PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Sturd Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Rutherford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sturd Jr comes to the cage accompanied by Waka Flocka Flame - 50K (Neon Dreams Remix). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sturd Jr
vs
Rutherford

181 cm
29
191 lbs
18 - 4 - 0

183 cm
29
186 lbs
23 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!
Bullet Proof System

Reaper Combatwear
KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Sturd Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven Rutherford!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutherford moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Jason Sturd Jr has been cut.
Sturd Jr uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rutherford fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sturd Jr checks it well.
Rutherford throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sturd Jr.
Rutherford's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sturd Jr connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rutherford scrambles back to his feet.
Rutherford keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rutherford wants to counter the offense by Sturd Jr and move into the clinch position.
The fighters circling - Rutherford throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rutherford tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sturd Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rutherford feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sturd Jr's calf.
Sturd Jr throws a big shot that misses.
Sturd Jr throws a right hand that misses
and Rutherford counters with a straight right hand.
Sturd Jr moves away from the strike by Rutherford.
Rutherford wants to clinch.
Rutherford throws out a loose jab but Sturd Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rutherford throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sturd Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutherford tries to work over Sturd Jr's front leg with a kick but Sturd Jr checks it.
Rutherford slips under a jab from Sturd Jr.
Rutherford avoids the head kick by Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr throws a hook to the side of Rutherford's head but Rutherford sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sturd Jr scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rutherford bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Rutherford has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sturd Jr.
Rutherford ducks under a wild hook from Sturd Jr.
Jab, jab by Rutherford - just one landing.
Sturd Jr throws a right hand that Rutherford ducks under and follows up with a left that Rutherford also avoids with ease.
Sturd Jr looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rutherford shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sturd Jr eats them both and turns towards Rutherford to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Rutherford fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sturd Jr throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rutherford sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rutherford tries to counter with a clinch but Sturd Jr shakes him off and moves away.
Sturd Jr swings widly with a right hand
and Rutherford counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sturd Jr's knee momentarily.
Rutherford throws a head kick that misses.
Rutherford throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturd Jr avoids the body shot from Rutherford.
Sturd Jr scores with a head kick. Rutherford tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rutherford throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sturd Jr takes one on the button.
Rutherford lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rutherford takes a swing at Sturd Jr's ribcage but misses.
Rutherford lands a nice hook to Sturd Jr's body. Sturd Jr takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sturd Jr scores with a hook.
Rutherford connects with a solid leg kick.
Jab by Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rutherford.
Sturd Jr checks a low kick from Rutherford.
Sturd Jr pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rutherford is out of range and Sturd Jr settles back down.
Sturd Jr scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturd Jr with a nice cross.
Sturd Jr throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Sturd Jr shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rutherford manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sturd Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Rutherford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sturd Jr prevents Rutherford from getting back to his feet.
Rutherford keeping moving, preventing Sturd Jr from controlling successfully.
Rutherford seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sturd Jr controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturd Jr throwing strikes but missing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rutherford looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rutherford misses with a body kick.
Sturd Jr looks to land a body kick but Rutherford moved away.
Sturd Jr looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Rutherford has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sturd Jr blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sturd Jr blocks a body shot from Rutherford.
