PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russ Rutger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pawel Tokarczuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rutger comes to the cage accompanied by Prince Ital Joe feat. Marky Mark - United. Pawel Tokarczuk acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Rutger
vs
Tokarczuk

172 cm
32
175 lbs
23 - 10 - 1

179 cm
30
182 lbs
23 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

TWGC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Russ Rutger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Pawel Tokarczuk!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tokarczuk on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rutger. Rutger obviously looking to wear him down.
A big left from Rutger misses.
Rutger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tokarczuk tries to bum rush Rutger with a series of wild strikes but Rutger uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rutger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tokarczuk moves forwards but Rutger connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Pawel Tokarczuk has been cut.
Rutger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rutger looks to land a right hand but Tokarczuk moved out of range.
Tokarczuk throws out a leg kick but Rutger moves out of range and Tokarczuk only half commits.
Tokarczuk dodges the punch combination from Rutger.
Tokarczuk throws a big shot that misses.
Rutger lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Tokarczuk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rutger.
Rutger tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tokarczuk sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rutger somewhat.
Rutger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokarczuk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rutger on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rutger swats away the attempt to clinch by Tokarczuk.
A slow jab from Tokarczuk misses its intended target.
Rutger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tokarczuk pinned against the cage. Tokarczuk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tokarczuk avoids the body shot from Rutger.
A low kick from Rutger is predictable there
and Tokarczuk counters with a big head kick but Rutger shrugs it off.
Rutger lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tokarczuk takes a step back to recover.
An inside leg kick from Rutger misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutger throws a low kick, looking for Tokarczuk's leg but Tokarczuk calmly moves out of range.
Rutger jabs Tokarczuk right on the nose. Tokarczuk blinks but takes it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rutger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tokarczuk's elbow.
Rutger lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rutger throws a head punch that misses.
Tokarczuk misses with the head strike.
Tokarczuk tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tokarczuk keeps control of Rutger as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short uppercut from Rutger.
Tokarczuk looking to stall.
Rutger lands with a short shot to the head.
Rutger working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutger tries to break free but Tokarczuk pushes him back against the cage.
Tokarczuk fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tokarczuk misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Tokarczuk.
Tokarczuk misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rutger tries to throw a body punch but Tokarczuk avoids it by throwing Rutger back against the cage.

Rutger breaks from the clinch.
Tokarczuk tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rutger swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tokarczuk misses with a hook.
Pawel Tokarczuk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tokarczuk blocks a head kick by Rutger.
Rutger throws a looping overhand right but Tokarczuk ducks down to avoid it.
Rutger cracks Tokarczuk with an open hand slap.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rutger.
Nice takedown defense from Tokarczuk. No joy for Rutger on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russ Rutger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tokarczuk throws a leg kick but Rutger moved away.
Tokarczuk takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutger wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rutger misses with an uppercut.
Tokarczuk throws a head kick that half lands.
Tokarczuk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rutger tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tokarczuk swivels and escapes.
Rutger misses with a body punch
and Tokarczuk counters with a straight right hand.
Nice shot lands for Rutger.
Tokarczuk connects with a leg kick. Rutger looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tokarczuk steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rutger.
Tokarczuk tries to close the distance and clinch but Rutger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rutger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tokarczuk.
Rutger goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tokarczuk throws a looping overhand right but Rutger ducks down to avoid it.
Tokarczuk is looking to clinch but Rutger is avoiding it.
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 Russ Rutger will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pawel Tokarczuk's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rutger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tokarczuk steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rutger.
Tokarczuk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rutger paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rutger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tokarczuk was well out of range. Poor timing from Rutger.
Rutger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tokarczuk pinned against the cage. Tokarczuk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tokarczuk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tokarczuk.
Rutger tries a head kick but it misses.
Tokarczuk turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Russ Rutger is winning the standup battle so far.
Rutger shoots in and drives through. Tokarczuk sprawls well.
A shot to the body from Rutger misses
and Tokarczuk counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Tokarczuk.
Tokarczuk has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rutger.
Tokarczuk moves in looking to clinch but Rutger pushes him off.
That kick from Rutger tenderised Tokarczuk's leg. Tokarczuk is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tokarczuk displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rutger throws out the jab.
Tokarczuk doesn't manage to clinch there - Rutger circles away.
Tokarczuk tries to clinch up but Rutger circles away and keeps his distance.
Russ Rutger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutger displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tokarczuk throws out the jab.
Some bone on bone action there as Rutger checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tokarczuk ducks under a wild hook from Rutger.
Rutger scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tokarczuk doesn't seem bothered though.
Tokarczuk ducks under a wild hook from Rutger.
Tokarczuk throws a big shot that misses.
Tokarczuk slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutger throws a low kick, looking for Tokarczuk's leg but Tokarczuk calmly moves out of range.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Tokarczuk in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Tokarczuk has taken the fight to the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Rutger.
Tokarczuk gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rutger.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russ Rutger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rutger blocks an uppercut.
Tokarczuk tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rutger takes a shot to the head.
Tokarczuk misses with a punch to the body.
Tokarczuk throws a head punch that misses.
Rutger tries for a takedown but Tokarczuk manages to get underhooks.
Rutger wants to stall.

