PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Artem Bessmertin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taz Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Bessmertin
vs
Rutten

189 cm
26
183 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

182 cm
32
171 lbs
27 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Merciless Gladiators
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Convicted Trap House

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artem Bessmertin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taz Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Bessmertin moves into the clinch.

Rutten turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rutten manages to end up in side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rutten wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bessmertin keeps working.
Bessmertin is looking for a sweep.
Rutten trying to control the position but Bessmertin is working away.
Bessmertin wants to control but Rutten postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bessmertin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rutten.
Rutten tries to move to mount but Bessmertin blocks the move with his legs.
Bessmertin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rutten off and has taken his back!
Bessmertin has the hooks in. Rutten is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Rutten is taking damage to the body and head.
You can see the frustration on Rutten's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutten is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Will Bessmertin go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Rutten has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Rutten is really stuck here.
Bessmertin throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Rutten looking very determined here, making life difficult for Bessmertin.
Rutten trying to control the position but Bessmertin manages to sink in the hooks.
Bessmertin wants to control but Rutten is keeping busy.
Bessmertin lands a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Will Bessmertin go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Bessmertin is hanging on to Rutten's back as he tries to escape.
Bessmertin lands shots from the back.
Rutten is in bad spot here.
Bessmertin gets his hands free as Rutten looks to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten wants to escape the position.
Bessmertin throwing sloppy strikes.
You can see the frustration on Rutten's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rutten covering up well under a barage of strikes.
A lull in the action here.
I would not like to be Rutten right now.
Bessmertin trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Bessmertin is riding his opponent, not letting Rutten buck him off.
Bessmertin lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Rutten hold on?!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin is not going to allow Rutten to sit and survive in this position.
Rutten is trying to remain composed but Bessmertin is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Bessmertin doesn't have the hooks in and Rutten manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rutten working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bessmertin wants to sweep but no luck.
Bessmertin pulls Rutten in close to his closed guard and prevents Rutten from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bessmertin looking to control but Rutten passes into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bessmertin is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Bessmertin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A low kick from Bessmertin is predictable there
and Rutten counters with a slapping leg kick.
Bessmertin fails with a takedown attempt.
Bessmertin lands a nice hook to Rutten's body. Rutten takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bessmertin shoots for a double leg takedown but Rutten sprawls well. He's pushed Bessmertin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rutten throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A good leg kick by Rutten.
Bessmertin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rutten moves away.
Bessmertin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rutten misses with a head kick.
Bessmertin slips a jab and a cross from Rutten.
Rutten throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rutten tries to land a leg kick but Bessmertin saw it coming and moves away.
Bessmertin moves out of range of the body kick.
Bessmertin throws a low kick but Rutten moves out of range easily.
Rutten swings for the body but Bessmertin moves out of range.
Bessmertin digs a good body shot into Rutten's ribs.
Rutten lands a leg kick that knocks Bessmertin off balance momentarily.
Rutten throws a hook but Bessmertin avoids it easily.
Rutten lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten scores with a spinning back kick!
Rutten takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rutten swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bessmertin tries to close the distance and clinch but Rutten swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rutten misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nice body kick there by Rutten.
Rutten avoids the body shot from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin swings for the body but Rutten moves out of range.
Bessmertin moves out of range of the body kick.
Bessmertin looks to score with a jab to the body but Rutten is just out of range.
Bessmertin moves forwards but Rutten connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rutten scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rutten wants to land a leg kick but Bessmertin is out of range.
Bessmertin misses with a straight left.
Rutten misses with a leg kick

and Bessmertin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bessmertin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bessmertin throws a strike but Rutten rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rutten is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bessmertin is pulling down on Rutten's head. It's preventing any offense from Rutten, at least for the moment.
Bessmertin keeping moving, preventing Rutten from controlling successfully.
Rutten loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Bessmertin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bessmertin is adopting a defensive guard.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Bessmertin keeps moving.
Rutten sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Taz Rutten wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rutten takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bessmertin checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
Rutten will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rutten throws a body punch but Bessmertin moves out of range.
Taz Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bessmertin checks a leg kick.
Bessmertin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rutten throws a shot to the body.
Rutten tries a low kick but Bessmertin avoids it.
Bessmertin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rutten manages to avoid it.

Bessmertin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bessmertin showed some decent athleticism there.
Rutten keeping hold of Bessmertin's head, controlling as best he can.
Bessmertin is thwarting Rutten's attempts to control the position.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rutten is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Taz Rutten will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rutten uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bessmertin.
Bessmertin swings for the body but Rutten moves out of range.
Bessmertin is looking to wear down Rutten with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rutten checks a leg kick.
Rutten wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rutten misses with a head kick.
Bessmertin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bessmertin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rutten.
Rutten looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Bessmertin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rutten was covering up waiting for the punch and Bessmertin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rutten keeping moving, preventing Bessmertin from controlling successfully.
Rutten trying to control the position here.
Rutten is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bessmertin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rutten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bessmertin looking to pass the guard.

Rutten is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bessmertin defends well.
Rutten trying to keep a closed guard but Bessmertin is proving a slippery customer.
Bessmertin is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rutten escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bessmertin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bessmertin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bessmertin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Artem Bessmertin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bessmertin works over Rutten with some ground and pound from guard.
Rutten trying to control the position.
Bessmertin scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bessmertin is now in half guard.
Rutten avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bessmertin.
Rutten is looking to improve his position.
Bessmertin slips a nice elbow through Rutten's hands, connecting with Rutten's forehead.
Rutten holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Rutten is not content to let Bessmertin control the position.
Bessmertin slips a nice elbow through Rutten's hands, connecting with Rutten's forehead.
Rutten has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bessmertin is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bessmertin in particular looking to stall.
Rutten trying to control but Bessmertin postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rutten manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rutten has Bessmertin pulled in close to control his posture.
Bessmertin landing with the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bessmertin throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artem Bessmertin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bessmertin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artem Bessmertin!
A very excited looking Artem Bessmertin made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.