Sturd Jr looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sturd Jr looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sturd Jr misses with the head strike.
Sturd Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rutherford lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steven Rutherford will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jason Sturd Jr's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sturd Jr checks a leg kick.
Sturd Jr looks to land a body kick but Rutherford moved away.
Rutherford waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sturd Jr.
Rutherford is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sturd Jr.
Rutherford cracks Sturd Jr with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sturd Jr moves away from the strike by Rutherford.
Rutherford takes one on the button.
Sturd Jr moves out of range as Rutherford strikes.
Sturd Jr takes a swing at Rutherford's ribcage but misses.
Rutherford lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sturd Jr throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Rutherford misses.
Rutherford throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sturd Jr throws a series of punches but Rutherford avoids them all with ease.
Rutherford tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sturd Jr misses with an uppercut
and Rutherford counters with a stiff right hand.
Sturd Jr chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rutherford can pounce on him.
Sturd Jr is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutherford misses with a wild combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rutherford. Sturd Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rutherford gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Sturd Jr cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rutherford.
Rutherford bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sturd Jr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sturd Jr throws a leg kick which misses Rutherford's front leg but catches the back leg as Rutherford tries to avoid it.
Sturd Jr will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rutherford slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Jason Sturd Jr's cut is getting worse.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sturd Jr.
Steven Rutherford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rutherford throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sturd Jr just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sturd Jr throws a hook but Rutherford blocks it.
Rutherford throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sturd Jr swinging wildly here.
Rutherford wants to counter with a clinch but Sturd Jr pushes him away.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sturd Jr crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rutherford - the referee stops the clock and Sturd Jr gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rutherford. Sturd Jr manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Sturd Jr dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rutherford. That did some damage!
Rutherford stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A lazy body kick from Rutherford
and Sturd Jr counters with a straight right hand.
Rutherford works the jab nicely.
Sturd Jr fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rutherford has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sturd Jr missing with a left hand there. Rutherford was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rutherford throws out a counter right but Sturd Jr avoids it with no problem.
Sturd Jr dives in for a single leg takedown but Rutherford sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rutherford throws a solid leg kick but Sturd Jr takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rutherford.
A combination from Sturd Jr does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rutherford.
Rutherford turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sturd Jr connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rutherford throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sturd Jr shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice cross by Rutherford.
Rutherford misses with a body shot.
A slow jab from Sturd Jr misses its intended target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rutherford.
Rutherford throws a low kick but Sturd Jr avoids it.
Steven Rutherford seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sturd Jr tries to bum rush Rutherford with a series of wild strikes but Rutherford uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sturd Jr throws a leg kick
and Rutherford counters with a thumping low kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rutherford. That's going to slow Sturd Jr down.
Sturd Jr blocks a leg kick.
Rutherford has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
A shot to the liver by Rutherford. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sturd Jr swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rutherford looks for the body kick but Sturd Jr saw that one coming.
Sturd Jr fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rutherford checks it well.
Rutherford throws a body shot but no joy.
Rutherford connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sturd Jr uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rutherford.
Rutherford fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sturd Jr throws an off balance right hand
letting Rutherford counter with a right hand.
A cross from Rutherford lands.

