PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mat Jimenez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rutten has chosen Pride as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jimenez
vs
Rutten

180 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
223 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mat Jimenez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rutten rushes Jimenez and presses him up against the cage.
Jimenez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Jimenez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Jimenez has Rutten up against the cage in a clinch.
Rutten with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jimenez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rutten putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Jimenez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Jimenez is trying to pull guard but Rutten turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mat Jimenez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rutten looking to throw knees to the head but Jimenez is blocking nicely.
Rutten lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rutten is trying to maintain a safe position but Jimenez gets an underhook and turns Rutten into the cage.
Jimenez can't break the clinch.

Jimenez pulls guard successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Rutten has gone for a leg lock! Jimenez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rutten's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jimenez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jimenez 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jimenez is one step ahead there.
Jimenez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jimenez throws an elbow that misses. Rutten uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jimenez's guard. Nice move by Rutten!
Jimenez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rutten controls the pace.

Rutten has gone for a leg lock! Jimenez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rutten's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez postures up and lands a big shot to Rutten's brow.
Jimenez throws a strike but Rutten rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rutten with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rutten postures up in Jimenez's guard and throws a big left but Jimenez blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rutten postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jimenez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rutten, into his guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jimenez wants to pass the guard but Rutten is keeping the position.
Jimenez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jimenez throws an elbow that misses. Rutten uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jimenez's guard. Nice move by Rutten!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rutten working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Rutten drops back, looking for a kneebar! Jimenez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Jimenez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Jimenez!
Rutten struggling a bit here.
Jimenez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jimenez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sloppy strikes there by Jimenez.
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 Mat Jimenez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jimenez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rutten swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rutten throws a series of punches but Jimenez avoids them all with ease.
Rutten throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jimenez slips a jab and a cross from Rutten.
Jimenez throws a right hand that Rutten ducks under and follows up with a left that Rutten also avoids with ease.
Rutten scores with a head kick. Jimenez tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Mat Jimenez has been cut.
Jimenez has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Jimenez wants to clinch up but Rutten keeps it at a distance.
An inside leg kick from Jimenez misses.
Rutten swats away the attempt to clinch by Jimenez.
Bas Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutten scores with a decent looking hook.
Jimenez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutten has a takedown stuffed.
Some wild striking there from Rutten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rutten fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rutten wants to clinch up but Jimenez keeps it at a distance.

Rutten clinches up with Jimenez and pushes him back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jimenez wants to break free but Rutten has control.
Jimenez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rutten to keep the fight standing.

Rutten has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Jimenez is trying to keep an underhook but Rutten manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rutten throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Jimenez to regain full guard.
Rutten looking to pass the guard.
Rutten is looking to work some ground and pound but Jimenez has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten trying to control but Jimenez is working from the bottom.
Rutten postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rutten tries to free his leg and advance position but Jimenez is retaining full guard.
Rutten missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jimenez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jimenez keeping moving, preventing Rutten from controlling successfully.
Bas Rutten has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bas Rutten wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rutten scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Jimenez doesn't seem bothered though.
Mat Jimenez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Rutten.
Rutten swinging wildly here.
Rutten misses with a series of wild punches.

Rutten shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutten is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rutten wants to take a breather but Jimenez is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mat Jimenez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jimenez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rutten slips a jab and a cross from Jimenez.
Jimenez throws a body kick the misses
and Rutten counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Rutten rushes Jimenez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jimenez is trying to break the clinch but Rutten is controlling him.
Jimenez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rutten fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rutten tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Jimenez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rutten fails with a takedown attempt.
Jimenez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rutten.
The crowd cheers as Rutten lands an impressive looking overhand right. Jimenez doesn't seem phased though.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick and Jimenez moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten throws a right and a left that Jimenez avoids nicely.
Rutten avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch but Jimenez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jimenez misses with a wild combination.
Jimenez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rutten lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jimenez circles away quickly and effectively.
Rutten swats away the attempt to clinch by Jimenez.

Jimenez has closed the distance and engaged Rutten in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rutten.

Jimenez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rutten is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Jimenez to the mat. Jimenez regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rutten looking to sit in guard and control but Jimenez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez works over Rutten with some ground and pound from guard.
Jimenez stands and throws Rutten's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Jimenez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Jimenez working the ground and pound.
Rutten is trying to control Jimenez's posture but Jimenez avoids it.
Rutten is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez cracks Rutten with a big right hand but Rutten just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Jimenez is chipping away with strikes.
Rutten is trying to control Jimenez's posture but Jimenez avoids it.
Jimenez landing strikes.
Jimenez in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Jimenez working away.
Jimenez in side control lands a decent elbow.
Rutten managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Jimenez.
Rutten sneaks back into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez is looking to pass Rutten's guard but actually Rutten recovers to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rutten pulls Jimenez in to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jimenez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rutten works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rutten working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jimenez.

Rutten pushes Jimenez off and scrambles back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jimenez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rutten back to the cage. Jimenez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Jimenez tries to clinch there but Rutten circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bas Rutten.
Well Rutten 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bas Rutten!
A victorious Bas Rutten thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.