PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russ Rutger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marshall Noir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rutger comes to the cage accompanied by Hall & Oates - Out of Touch. Noir is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pride. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rutger
vs
Noir

172 cm
37
175 lbs
41 - 15 - 1

182 cm
34
177 lbs
26 - 11 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Australian Xtreme Elite Supplements 160Q
Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Hellbent
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 41 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Russ Rutger!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marshall Noir!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noir shoots in for a takedown but Rutger shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rutger is looking to clinch but Noir is avoiding it.
Noir tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Noir drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Noir ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rutger moves away.
Rutger throws a right and a left that both miss.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Noir.

Noir is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rutger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Noir misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutger sneaks back into half guard.
Rutger avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Noir.
Noir throws a strike but Rutger avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Rutger looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Noir passes into side control.
Rutger is trying to get back to half guard.
Rutger is letting Noir control him for a moment.
Noir tries to score with some ground and pound. Rutger controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noir lands some shots froms side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
An elbow from Noir crashes against the mat.
I wouldn't like to be where Rutger is right now.
Rutger prevents Noir from moving into mount.
Rutger is looking to regain half guard here but Noir keeps moving and retains side control.
Noir cracks Rutger with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Rutger sneaks back into half guard.
Noir landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rutger is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noir is keen to just control but Rutger is a slippery customer.
Rutger is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Noir scores with a couple of nice shots.
Noir not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rutger gets full guard.
Rutger working a defensive guard here.
Noir landing with the ground and pound.
Noir passes into half guard.
Rutger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Noir is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rutger defends it well.
Nice strikes from Noir there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Noir trying to pass the guard but Rutger defending well.
Rutger tries to roll over but Noir keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rutger is looking to control Noir's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rutger avoid being mounted?
Noir is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Noir throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rutger misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rutger misses with a low kick.
Rutger seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Noir stalks Rutger and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rutger's face. Rutger staggers backwards, shaken.
Rutger moves in looking to clinch but Noir pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutger doesn't manage to clinch there - Noir circles away.
Rutger throws an off balance right hand

and Noir counters with a takedown into side control.
Noir misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Noir has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rutger regains half guard, as Noir was trying to land strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noir missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rutger is trying to maintain the position but Noir is very close to passing his half guard.
Rutger keeping control of the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Noir lands a nice short elbow.
Rutger is looking for a sweep. Noir is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Noir throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Noir landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Noir is looking for a kimura here.
Rutger makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rutger.
Noir scoring with punches to the head and body.
Noir trying to control the position from guard on top but Rutger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rutger keeping full guard, as Noir tries to pass.
Noir scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noir wants to control from the top but Rutger keeps moving.
Noir advances to half guard.
Marshall Noir has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rutger makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rutger.
Noir trying to control but Rutger is working from the bottom.
Noir preventing the sweep.
Noir makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Noir tries to free his leg and advance position but Rutger is retaining full guard.
Noir lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutger working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Noir doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Noir manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rutger is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Noir defends well.
Rutger keeping moving, preventing Noir from controlling successfully.
Noir is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Noir is looking to work some ground and pound but Rutger has wrist control.
Noir working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Noir is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Noir 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.

Noir with a poor takedown
and Rutger counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rutger works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Noir has his takedown stuffed
and Rutger counters with a series of strikes. Noir will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rutger throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Noir defending well as Rutger loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutger stuffs the takedown.
Russ Rutger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshall Noir.
Noir shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rutger holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutger doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Noir tries to score a body lock takedown but Rutger shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Noir jumps guard but Rutger turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Noir wants a takedown.
Noir is trying to drag Rutger to the mat but Rutger just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rutger misses with the head strike.

Noir wants the takedown. Rutger is fighting it off but Noir persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rutger's guard against the cage.
Rutger wants to sweep here but Noir controlling him for the moment.
Noir tries to free his leg and advance position but Rutger is retaining full guard.
Rutger controls Noir momentarily but Noir frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutger tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Noir trying to control the position from guard on top but Rutger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Noir stopping the sweep attempt from Rutger.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Noir trying to control the position from guard on top but Rutger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rutger uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Noir has time to react.
Noir slips under a jab from Rutger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rutger.
Rutger keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Noir misses with a wild combination.
Rutger scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rutger smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Noir tries a low kick but Rutger avoids it.
Rutger wants to slow Noir down by chopping away at his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noir misses with a wild combination.
Russ Rutger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rutger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rutger looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rutger stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rutger wants it to stay on the feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rutger, right into the meat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Noir jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rutger looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Rutger clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Some bone on bone action there as Noir checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rutger tries to close the distance and clinch but Noir swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Noir looks for a takedown but Rutger sprawls well.
Rutger throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Noir counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rutger fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Noir is out of range.
Russ Rutger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rutger.
Noir keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rutger throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Noir sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noir slips under a jab from Rutger.
Rutger throws a looping overhand right but Noir ducks down to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Noir.
Rutger misses with a looping right.
Rutger throws a hook to the side of Noir's head but Noir sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Noir shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rutger but Rutger pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rutger, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noir fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Russ Rutger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshall Noir.
Noir will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rutger connects with a nice looking jab.

Noir looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rutger wants to improve his position but Noir is controlling well.
Rutger gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutger trying to keep a closed guard but Noir is proving a slippery customer.
Rutger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Noir is one step ahead there.

Noir avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Noir tries to free his leg and advance position but Rutger is retaining full guard.
Noir in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
My spies in Ryōzanpaku Dojo inform me that Noir has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Noir works over Rutger with some ground and pound from guard.

Noir avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Noir pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rutger is keeping the position for now.

Noir avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Noir throwing strikes but missing.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Rutger had his way with Marshall Noir in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rutger throws a front kick aimed at Noir's knee but Noir avoids it well.
Noir blocks a leg kick.
Russ Rutger is winning the standup battle so far.
Rutger swings widly with a right hand

and Noir counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rutger has momentary wrist control but Noir slips an elbow through the middle.
Noir trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noir wants to control from the top but Rutger keeps moving.

Noir is posturing up here but Rutger has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Noir tries to roll out but it's too tight and Noir has to tap! Slick submission there by Rutger!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Russ Rutger!
Russ Rutger retains his welterweight title!
Russ Rutger decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.