PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lars Ruud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximo Bertnar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maximo Bertnar has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Ruud
vs
Bertnar

180 cm
22
188 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
19
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lars Ruud!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maximo Bertnar!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bertnar shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ruud's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bertnar thows a big elbow that misses.
Bertnar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bertnar working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ruud's head.
Ruud preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ruud is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ruud kicks Bertnar off and gets to his feet.
Ruud tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ruud with a poor takedown

and Bertnar counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ruud is not content to let Bertnar control the position.
Bertnar wants to free his trapped foot but Ruud is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bertnar trying to control the action but Ruud is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertnar trying to mount his opponent but Ruud defends it.
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. Bertnar connects with a nice short shot to Ruud's temple.
Ruud is controlling Bertnar's trapped leg to prevent Bertnar from advancing to side control.
Bertnar with the ground and pound but Ruud uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Bertnar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bertnar postures up in Ruud's guard and throws a big left but Ruud blocks it.
Ruud trying to keep a closed guard but Bertnar is proving a slippery customer.
Bertnar showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bertnar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bertnar has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ruud is proving hard to escape from.
Ruud pulls Bertnar in to control the position.
Ruud keeping moving, preventing Bertnar from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Maximo Bertnar wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ruud tries for a takedown but Bertnar circles away easily

and Bertnar counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Bertnar gets to his feet. Ruud looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Bertnar looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ruud slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bertnar throws and elbow that misses. Ruud uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bertnar's guard. Nice move by Ruud!
Bertnar keeping moving, preventing Ruud from controlling successfully.
Ruud forces his way into half guard.
Ruud drops an elbow to the side of Bertnar's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bertnar tries to kick Ruud off but Ruud keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bertnar is pressing down on Ruud's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bertnar looks gassed!
Ruud wants to control from the top but Bertnar keeps moving.
Bertnar wants to get back to his feet but Ruud is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ruud throwing strikes from guard but Bertnar blocks nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruud content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximo Bertnar dominated that round.
That's time! Ruud's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ruud fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bertnar, pushing him back against the cage.

Ruud lands a takedown into guard.
Ruud slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ruud working the strikes but Bertnar uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Bertnar trying to control but Ruud postures up.
Ruud wants to control but Bertnar is keeping him busy.
Bertnar is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertnar trying to control from the bottom.
Ruud sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bertnar defending well though.
Bertnar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ruud. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bertnar wants to control the action here but instead Ruud manages to pass to full mount!
Bertnar really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ruud with good strikes from the mount here!
Ruud thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bertnar can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Ruud landing punches.
BOOM! Ruud connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruud looking to ground and pound but Bertnar is blocking nicely.
Ruud trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Ruud working for a submission but Bertnar is keeping him at bay.
Ruud with shots to the head and body - Bertnar looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruud has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bertnar's face.

Ruud working for a submission but Bertnar is keeping him at bay.
Ruud thowing shots but they're missing.
Ruud tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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.
Ruud tries to control but Bertnar wriggling away.
Ruud avoids the attempt from Bertnar to control.
Ruud looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bertnar wants to control but Ruud is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Ruud dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ruud tries to clinch but Bertnar moves away

and Bertnar counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ruud is looking to control Bertnar's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ruud avoid being mounted?
Bertnar tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Ruud is pressing down on Bertnar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ruud is on top in guard.
Ruud trying to control the position from guard on top but Bertnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bertnar looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ruud puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertnar is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Ruud jumps into side control!
Bertnar can't do much from the bottom here.
Bertnar tries to escape but Ruud is in control.
Bertnar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The ground and pound from Ruud seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Bertnar wants to get back to his feet but Ruud drags him back down.
Bertnar tries to buck Ruud off but Ruud is having none of it.

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.
Ruud working away.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Ruud trying to control the position but Bertnar is working away.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The strikes coming from Ruud are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Bertnar takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Bertnar takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Bertnar is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ruud connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bertnar is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Ruud decides to stand back up. Ruud steps back and let's Bertnar get back to his feet.
Bertnar shoots in for a double leg but Ruud sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ruud wants to clinch.
Lars Ruud seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ruud darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ruud moves into full mount! Bertnar won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruud trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ruud looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ruud tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ruud scoring with strikes but Bertnar is staying in there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars Ruud showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ruud has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Ruud!