PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taz Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Taz Rutten has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Taz Rutten seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Rutten
vs
Hunter

182 cm
31
171 lbs
26 - 5 - 1

180 cm
29
182 lbs
22 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conquer
Convicted Trap House

Perkele!
Merciless Gladiators

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 26 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taz Rutten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jay Hunter!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunter connects with an inside leg kick.
Hunter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rutten.
Rutten thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hunter dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hunter dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hunter throws a leg kick but Rutten moved away.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rutten but Rutten pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rutten throws a nice looking combination but Hunter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice body punch from Hunter.
Good work by Rutten as he checks the leg kick.
Rutten throws a body kick that misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rutten lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hunter has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hunter and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rutten throws a head kick but Hunter moves out of range.
Hunter wants to land a leg kick but Rutten is out of range.
Rutten takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hunter avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hunter slips under a jab from Rutten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter feints and then cracks Rutten's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rutten down.
A solid body kick from Rutten.
Hunter shoots in and drives through. Rutten sprawls well.
Rutten connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hunter's hands.
Rutten connects with a right hand. Hunter shakes it off.
Rutten throws a body punch but Hunter moves out of range.
Rutten wants to clinch up but Hunter keeps it at a distance.
Hunter takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rutten throws a leg kick that misses.
Rutten cracks a nice hook into Hunter's ribs.
Hunter scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rutten cracks Hunter with an open hand slap.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rutten scores with a sloppy right hand. Hunter should have avoided that one.
Taz Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunter shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hunter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rutten moves away.
Rutten throws a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hunter closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hunter is looking to take a break and control but Rutten is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hunter looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rutten is avoiding damage well.
Rutten is looking for a sweep.
Hunter tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hunter working the head and body with strikes.
The strikes coming from Hunter are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Rutten is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Convicted Fight Club, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Rutten is looking for a sweep.
Rutten wants to control but Hunter postures up.
Hunter is trying to ground and pound but Rutten uses the momentary lack of control by Hunter to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hunter is thwarting Rutten's attempts to control the position.
Hunter throwing shots but Rutten is blocking nicely.
Hunter seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hunter is trying to control. Rutten wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hunter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rutten keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rutten is positioning himself well to prevent Hunter advancing to mount.
Hunter moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter lands a decent elbow from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunter creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rutten sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rutten avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hunter.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rutten is looking for a sweep.
Rutten managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hunter.
Hunter passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rutten!
Rutten wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Hunter.
Hunter avoids the attempt from Rutten to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hunter can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rutten is looking to escape.
Hunter thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Hunter dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hunter connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rutten. Rutten circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A solid body kick from Rutten.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown but Rutten shows good takedown defense.
Rutten throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Hunter moves out of range of the body kick.
Hunter shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rutten defends it nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rutten.

Hunter darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rutten is looking to improve his position.
Hunter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hunter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter wants to take a breather but Rutten is having none of it.
Ground and pound from Hunter.
Hunter missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hunter takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rutten wants to improve his position but Hunter is controlling well.
Hunter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rutten avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hunter.
Hunter not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rutten trying to control from the bottom.
Hunter wants to pass the guard but Rutten is defending well.
Rutten wants to control but Hunter is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hunter.
Hunter tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rutten knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hunter is still trying to improve position.
Rutten is not content to let Hunter control the position.
Hunter not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hunter trying to mount his opponent but Rutten defends it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rutten avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hunter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hunter wants to pass the guard but Rutten is defending well.
Hunter not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rutten is refusing to be controlled, as Hunter sits in half guard.

Rutten looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rutten wants to control but Hunter is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rutten is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hunter's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hunter's back!
Rutten doesn't have the hooks in and Hunter manages to turn into his guard.

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

Rutten looking for a guillotine here but Hunter defends easily.
Rutten looking to control.
Rutten has Hunter pulled in close to control his posture.
Hunter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rutten is trying to control the position but Hunter postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hunter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hunter pushing down on Rutten's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hunter trying to mount his opponent but Rutten defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Hunter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rutten uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hunter.
Hunter throws out a loose jab but Rutten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rutten is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hunter.
Hunter comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hunter throws an overhand right that lands on Rutten's shoulder, as Rutten tries to avoid the shot.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rutten!
Hunter shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rutten as he avoids it easily.
Rutten throws a low kick, looking for Hunter's leg but Hunter calmly moves out of range.
Rutten takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hunter throws a low kick but Rutten moves out of range easily.
Taz Rutten is winning the standup battle so far.
Rutten throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hunter shoots in looking for a takedown but Rutten manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hunter's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hunter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rutten swings for the body but Hunter moves out of range.
Hunter misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hunter defends well and Rutten ends up having to push Hunter into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hunter lands an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hunter fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hunter lands with a light punch inside.
Hunter pushes Rutten back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hunter lands a hook that snaps the head of Rutten backwards.
A short right from Rutten on the inside.
Hunter slowing the pace effectively.
Hunter lands a shoulder strike.
Hunter fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hunter looking to slow down the pace here.
Hunter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hunter is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rutten struggles to land a body shot inside as Hunter controls his hands.
Taz Rutten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rutten doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hunter is looking to control Rutten's arms but Rutten gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hunter has his back to the cage.
Rutten is working Hunter over against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hunter blocking some punches.
Come on Hunter - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Jay Hunter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rutten misses with a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rutten.
Rutten throws a head punch that misses.
Rutten is looking to control Hunter's arms but Hunter gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rutten has his back to the cage.
Rutten lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten tries a body shot but Hunter blocks it.
Hunter lands with a left to the head.
Rutten struggles to land a body shot inside as Hunter controls his hands.

Rutten manages to break the clinch.
Rutten lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hunter's sensitive parts.
Hunter misses with a hook.
Hunter misses with a body shot.
Rutten swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hunter counters with a right hand to the body.
Rutten scores with a hook to the body. Hunter takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rutten bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rutten moves forwards but Hunter connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hunter.
Rutten lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutten throws a leg kick but Hunter sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hunter keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rutten finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Hunter closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rutten quickly recovers to half guard.
Rutten tries to roll over but Hunter keeps him under control.
Rutten wants to control but Hunter is keeping busy.
Hunter is trying to control the action in half guard but Rutten is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rutten wants to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunter content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Taz Rutten.
I think Hunter 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Hunter!
A relieved looking Jay Hunter thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.