Rutger's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tokarczuk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rutger keeps the fight on the outside.
Rutger tests Tokarczuk's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Tokarczuk. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tokarczuk.
Rutger lands a nice hook to Tokarczuk's body. Tokarczuk takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rutger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rutger lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rutger misses with a straight left.
Good standup being displayed there by Tokarczuk as he connects with a hook.

Tokarczuk pushes Rutger up against the cage in a clinch.
Tokarczuk fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tokarczuk swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tokarczuk trying to stall but Rutger improves his position.
Rutger working aggressively here.
Tokarczuk doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tokarczuk blocks a body shot from Rutger.
Tokarczuk pushes Rutger back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tokarczuk scores with a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutger tries to circle away but Tokarczuk has him pinned against the cage.

Rutger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rutger misses with a takedown attempt - Tokarczuk sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rutger throws a shot from downtown. Tokarczuk moves away and avoids it.
Rutger is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tokarczuk.
Tokarczuk takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tokarczuk tries to clinch but Rutger is having none of it.
A slow jab from Tokarczuk misses its intended target.
Rutger tries a head kick but it misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tokarczuk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rutger.
Tokarczuk lands a front kick.
Tokarczuk looks to throw the jab but Rutger is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pawel Tokarczuk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Pawel Tokarczuk's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tokarczuk throws a series of strikes that have Rutger backpedaling.

It looks like Russ Rutger has been cut.
Tokarczuk looks for the body kick but Rutger saw that one coming.
Rutger tries a low kick but Tokarczuk avoids it.
Tokarczuk blocks a leg kick.
Rutger swings widly with a right hand
and Tokarczuk counters with a stiff right hand.
Rutger keeps the fight on the outside.

Tokarczuk moves into the clinch.
Tokarczuk tries to work over Rutger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Rutger pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rutger circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rutger throws a front kick aimed at Tokarczuk's knee but Tokarczuk avoids it well.

Tokarczuk closes the distance and clinches.
Tokarczuk has a couple of punches blocked by Rutger.
Tokarczuk blocks a body shot from Rutger.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tokarczuk tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutger blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tokarczuk tries to throw a body punch but Rutger avoids it by throwing Tokarczuk back against the cage.
Rutger tries a body shot but Tokarczuk blocks it.
Rutger swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rutger looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A head punch on the inside from Tokarczuk fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rutger.
Tokarczuk misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tokarczuk prevents a body shot from Rutger.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rutger has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pawel Tokarczuk seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rutger misses with a punch to the body.
Tokarczuk tries to throw a body punch but Rutger avoids it by throwing Tokarczuk back against the cage.
Rutger misses with a punch on the inside.
Tokarczuk misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Tokarczuk - that landed with a thud.
Rutger lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tokarczuk backwards.
Tokarczuk throws a punch but it's blocked by Rutger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tokarczuk throws a head punch that misses.
Rutger tries to break the clinch but Tokarczuk is controlling the position.
Rutger blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tokarczuk working some nice short punches in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Tokarczuk fails to land.

Rutger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tokarczuk avoids the body shot from Rutger.
Rutger throws a low kick but Tokarczuk moves out of range easily.
Rutger avoids the head kick by Tokarczuk.
Tokarczuk fakes the leg kick and cracks Rutger in the body.
Tokarczuk tries to clinch but Rutger is having none of it.
Tokarczuk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rutger looks to land a combination but Tokarczuk avoids it well.
Rutger looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rutger uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tokarczuk.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokarczuk's corner calls for a 1-2. Tokarczuk obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rutger throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tokarczuk counters with a head kick. That will keep Rutger thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rutger catches Tokarczuk with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tokarczuk blocks a head kick by Rutger.
Tokarczuk swings widly with a right hand
and Rutger counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tokarczuk lands a head kick!
Rutger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rutger circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rutger scores with a shot to the body.
Tokarczuk fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tokarczuk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tokarczuk takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutger throws a leg kick but Tokarczuk moved away.
Tokarczuk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rutger paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rutger lands with a kick to the temple. Tokarczuk shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Tokarczuk is rocked!
Tokarczuk fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tokarczuk is still on wobbly legs! Can Rutger finish him?
Rutger misses with a lunging right hand

and Tokarczuk counters with a shoot takedown. Rutger fights it but they end up in guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rutger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rutger punching from the bottom.
Rutger trying to keep a closed guard but Tokarczuk is proving a slippery customer.
Rutger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tokarczuk wants to control from the top but Rutger keeps moving.
Rutger avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rutger wants to sweep but no luck.
Rutger keeping moving, preventing Tokarczuk from controlling successfully.

Rutger is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tokarczuk trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rutger's guard.
Tokarczuk seems to have recovered his senses.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tokarczuk slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pawel Tokarczuk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tokarczuk has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pawel Tokarczuk!
Pawel Tokarczuk took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS for their support in the buildup to the fight.