Jason Sturd Jr's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Sturd Jr thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rutherford on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sturd Jr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sturd Jr avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Good leg kick by Rutherford there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Rutherford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jason Sturd Jr's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rutherford uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sturd Jr.
A good leg kick by Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr throws a head kick that misses.
Sturd Jr swings for the body but Rutherford moves out of range.
Rutherford slips under a jab.
Sturd Jr lands a head kick. Rutherford smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rutherford fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rutherford. That's going to slow Sturd Jr down.
A good leg kick by Rutherford.
Rutherford connects with a leg kick. Sturd Jr looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rutherford takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sturd Jr throws a lazy body kick
and Rutherford makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rutherford checks a leg kick.
Sturd Jr lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rutherford throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutherford ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sturd Jr moves away.
Sturd Jr lands with a right hand.
Rutherford on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rutherford.
Rutherford takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rutherford moves out of range of the strikes.
Sturd Jr walks into a left hand.
Sturd Jr attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rutherford.
That kick from Rutherford tenderised Sturd Jr's leg. Sturd Jr is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sturd Jr takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Rutherford closes the distance and pushes Sturd Jr back into the cage.
Rutherford has a couple of punches blocked by Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr blocking some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rutherford has a couple of punches blocked by Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr prevents a body shot from Rutherford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sturd Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sturd Jr misses with a looping left.
Sturd Jr throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rutherford's waist but Rutherford gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sturd Jr off to one side.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr throws a body punch but Rutherford moves out of range.
Rutherford moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sturd Jr doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sturd Jr throws a right hand that Rutherford ducks under and follows up with a left that Rutherford also avoids with ease.
Rutherford connects with the punch.
Rutherford buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sturd Jr moves out of range as Rutherford throws a body kick.
Sturd Jr looks to throw the jab but Rutherford is out of range.
Rutherford scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Rutherford has closed the distance and engaged Sturd Jr in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturd Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Rutherford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rutherford swings wildly with an uppercut but Sturd Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sturd Jr takes a shot to the head.
Rutherford pushes Sturd Jr back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sturd Jr wants to break free but Rutherford has control.
Sturd Jr lands with a short shot to the head.
Sturd Jr lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rutherford tries a body shot but Sturd Jr blocks it.
Rutherford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rutherford misses with a punch on the inside.
Rutherford throws a punch but it's blocked by Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr misses with the head strike.
Rutherford misses with some punches.
Sturd Jr lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sturd Jr's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Sturd Jr lands a hook that snaps the head of Rutherford backwards.
Sturd Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Sturd Jr fails to land.
Rutherford working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rutherford.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rutherford pushes Sturd Jr back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rutherford lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sturd Jr backwards.
Sturd Jr's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A right hand to the body from Rutherford.
Rutherford throws a punch but it's blocked by Sturd Jr.
Rutherford tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rutherford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rutherford misses with the head strike.
Rutherford tries to work over Sturd Jr's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rutherford lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rutherford doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rutherford doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rutherford.
Rutherford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rutherford tries to throw a body punch but Sturd Jr avoids it by throwing Rutherford back against the cage.
Rutherford lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rutherford has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rutherford scores with a hook to the body.
Sturd Jr blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rutherford.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Rutherford really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jason Sturd Jr's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sturd Jr takes a swing at Rutherford's ribcage but misses.
Sturd Jr misses the shot to the body.
Rutherford doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Sturd Jr on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rutherford. Rutherford obviously looking to wear him down.
Rutherford leaves Sturd Jr with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sturd Jr looks to land a body kick but Rutherford moved away.
Rutherford only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Rutherford turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sturd Jr thumps Rutherford with a low kick.
Sturd Jr catches Rutherford with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rutherford misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sturd Jr.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd cheers as Rutherford lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sturd Jr doesn't seem phased though.
Rutherford thows a body kick. Sturd Jr tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Rutherford moves into the clinch successfully.
A head punch on the inside from Sturd Jr fails to land.
Sturd Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Rutherford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sturd Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Rutherford uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutherford digs a right hand underneath Sturd Jr's ribcage. Sturd Jr let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sturd Jr working aggressively here.
Sturd Jr blocking some punches.
Sturd Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rutherford blocks an uppercut.
Rutherford has a couple of punches blocked by Sturd Jr.
Rutherford blocking some punches.
Rutherford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rutherford blocking some punches.
A short uppercut from Rutherford.
Sturd Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rutherford misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rutherford tries a body shot but Sturd Jr blocks it.
Rutherford scores with a shot to the side of Sturd Jr's head.
Rutherford lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rutherford scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rutherford misses with a punch to the body.
Sturd Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rutherford lands on the inside 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!
Rutherford swings wildly with an uppercut but Sturd Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sturd Jr blocking some punches.
Rutherford pushes Sturd Jr back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Sturd Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good work by Rutherford as he checks the leg kick.

Rutherford clinches with his opponent.
Rutherford lands a hook that snaps the head of Sturd Jr backwards.

Jeez, Jason Sturd Jr's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Rutherford's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A nice left hand lands by Rutherford.
Rutherford scores with a shoulder strike.

Sturd Jr is rocked!
Rutherford swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Oh Sturd Jr is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rutherford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rutherford swings wildly with an uppercut but Sturd Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rutherford works on Sturd Jr's body with a couple of short punches.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rutherford keeps control of Sturd Jr as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rutherford throws a big uppercut that drops Sturd Jr! More strikes from Rutherford and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Sturd Jr lies dazed against the cage as Rutherford celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steven Rutherford!
Our winner, Steven Rutherford, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.