kick.
Rutten walks into a straight right hand from Rolston.

Rutten drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rolston is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rutten is looking to take a break and control but Rolston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rutten is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rolston is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sloppy strikes there by Rutten.
Rutten trying to control the position but Rolston is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolston tries to buck Rutten off but Rutten is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutten tries to move to mount but Rolston blocks the move with his legs.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rutten shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rutten thows a huge punch but Rolston dodges it nicely.
Rutten thows a huge punch but Rolston dodges it nicely.

Rutten is trying to work for a kimura but Rolston is defending well.
Rutten throwing shots but Rolston is blocking nicely.

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.
Rolston is not content to let Rutten control the position.
Rutten winds up and cracks Rolston with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rutten not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rutten 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.
Rutten not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rutten throwing shots but Rolston is blocking nicely.
Rutten slows the pace down in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rutten connects with a nice short shot to Rolston's temple.

Rutten is looking for a kimura here.
Rutten stops Rolston from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolston is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Rutten jumps into side control!

Rutten working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rutten postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
I wouldn't like to be where Rolston is right now.
Rolston takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rutten is looking to take a break and control but Rolston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rolston can't do much from the bottom here.
Rutten in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rutten working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rolston is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rolston manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rutten tries to get to full guard but Rolston has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Rutten dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rutten avoids the head kick by Rolston.
Some bone on bone action there as Rutten checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Rutten drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rolston is pulling down on Rutten's head. It's preventing any offense from Rutten, at least for the moment.
Rutten controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rolston keeping full guard, as Rutten tries to pass.
Rutten postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rutten is in close to Rolston's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rutten stopping the sweep attempt from Rolston.
Rutten throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolston working a defensive guard here.
Rolston keeping full guard, as Rutten tries to pass.
Rolston is trying to control the position but Rutten postures up.
Rutten working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rutten postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rutten won't allow Rolston to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch but Rolston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rutten swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Rutten shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rutten thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rolston's head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rutten throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rolston is looking for a sweep. Rutten is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rutten wants to control but Rolston is keeping him busy.
Rolston tries to roll over but Rutten keeps him under control.
Rutten throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rolston tries a head kick but it misses.
Rutten avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rutten scores with the left hand. Rolston knows he should have avoided that one.
Rolston is looking to chop away at Rutten's legs.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rolston as he avoids it easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rolston.
Rolston throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rolston throws a big shot that misses.
Rolston wants to slow Rutten down by chopping away at his legs.
Rolston avoids the body shot from Rutten.
Rutten fails with the takedown.
Rutten ducks under a wild hook from Rolston.

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.
Rutten stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rolston.
Rolston throws out a loose jab but Rutten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rolston wants to land a leg kick but Rutten is out of range.
Rolston scores with a shot to the body.
Rutten fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Rutten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rutten looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice cross by Rolston.
Rolston throws a looping overhand right but Rutten ducks down to avoid it.
Rolston throws a head kick but Rutten moves out of range.
Rutten checks a leg kick.
Rolston tests Rutten's chin there with a solid looking shot.
James Rolston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rutten slips a jab from Rolston.
Rolston finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A bone on bone clash there as Rutten blocks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alistair Rutten 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. This is the final round!

Rolston tries a low kick but Rutten avoids it.
Rolston throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rutten.
Rolston looks to land a right hand but Rutten moved out of range.

Rolston pushes Rutten up against the cage in a clinch.
Rolston lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Alistair Rutten has been cut.
Rolston looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rutten has Rolston pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rolston manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rolston trying to land knees to the body.
Rolston throws an elbow but it misses.
Rutten blocks an elbow strike.
Rutten wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rutten throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rolston blocks it with crossed arms.
Rutten is trying to force a seperation but Rolston has the dominant position.
Rolston is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rutten letting Rolston take a breather here.
Rolston stalling in the clinch but Rutten improves position.
Rolston misses with an elbow over the top.
Rolston blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rolston lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rutten changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rolston fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rutten takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rolston tries to avoid it but Rutten manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rolston to the ground. Rolston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Rutten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rolston scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rutten lands a right hook to the body.
Rolston connects with a high kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rutten checks a leg kick.
Rutten pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rutten will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rolston sizes up Rutten with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rolston lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rolston tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rolston uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rutten.
Rutten checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rolston tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rutten misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rolston.
Rutten on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rolston. Rolston obviously looking to wear him down.
Rutten swings and misses with a hook to the body.
James Rolston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rutten is looking to wear down Rolston with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rolston scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rutten pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rutten. Rolston does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rolston misses with a body shot
and Rutten counters with a nice body shot.
Rutten throws a leg kick which misses Rolston's front leg but catches the back leg as Rolston tries to avoid it.
Rutten avoids the body shot from Rolston.
Rolston thows a leg kick but Rutten checks it

and Rutten counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rolston's guard now.
Rolston keeping moving, preventing Rutten from controlling successfully.
Rolston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rolston working a defensive guard here.
Alistair Rutten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rolston wants to stand up but Rutten is controlling him.
Rutten is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rolston is keeping the position for now.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Rolston keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rutten throws a shot from downtown. Rolston moves away and avoids it.
Rutten misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rolston. Rutten does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rutten avoids the head kick by Rolston.
Rutten takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rolston misses with a jab to the body
and Rutten counters with a right hand to the body.
Rutten bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rolston's head.
Rolston gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Rutten counter with a right hand.
Rutten checks a low kick from Rolston.
Rutten scores with a hook.
A low kick from Rolston is predictable there

and Rutten counters by moving into the clinch.
Rolston's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rolston misses with an elbow strike.
Rutten tries to break the clinch but Rolston is controlling the position.
Rolston landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rolston pushes off an throws an elbow but Rutten leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rolston pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rolston throws an elbow that misses.
Rolston landing knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Rolston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rutten 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alistair Rutten!