PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Boxer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mateusz Rutkowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boxer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Hammerfall - Last Man Standing. Rutkowski has chosen Sobota gośc. chór Montu - Do góry łeb as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Boxer
vs
Rutkowski

185 cm
27
190 lbs
13 - 16 - 0

193 cm
21
212 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

GRAND Royal Wear

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 13 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Boxer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mateusz Rutkowski!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boxer throws a series of punches but Rutkowski moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rutkowski.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Rutkowski goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Boxer has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rutkowski but great work by Boxer.
Rutkowski gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Rutkowski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Rutkowski is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Boxer pulls his head out easily.

Rutkowski looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutkowski moves into full guard.
Boxer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rutkowski on the ground.

Rutkowski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Rutkowski has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Boxer is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rutkowski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boxer takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Rutkowski to pass into mount.
Rutkowski is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Rutkowski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Boxer tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutkowski bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rutkowski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rutkowski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rutkowski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Rutkowski drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Boxer dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutkowski is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Boxer is aware though and is defending well.

Boxer decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Boxer slaps away a takedown attempt from Rutkowski, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rutkowski dips to his left and cracks Boxer with an uppercut!
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!

Boxer tries to keep at a distance but Rutkowski has taken the fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rutkowski lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rutkowski misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Boxer swats away the attempt to clinch by Rutkowski.
Boxer keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rutkowski tries to clinch there but Boxer circles away.
Rutkowski has a takedown stuffed.
Rutkowski clobbers Boxer with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Boxer throws a nice looking combination but Rutkowski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab from Rutkowski misses.
No luck for Rutkowski with that takedown attempt.
Rutkowski throws a looping overhand right but Boxer ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutkowski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Boxer swivels and escapes.
Mike Boxer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateusz Rutkowski.
Rutkowski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Boxer sprawls well. Boxer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rutkowski gets slowly back to his feet.
Rutkowski swings for the body but Boxer moves out of range.
Mateusz Rutkowski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutkowski takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rutkowski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Boxer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rutkowski misses with an uppercut. Boxer saw that one coming.
Rutkowski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rutkowski tries to close the distance and clinch but Boxer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rutkowski misses with a combination
enabling Boxer to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boxer stuffs the takedown.
Rutkowski misses with an uppercut. Boxer saw that one coming.
A punch combination from Boxer misses.
Boxer slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Boxer lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boxer slips a straight right by Rutkowski.
Rutkowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Boxer manages to avoid it.
Rutkowski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Boxer swivels and escapes.
Boxer scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Boxer blocks a jab.
Rutkowski on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Mike Boxer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutkowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Boxer manages to avoid it.
Rutkowski takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rutkowski shoots in looking for a takedown. Boxer tries to sprawl out of it but Rutkowski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Boxer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rutkowski showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Boxer.
The fighters circle momentarily. Boxer darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Boxer defending well as Rutkowski loads up on a big left hand.
Rutkowski lands a jab to Boxer's midsection.
Rutkowski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Boxer swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rutkowski throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Boxer tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rutkowski is in Boxer's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutkowski drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Boxer manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rutkowski has Boxer in his guard.
Boxer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
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!
Boxer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Rutkowski is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boxer trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rutkowski's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mateusz Rutkowski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Boxer slips a jab from Rutkowski.
Rutkowski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Boxer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Boxer avoids the body shot from Rutkowski.
Boxer throws out a loose jab but Rutkowski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rutkowski misses with a left hand
enabling Boxer to counter with a crisp jab.
Boxer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rutkowski waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Boxer.
Boxer lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rutkowski backs up against the cage.
Boxer throws a nice looking combination but Rutkowski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rutkowski has managed to clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rutkowski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutkowski lands with a right to the head.
Good body shot from Rutkowski.
Rutkowski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Boxer has had enough of the clinch but Rutkowski keeps him there for the moment.
Rutkowski tries a body shot but Boxer blocks it.
Rutkowski swings wildly with an uppercut but Boxer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rutkowski tries to pull guard but Boxer won't allow it.
Boxer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rutkowski.
Rutkowski slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutkowski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rutkowski tries to pull guard but Boxer forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rutkowski has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
Mike Boxer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateusz Rutkowski.
Rutkowski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rutkowski is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Boxer is defending well.
Rutkowski is trying to pull guard but Boxer has him pressed against the cage.
Boxer wants to get back to striking at distance but Rutkowski won't allow it.
Boxer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short right from Rutkowski.
Rutkowski pushes Boxer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boxer prevents a body shot from Rutkowski.
Boxer tries to circle away but Rutkowski has him pinned against the cage.
Boxer gets underhooks to prevent Rutkowski's takedown attempt.
Boxer is trying to force a seperation but Rutkowski has the dominant position.
Boxer gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rutkowski.
Boxer working hard to break the clinch.
Rutkowski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rutkowski tries for a takedown but Boxer manages to get underhooks.
Boxer is trying to force a seperation but Rutkowski has the dominant position.
Rutkowski is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Boxer pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutkowski lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Boxer backwards.
Rutkowski keeps control of Boxer as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Boxer can't break the clinch.
Rutkowski stalling.
Boxer prevents a body shot from Rutkowski.
Rutkowski is working Boxer over against the cage.
Rutkowski tries to throw a body punch but Boxer avoids it by throwing Rutkowski back against the cage.
Rutkowski has Boxer pressed against the cage, preventing Boxer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rutkowski wants to take the fight to the mat but Boxer manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rutkowski's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mike Boxer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mateusz Rutkowski is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boxer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mateusz Rutkowski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rutkowski 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mateusz Rutkowski!
During a confident post fight interview, Mateusz Rutkowski thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Mike Boxer was interviewed post fight and said 'famoous, talented boxer which want be world champion in mma.'.