PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brock Lesner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brock Lesner has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bas Rutten's chin.

Rutten
vs
Lesner

185 cm
23
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
23
275 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bas Rutten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brock Lesner!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Roberts and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lesner gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lesner slowing the pace effectively.
Rutten wants a takedown.
Rutten changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lesner fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rutten gets a takedown into half guard.

Rutten is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lesner is just riding it out for now. Rutten eventually gives up the hold.
Lesner holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Lesner tries to kick Rutten off but Rutten keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Rutten wants to work for an arm triangle but Lesner is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Lesner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lesner is refusing to be controlled, as Rutten sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Rutten is trying to work for a kimura but Lesner is defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lesner fails with the takedown

and Rutten counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lesner's guard now.
Lesner trying to control the position here.
Rutten trying to control but Lesner is working from the bottom.
Lesner pulls Rutten in close to prevent any damage.
Lesner wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten stands up over Lesner, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rutten wants to stand and escape but instead Lesner has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rutten is trying to keep Lesner in close.

Rutten has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lesner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rutten is breathing heavily.
Lesner wants to control from the top but Rutten keeps moving.
Rutten throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lesner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rutten utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rutten is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lesner lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesner preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lesner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Rutten throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rutten can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lesner controls the pace.
Lesner is working Rutten over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lesner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lesner postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lesner slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lesner trying to control but Rutten is working from the bottom.
Lesner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lesner stands up over Rutten, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lesner lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lesner's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lesner prevents Rutten from getting back to his feet.
Lesner works over Rutten with some ground and pound from guard.

Rutten is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lesner defends well.
Lesner wants to control from the top but Rutten keeps moving.
Lesner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rutten keeping moving, preventing Lesner from controlling successfully.
Lesner is in close to Rutten's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Lesner dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rutten keeps the fight on the outside.

Lesner shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rutten napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rutten is looking for a sweep.
Rutten parries the strikes from Lesner easily there. Lesner is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rutten to escape.

Lesner thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rutten pushes Lesner away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lesner gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rutten tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Lesner decides to stand back up. Lesner steps back and let's Rutten get back to his feet.
Rutten fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A right-left combo lands from Lesner.
Rutten throws a head kick but Lesner moves out of range.
Bas Rutten is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lesner stuffs the takedown attempt from Rutten. Rutten gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lesner shoots for a takedown but Rutten saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten throws a head kick that half lands.

Rutten shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lesner napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lesner can't do much from the bottom here.

Rutten looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rutten creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lesner sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Lesner gets back to half guard.
Rutten is trying to control the action in half guard but Lesner is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lesner is looking for a sweep. Rutten is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rutten is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lesner doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rutten.
Rutten wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lesner keeps working.

Rutten seems to be working for a kimura but Lesner defends the submission attempt.
Rutten wants to free his trapped foot but Lesner is holding on for dear life with his legs.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rutten stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten misses with a head kick.
Lesner tries for a takedown but Rutten sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bas Rutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brock Lesner.

Rutten closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rutten lands in his opponent's guard.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Lesner keeps moving.
Lesner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lesner has control of Rutten's left arm, preventing Rutten from doing any damage.
Lesner looking for a sweep. Not yet Lesner, not yet.
Lesner looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rutten puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutten is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lesner keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Lesner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rutten lands strikes from half guard.
Lesner is trying is best to control the position here.
Lesner is looking to improve his position.
Rutten is looking to advance position but Lesner won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brock Lesner will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Rutten's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Lesner throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Rutten counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lesner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lesner is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rutten missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rutten trying to control but Lesner is working from the bottom.
Lesner controlling Rutten's posture.
Rutten throws a strike but Lesner rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rutten is looking for a triangle but Lesner pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rutten wants to stand up but Lesner is controlling him.
Rutten looking for a sweep. Not yet Rutten, not yet.
Lesner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lesner trying to control the position from guard on top but Rutten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lesner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lesner chips away with some ground and pound.
Lesner is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Rutten escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lesner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesner landing with the ground and pound.
Lesner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Rutten scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rutten walks into a left hand.
Some wild striking there from Lesner.
Lesner throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rutten counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Lesner is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rutten displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lesner throws out the jab.
Lesner is looking to clinch but Rutten is avoiding it.

Rutten closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lesner did well to prevent Rutten getting side control.
Lesner gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutten decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lesner, up you get!
Lesner stuffs the takedown.
Lesner stuffs the takedown.
Lesner throws a head kick that misses

so Rutten counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rutten looking to pass the guard.
Rutten scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lesner is trying to keep Rutten in close.

Rutten is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lesner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutten avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lesner looking for a sweep. Not yet Lesner, not yet.
Bas Rutten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rutten tries to stand but Lesner is controlling from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lesner has closed the distance and engaged Rutten in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Lesner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rutten scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lesner tries to clinch up.
Rutten takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Lesner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Brock Lesner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rutten is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lesner pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bas Rutten.
Well Lesner has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brock Lesner!