PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Duff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brendan Duff has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Duff
vs
Rutten

178 cm
24
166 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

165 cm
32
162 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brendan Duff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten misses with a hook.
Duff tries to counter with a takedown but Rutten is quick to defend against it.
Duff has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Tōshi in the buildup to the fight.
Rutten swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Duff takes a swing at Rutten's ribcage but misses.
Bas Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duff scores with a nice head shot.
Rutten misses with a jab, cross combination.
Duff just misses with a punch to the body.
Rutten feints a counter leg kick.
Rutten cracks Duff with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Duff misses with a head kick.
Rutten tries to bum rush Duff with a series of wild strikes but Duff uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Duff uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rutten.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Duff. That one must have hurt.
Rutten tries to bum rush Duff with a series of wild strikes but Duff uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Duff fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rutten checks it well.
Duff throws a right hand that misses
and Rutten counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Bas Rutten is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rutten thows a left - swing and a miss!
Some bone on bone action there as Duff checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rutten misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Duff.
Duff is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Duff tests Rutten's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rutten misses the shot to the body.
Duff punishes Rutten's body with a nice straight punch.
Duff ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rutten misses with a looping right.
Duff ducks under a wild hook from Rutten.
Duff works the jab nicely.
Rutten misses with a low kick.
Duff lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
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!
Duff pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Duff.
Duff defending well as Rutten loads up on a big left hand.
Some wild striking there from Rutten.
Rutten feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Duff's calf.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up but Duff swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rutten misses with a double jab.
Duff scores with a body shot.
Rutten scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rutten scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten throws the left hand but Duff avoids the punch easily.
Rutten misses with a straight left.
Duff tries to land a leg kick but Rutten saw it coming and moves away.
Duff connects with a jab.
Rutten connects with a good right hand that stumbles Duff. Duff circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rutten lands a nice shot that snaps Duff's head back.
Rutten pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rutten lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rutten throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rutten is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Duff.
Rutten avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little jabbing left from Rutten on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rutten misses with a looping right.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rutten.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duff misses with a jab to the body
and Duff takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duff throws a head kick that misses
and Rutten counters with a series of strikes. Duff will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rutten scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rutten tries to clinch but Duff is having none of it.
Rutten misses with a left hand
and Duff counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rutten throws a leg kick

and Duff counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rutten won't be happy with that.
Rutten tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Duff landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Duff working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Duff in side control lands a decent elbow.
Duff works to advance to full mount. Rutten defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Duff lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bas Rutten will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rutten lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Duff circles away quickly and effectively.
Duff drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rutten sprawls and moves away.
Duff throws a body shot but no joy.
Duff uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rutten.
Duff appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rutten has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rutten there as he acknowledges the shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Rutten misses the target.
Rutten throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A combination from Rutten does no damage.
Duff uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rutten.
Duff changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Duff looks to land a left hand but Rutten moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Duff lands a right hook to the body.
Rutten throws a low kick, looking for Duff's leg but Duff calmly moves out of range.
Duff has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rutten.
Rutten throws a shot from downtown. Duff moves away and avoids it.
Duff throws a quick counter kick to the body but Rutten avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duff throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Rutten counter with a right hand.
Rutten with a nice cross.
Duff with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rutten to score with a decent uppercut.
Rutten throws a right hand that Duff ducks under and follows up with a left that Duff also avoids with ease.
Duff half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Duff is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Duff throws a hook to the side of Rutten's head but Rutten sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Duff takes one to the chin there.
Rutten keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Duff throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Duff buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Duff staying out of range there.
Duff lands a jab.
Duff throws a sloppy head kick and Rutten moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duff feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ruttens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Duff looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rutten tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Duff manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Duff displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rutten throws out the jab.
Rutten has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Duff finds it's way round the side to connect with Rutten's head.
Duff gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Duff misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rutten crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Duff - the referee stops the clock and Rutten gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Duff. Rutten manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rutten changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Rutten. That snapped Duff's head back.
Duff misses with a hook to the body
and Rutten counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Duff.
Bas Rutten is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Duff lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Rutten defending well as Duff loads up on a big left hand.
Duff buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Duff checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Duff throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rutten.
Rutten looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bas Rutten seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A leg kick checked by Duff.
Duff tries to counter with a takedown but Rutten is quick to defend against it.
Duff lands a nice looking body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Rutten. Those never looked like landing.
Rutten swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Duff tries to counter with a takedown but Rutten is quick to defend against it.
A head kick misses from Duff.
Rutten throws a leg kick

and Duff counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Duff working Rutten over with strikes.
Duff missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rutten is trying to stand.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rutten is trying to get back to full guard.
Rutten wants to get back to his feet.
Duff is trying to control. Rutten wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Duff is looking to stall here but Rutten recovers full guard.
Duff trying to control but Rutten is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bas Rutten will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Duff misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rutten flicks out a counter leg kick but Duff steps away.
Duff looks to land a right hand but Rutten moved out of range.
Duff fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rutten looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Duff loads up on a big right hand but Rutten slips the punch.
Duff pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Duff looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Duff thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice jab there from Rutten.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duff tests Rutten's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Duff connects with a leg kick. Rutten looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Duff lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten thows a left - swing and a miss!
Duff takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rutten swings widly with a right hand

and Duff counters with a single leg into guard. Rutten didn't expect that.
Duff throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rutten works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rutten looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Duff working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Duff trying to control the position from guard on top but Rutten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Duff postures up in Rutten's guard and throws a big left but Rutten blocks it.
Duff has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rutten working a defensive guard here.
Duff scoring with some ground and pound.
Brendan Duff overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duff chips away with some ground and pound.
Duff postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rutten tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Duff is working Rutten over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Duff scoring with some ground and pound.
Duff postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Duff advances position into side control!
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!
Rutten managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Duff.
Duff wants to control but Rutten is keeping him busy.
The strikes coming from Duff are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Duff wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rutten, who protects the arm well.
Rutten felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten dodges the ground and pound from Duff.
Duff lands a few punches from side control.
Duff working the ground and pound.
Rutten is trying to control Duff's posture but Duff avoids it.
Duff misses with the ground and pound.
Duff working the ground and pound.
Duff scores with punches from side control.
Duff is looking to take a break and control but Rutten is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duff grinds an elbow into Rutten's temple.
Rutten is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Duff fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rutten takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
A control attempt from Rutten but he's now mounted!
Duff dominating with strikes here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brendan Duff showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rutten has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bas Rutten!
An out of breath Bas Rutten thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.