PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taz Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert De Noteboom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying De Noteboom's choice of entrance music: Erika - I Don't Know. Robert De Noteboom told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rutten
vs
De Noteboom

182 cm
33
171 lbs
28 - 10 - 1

178 cm
32
182 lbs
26 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conquer

Hellbent

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 28 - 10 - 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 26 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robert De Noteboom!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Rutten swings for the body but De Noteboom moves out of range.
Rutten rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but De Noteboom moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rutten.
De Noteboom blocks a head kick by Rutten.
Good work by De Noteboom as he checks the leg kick.
Rutten takes a swing at De Noteboom's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten throws a looping overhand right but De Noteboom ducks down to avoid it.
A slow jab from Rutten misses its intended target.
Rutten lands a high kick!
Rutten connects with an inside leg kick.
Taz Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutten misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten lands with a good body shot.
Rutten lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
De Noteboom blocks the body kick.
Rutten misses with a low kick.
Rutten throws a low kick but it's checked well by De Noteboom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rutten darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
De Noteboom checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rutten misses with a low kick.
Rutten misses with a low kick.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Rutten tenderised De Noteboom's leg. De Noteboom is trying to keep his angry face on.
Taz Rutten is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rutten misses with an uppercut.
Rutten throws a right hand that misses

and De Noteboom counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rutten won't be happy with that.
Rutten manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rutten trying to pass the guard but De Noteboom defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taz Rutten dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rutten tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but De Noteboom was well out of range. Poor timing from Rutten.
Rutten lands a glancing blow to the side of De Noteboom's head.
De Noteboom uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rutten.
De Noteboom moves out of range of the body kick from Rutten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten ducks down and throws a hook to the body but De Noteboom moves away.
Rutten fakes high and swings low for a body shot but De Noteboom manages to avoid it.
Rutten looks to score with a jab to the body but De Noteboom is just out of range.
De Noteboom drops his hands momentarily and Rutten takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rutten throws a series of punches but De Noteboom moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Noteboom moves out of range as Rutten throws a body kick.
A head kick misses from Rutten.
Rutten waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract De Noteboom.
Rutten swings for the body but De Noteboom moves out of range.
Rutten with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. De Noteboom checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
De Noteboom takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
An inside leg kick from Rutten misses.
De Noteboom walks into a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten misses with a low kick.
De Noteboom displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rutten throws out the jab.
Taz Rutten is winning the standup battle so far.
Rutten throws a big shot that misses.
Rutten misses with a body shot.
Rutten looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rutten throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taz Rutten dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A head kick from Rutten lands but De Noteboom takes it in his stride.
Rutten pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A clash of legs there as De Noteboom blocks the low kick.
Rutten will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rutten throws an uppercut from half a mile away. De Noteboom sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rutten just misses with a punch to the body.
Rutten misses with a body shot.
A big left from Rutten misses.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Rutten misses with a right hand

and De Noteboom counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
De Noteboom throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
De Noteboom is looking to stall here but Rutten recovers full guard.
Rutten looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rutten working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because De Noteboom has passed into half guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Noteboom is looking to take a break and control but Rutten is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rutten has a hand on De Noteboom's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. De Noteboom takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
De Noteboom can't control as he wanted to and Rutten manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
De Noteboom winds up and cracks Rutten with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rutten keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Noteboom 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutten is trying is best to control the position here.
Rutten works his way to full guard. Good work.

Rutten is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
De Noteboom in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Noteboom slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
De Noteboom missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Robert De Noteboom.
I think Rutten 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taz Rutten!
Taz Rutten decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.