PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rudolph Rutledge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wizard Zafox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rutledge
vs
Zafox

205 cm
25
279 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

193 cm
24
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rudolph Rutledge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wizard Zafox!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Donatello Bradman and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutledge walks into a jab.

It looks like Rudolph Rutledge has been cut.
Wizard Zafox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zafox misses with a two punch combination.
Zafox scores with a shot to the body.
Zafox scores with a hook to the body. Rutledge takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Zafox misses with a double jab

and Rutledge holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rutledge taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Zafox wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zafox tries to break the clinch but Rutledge is controlling the position.
Zafox digs a right hand underneath Rutledge's ribcage. Rutledge let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rutledge landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zafox wants to take the fight to the mat but Rutledge manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rutledge wants a takedown.
Zafox is trying to drag Rutledge to the mat but Rutledge just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zafox is trying to force a seperation but Rutledge has the dominant position.
Rutledge misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rutledge prevents Zafox from breaking the clinch.
Rutledge tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rutledge.
Rutledge is stalling here.

Rutledge turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rutledge manages to end up in side control.
Zafox is pushing Rutledge's head away, looking to escape. Rutledge manages to hold on to the position though.

Rutledge tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutledge prevents Zafox from escaping the position.

Rutledge has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Zafox rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rutledge moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rutledge changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nice straight punches there by Zafox. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zafox.
Zafox throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
It looked like Rutledge was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zafox.
Zafox throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rutledge holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rutledge lands a damaging elbow.
Rutledge using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Rutledge as the two fighters clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge drags the fight down to the ground.
Rutledge throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Rutledge is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rutledge is looking for a triangle but Zafox pushes his legs off easily.
Rutledge has a closed guard, preventing Zafox from standing up.
Zafox looks winded!
Rutledge throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge working for a triangle but Zafox defends it easily.
Zafox really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rutledge. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rutledge is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rutledge is taking a breather. Zafox says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Rutledge looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Rutledge stands up from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rudolph Rutledge dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rudolph Rutledge's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zafox throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rutledge counters with a series of strikes. Zafox will be more careful next time no doubt.
Zafox throws a combination that misses

and Rutledge counters by moving into the clinch.

Rutledge has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zafox uses from the top position.
Zafox is looking to stand up but Rutledge won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rutledge looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zafox is looking to stand up but Rutledge won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rutledge has his foot on Zafox's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zafox works his way back into a safe position though.

Rutledge had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zafox defends it easily.
Rudolph Rutledge overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zafox tries to stand but Rutledge is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rutledge had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zafox defends it easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rutledge is on top in guard.

Rutledge will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Zafox is working an open guard so Rutledge takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rutledge slips a jab and a cross from Zafox.
Rutledge attempts a counter takedown but Zafox avoids it well and moves away.
Zafox fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zafox is breathing heavily.
Zafox misses with a combination

and Rutledge decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zafox's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge gets to his feet. Zafox looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Zafox throws a series of punches but Rutledge avoids them all with ease.
It looked like Rutledge was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Zafox misses with a combination

so Rutledge counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rutledge looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rutledge content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rutledge is working Zafox over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rutledge is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rutledge seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Rutledge gets to his feet - Zafox follows without any prompting.
Rutledge thumps Zafox with a low kick.
Zafox swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rutledge counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Zafox!
Zafox tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Zafox should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Zafox takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutledge scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zafox?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutledge lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rutledge with shots to the head and body - Zafox looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rutledge landing strikes from the mount and Zafox is in trouble!

Rutledge looking to isolate an arm here. Zafox doesn't see it coming and as Rutledge extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Rutledge!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rudolph Rutledge!