PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joppe Pilgren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pilgren's entrance music is stolt o stark. A fine choice. Rutten has chosen Mudvayne-"Dig" as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Pilgren
vs
Rutten

190 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
24
213 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joppe Pilgren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pilgren throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rutten's waist but Rutten gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pilgren off to one side.
Rutten wants to clinch up but Pilgren keeps it at a distance.
Rutten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Pilgren throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rutten was covering up waiting for the punch and Pilgren finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Rutten thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pilgren keeping full guard, as Rutten tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilgren keeping moving, preventing Rutten from controlling successfully.
Rutten won't allow Pilgren to sweep him here.

Rutten thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rutten wants to stand and escape but instead Pilgren has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Pilgren trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rutten's guard.

That's two 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.

Pilgren postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rutten is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Pilgren, into his guard.
Rutten throws a big right hand that misses.
Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Pilgren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pilgren keeping full guard, as Rutten tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilgren keeping moving, preventing Rutten from controlling successfully.

Rutten drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pilgren looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pilgren looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pilgren!

Pilgren thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Pilgren goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rutten rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pilgren's guard! Nice work there by Rutten!
Pilgren pulls Rutten in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten trying to control but Pilgren is working from the bottom.
Pilgren looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rutten forces his way into half guard.
Rutten wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pilgren keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joppe Pilgren will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pilgren has his takedown stuffed

and Rutten moves into the clinch.
Pilgren goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rutten prevents it.
Rutten is pressed up against the cage. Pilgren has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rutten down to the mat. Rutten avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joppe Pilgren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rutten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rutten tries to clinch there but Pilgren circles away.
Pilgren lands with a nice combination. Rutten backs away looking to recover.
Joppe Pilgren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Pilgren or perhaps it was just good defense by Rutten which made him look bad.
Pilgren avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck for Pilgren with that takedown attempt.
Rutten moves in looking to clinch but Pilgren pushes him off.

Pilgren closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pilgren lands in his opponent's guard.

Pilgren gets to his feet - Rutten follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rutten rushes Pilgren and presses him up against the cage.
Pilgren wants to get back to striking at distance but Rutten won't allow it.
Pilgren is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rutten pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rutten wants a takedown.
Pilgren goes for a takedown attempt but Rutten pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Pilgren shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rutten but Rutten pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rutten fails with a takedown attempt.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rutten is breathing heavily.

Pilgren is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rutten's half guard.
Pilgren not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pilgren is working for a kimura here but Rutten manages to reverse the position and he's now in Pilgren's guard.

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.
Rutten preventing the sweep.
Rutten wants to get up but he can't break Pilgren's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Pilgren pushes Rutten off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Nice takedown defense from Rutten. No joy for Pilgren on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutten clinches.
Pilgren tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Pilgren tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rutten just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pilgren is trying to break the clinch but Rutten has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pilgren.
Pilgren has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rutten avoids a wild elbow strike from Pilgren.
Pilgren goes for a takedown attempt but Rutten pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Pilgren instigates a clinch.
Rutten gets underhooks to prevent Pilgren's takedown attempt.
Pilgren is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rutten gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rutten tries to work over Pilgren's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Rutten pulls guard effortlessly.
Pilgren throwing strikes from guard but Rutten blocks nicely.
Pilgren forces his way into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilgren prevents Rutten from improving his position.

Pilgren is trying to work for a kimura but Rutten is defending well.
Pilgren thows a huge punch but Rutten dodges it nicely.

Pilgren seems to be working for a kimura but Rutten defends the submission attempt.
Rutten tries to roll over but Pilgren keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joppe Pilgren dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Pilgren avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch but Pilgren swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pilgren misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rutten tries to clinch there but Pilgren circles away.
Pilgren dives in and grabs Rutten's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rutten pushes down on Pilgren's head and hops out.
Pilgren tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rutten paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pilgren fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joppe Pilgren. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pilgren closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pilgren is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pilgren has Rutten pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rutten manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pilgren goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rutten prevents it.
Pilgren tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rutten just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rutten is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A frustrated look appears on Pilgren's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rutten lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rutten gets control of Pilgren's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rutten will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rutten avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pilgren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pilgren stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rutten swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pilgren thows a big elbow that misses.
Rutten wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rutten utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pilgren looking to pass the guard.

That's two 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.

Pilgren drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rutten looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rutten looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rutten!

Rutten looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pilgren is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rutten is controlling him well.
Pilgren on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pilgren tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutten is trying to get an arm triangle but Pilgren is defending well.
Pilgren can't do much from the bottom here.
Joppe Pilgren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rutten looking to control but instead Pilgren has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Rutten is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pilgren doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rutten.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pilgren is concentrating on defense, preventing Rutten from advancing position.

Rutten is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pilgren knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rutten on the ground.
Rutten throws a strike but Pilgren avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bas Rutten comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pilgren 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!