PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russ Rutger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rutger might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Prince Ital Joe feat. Marky Mark - United. Joseph has chosen TEARS FOR FEARS - SHOUT as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rutger
vs
Joseph

172 cm
33
175 lbs
25 - 13 - 1

175 cm
33
169 lbs
23 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

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 25 - 13 - 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 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, William Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph blocks a leg kick.
Rutger finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rutger throws a body kick that misses.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch but Rutger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rutger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rutger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Good leg kick by Rutger there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rutger throws a lazy head kick
and Joseph counters with a nice leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joseph looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Rutger.
Joseph tries to clinch but Rutger is having none of it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rutger.
Joseph fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rutger has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Amsterdamage in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutger scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Good work by Joseph as he checks the leg kick.
Joseph fails with an attempt to clinch.
Good work by Joseph as he checks the leg kick.
Rutger misses with a low kick as Joseph jumps back.
Joseph tries to clinch up but Rutger circles away and keeps his distance.
Rutger misses with a head kick.
Joseph fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rutger throws a low kick but Joseph avoids it.
Rutger scores with a kick to the body.
A slow jab from Rutger misses its intended target.
Joseph tries to clinch up but Rutger circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch but Rutger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joseph tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rutger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Joseph tries to clinch but Rutger moves away

and Rutger counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Joseph's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Joseph is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Joseph is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rutger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joseph wants to stand up but Rutger is controlling him.

Joseph kicks Rutger off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rutger swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rutger connects with a crisp jab.

Rutger forces Joseph back against the cage and clinches.
Joseph tries to land a knee to the head but Rutger blocks with his arms.
Rutger blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Joseph tries to land knees in the clinch but Rutger avoids the damage to the body.
Rutger tries to throw a body punch but Joseph avoids it by throwing Rutger back against the cage.
Rutger blocks a body shot from Joseph.
Joseph misses with a body punch.
Joseph misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rutger lands a hook that snaps the head of Joseph backwards.
Rutger can't find room to land a body shot as Joseph controls the action.
Rutger scores with a hook to the body.
Rutger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joseph's elbow.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Joseph slowing the pace effectively.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good body shot from Rutger.
Joseph looking to throw knees to the head but Rutger is blocking nicely.
Joseph blocks a body shot from Rutger.
Rutger is trying to maintain a safe position but Joseph gets an underhook and turns Rutger into the cage.
Joseph holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rutger lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Joseph or not.
Joseph using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rutger has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rutger lands with a left to the head.
Good body shot from Rutger.
Joseph looks winded!
Joseph is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Joseph tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rutger lands a left hand that snaps the head of Joseph backwards.
Joseph looking to slow down the pace here.
Rutger stalling against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Rutger dominated that 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.

Rutger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab lands there for Rutger.
Joseph fails with an attempt to clinch.
Joseph walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rutger throws a solid leg kick but Joseph takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rutger.
Rutger throws a push kick but Joseph slaps the foot to one side.
Joseph tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Joseph keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rutger.
Rutger circles away from the clinch attempt.
Russ Rutger is winning the standup battle so far.
Joseph takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rutger is looking to slow Joseph down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Donk. Rutger catches Joseph right on the button with a cross.
Rutger tries a head kick but it misses.
Rutger looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Joseph wants to clinch
and Rutger counters with a nice leg kick.
Rutger is looking to land body kicks.
Rutger tries to clinch there but Joseph circles away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rutger, right into the meat.
Rutger throws a hook but Joseph avoids it easily.
Joseph uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rutger.
Russ Rutger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutger throws a body punch but Joseph moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Rutger.
Rutger scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joseph dodges the punch combination from Rutger.
Rutger scores with a punch to the head.
Rutger throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Joseph moves out of range as Rutger strikes.
Rutger tries a head kick but it misses.
Rutger lands with a slapping head kick.
Rutger is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Joseph can do to turn this around?
Rutger throws out a leg kick but Joseph moves out of range and Rutger only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Rutger.
Joseph is looking to clinch.
Rutger throws a sloppy head kick and Joseph moves out of range easily.
Rutger throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A low kick from Rutger misses
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Joseph counters with a straight right hand.
Joseph ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rutger moves away.
A solid body kick from Rutger.
Joseph tries to clinch but Rutger is having none of it.
Rutger looks for the body kick but Joseph saw that one coming.
Both fighters circling a little - Rutger finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Joseph is breathing heavily.
Rutger misses with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutger forces Joseph back against the cage and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rutger scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rutger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rutger working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rutger can't find room to land a body shot as Joseph controls the action.
Rutger is leaning against Joseph and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rutger lands with a light punch inside.
Joseph working Rutger over with knees to the body.
Joseph goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Joseph throws a punch but it's blocked by Rutger.
Joseph taking a breather.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rutger blocks an uppercut.
Rutger struggles to land a body shot inside as Joseph controls his hands.
Joseph throws a punch but it's blocked by Rutger.
Joseph tries to work over Rutger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Rutger dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rutger throws a nice outside leg kick.
Joseph closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rutger counters with a leg kick.
William Joseph is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rutger swats away the attempt to clinch by Joseph.
Rutger throws a quick inside leg kick.
Joseph checks the leg kick.
Joseph's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rutger swats away the attempt to clinch by Joseph.
Joseph blocks a head kick by Rutger.
Rutger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutger misses with a head kick.
Rutger ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rutger tests Joseph's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Joseph avoids a kick to the body.
Joseph fails to land with a series of punches.
Rutger lands a jab to Joseph's midsection.
Rutger feints and then cracks Joseph's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Joseph down.
Joseph takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rutger!
Rutger moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutger tries a head kick but it misses.
Joseph has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Rutger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutger dips to his left and cracks Joseph with an uppercut!
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rutger swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rutger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Joseph.
Good standup being displayed there by Rutger as he connects with a hook.

It looks like William Joseph has been cut.

Rutger rushes Joseph and presses him up against the cage.
Rutger is leaning against Joseph and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rutger scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rutger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Joseph is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rutger is keeping busy.
Joseph lands an uppercut.
Russ Rutger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Joseph has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Rutger seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Joseph can turn it around.
Joseph is trying to maintain a safe position but Rutger gets an underhook and turns Joseph into the cage.
Joseph using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rutger has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutger lands a right hand.
Rutger can't find room to land a body shot as Joseph controls the action.
Rutger scores with a hook to the body.
Rutger digs a right hand into Joseph's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Joseph's gas tank.
A short right from Rutger.
Rutger stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rutger tries to throw a body punch but Joseph avoids it by throwing Rutger back against the cage.
Rutger content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rutger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rutger lands a nice shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Joseph tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rutger's elbow.
Rutger lands a shot to the body.
Still in the clinch, Rutger scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rutger works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rutger misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutger misses with a punch to the body.
Joseph using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rutger has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rutger digs a right hand into Joseph's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Joseph's gas tank.
Joseph pushes Rutger back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rutger digs a right hand underneath Joseph's ribcage. Joseph let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rutger works on Joseph's body with a couple of short punches.
Joseph blocks a body shot from Rutger.
Rutger scores with a shot to the side of Joseph's head.
A head punch on the inside from Joseph fails to land.
Rutger misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Joseph tries to stall but Rutger uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
William Joseph has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rutger.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rutger works on Joseph's body with a couple of short punches.
Rutger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joseph's elbow.
Rutger blocks an uppercut.
Rutger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joseph's elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russ Rutger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rutger 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russ Rutger!
Russ Rutger spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.