PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Assunsao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Rutherford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rutherford has chosen Genesis - Deep in the Motherlode as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Assunsao
vs
Rutherford

180 cm
18
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
163 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Raphael Assunsao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mike Rutherford!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick from Rutherford lands but Assunsao takes it in his stride.
Nice body kick from Rutherford.
Rutherford looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Assunsao blocks the body kick.

Assunsao drives through and clinches with Rutherford against the cage.
Assunsao using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rutherford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Assunsao tries to land a knee to the head but Rutherford blocks with his arms.
Rutherford takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knees to the body from Assunsao.
Assunsao tries a knee to the head but Rutherford blocks it.
Rutherford goes for a takedown attempt but Assunsao pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Assunsao moves out of range as Rutherford strikes.
Assunsao throws a big shot that misses.
Rutherford misses with a kick to the body
and Assunsao counters with a straight right hand.
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 pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rutherford misses with a looping left.
Assunsao went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Assunsao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rutherford paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rutherford tries to keep at a distance but Assunsao has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rutherford landing knees to the body.
Assunsao definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutherford is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Assunsao misses with a knee to the head.
Assunsao looking to throw knees to the head but Rutherford is blocking nicely.
Assunsao tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rutherford avoids it.
Rutherford is trying to pull guard but Assunsao turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Raphael Assunsao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Rutherford.
Rutherford is trying to break free.
Rutherford has Assunsao pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Assunsao manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Assunsao tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rutherford misses with a punch to the body.
Assunsao unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Assunsao using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rutherford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rutherford obliges.
Assunsao utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Assunsao misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rutherford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assunsao throws a knee to the head but misses.
Assunsao working Rutherford over with knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Assunsao.
Assunsao looking to throw knees to the head but Rutherford is blocking nicely.

Rutherford jumps into guard, dragging Assunsao to the mat.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutherford trying to control the position here.
Rutherford is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Assunsao wants to control from the top but Rutherford keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford is trying to keep Assunsao in close.
Rutherford bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Assunsao's guard.

Rutherford controls from within his opponent's guard.
Assunsao wants to improve his position but instead Rutherford has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rutherford is looking to advance position but Assunsao won't allow it.

Rutherford decides to stand up.
Assunsao is looking to clinch.
Assunsao stuns Rutherford with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Assunsao fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rutherford keeps the fight on the outside.
Mike Rutherford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutherford misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rutherford ducks under a wild hook from Assunsao.
Assunsao misses with a straight left.
Assunsao misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Assunsao dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rutherford scores with a kick to the midsection.

Assunsao forces Rutherford back against the cage and clinches.
Assunsao lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Rutherford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Assunsao instigates a clinch.
Rutherford tries to land knees in the clinch but Assunsao avoids the damage to the body.
Rutherford swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rutherford goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Assunsao looking to throw knees to the head but Rutherford is blocking nicely.
Assunsao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Assunsao misses with a knee to the head.
Rutherford takes a knee right on the jaw!
Assunsao managing to block the knees to the body from Rutherford.
Assunsao tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Assunsao is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rutherford is defending well for now.
Assunsao landing knees to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rutherford is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutherford misses with a body punch.

Rutherford breaks the clinch.
Nice body kick from Rutherford.
Assunsao tries to clinch but Rutherford moves away
and Rutherford counters with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rutherford is looking to slow Assunsao down with leg kicks.
Rutherford scores with a push kick.
Mike Rutherford seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rutherford looks to land a body kick but Assunsao moved away.
Assunsao misses with an uppercut. Rutherford saw that one coming.
Assunsao keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rutherford throws a body kick that misses.
Assunsao wants to clinch.
Assunsao is looking to clinch but Rutherford is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assunsao on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rutherford. Rutherford obviously looking to wear him down.
Assunsao blocks a jab.
Rutherford delivers a nice body kick.
Assunsao tries to clinch there but Rutherford circles away.
Assunsao takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Assunsao blocks the body kick.
Rutherford keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Assunsao wants to clinch.
Assunsao tries to clinch but Rutherford is having none of it.
Rutherford avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rutherford lands a head kick. Assunsao smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rutherford lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rutherford throws a head kick but Assunsao moves out of range.
Assunsao throws a body punch but Rutherford moves out of range.
Rutherford lets loose with a powerful body kick. Assunsao will feel that in the morning.
Assunsao will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Rutherford keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Assunsao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Assunsao doesn't manage to clinch there - Rutherford circles away.
Assunsao tries to clinch
and Rutherford counters with a slapping leg kick.
Assunsao rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rutherford counters with a nice kick to the body.
Assunsao moves in looking to clinch but Rutherford pushes him off.
Assunsao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rutherford replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Assunsao blocks it well.
Assunsao throws a hook to the side of Rutherford's head but Rutherford sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Assunsao ducks under a wild hook from Rutherford.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford lands the left hand.
Assunsao on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Assunsao moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Assunsao takes a swing at Rutherford's ribcage but misses.
A head kick by Rutherford misses
and Assunsao counters with a stiff right hand.
Assunsao lands a jab to the nose.
Assunsao tries to close the distance and clinch but Rutherford swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rutherford lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Rutherford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Assunsao blocks the body kick.
Assunsao was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Assunsao gets a clinch.
Assunsao throws a knee to the head but misses.
Assunsao tries to land a knee to the head but Rutherford blocks with his arms.
Rutherford tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Assunsao avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Rutherford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Assunsao moves out of range of the body kick.
Rutherford throws a body kick that misses.
Assunsao tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rutherford.
Rutherford lands a head kick. Assunsao smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rutherford lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rutherford misses with a body kick.
Assunsao is looking to clinch but Rutherford is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Assunsao tries to clinch up but Rutherford circles away and keeps his distance.
Rutherford steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Rutherford looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
An attempted straight right counter from Assunsao misses the target.
Rutherford throws a right hand that misses
and Rutherford takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice shot by Assunsao.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutherford lands with a kick to the temple. Assunsao shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rutherford thows a left - swing and a miss!
Assunsao swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Assunsao drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rutherford is looking to land body kicks.
Rutherford tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Assunsao swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Assunsao's corner calls for a 1-2. Assunsao obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rutherford keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Assunsao.
Rutherford steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Assunsao.
Assunsao tries to clinch up.
A head kick misses from Rutherford.
Rutherford throws a head kick that Assunsao semi-blocks.
A slow jab from Assunsao misses its intended target.
Rutherford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rutherford takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Assunsao is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford throws a leg kick but Assunsao sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Assunsao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Assunsao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rutherford paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Assunsao scores with a decent looking hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Assunsao misses with an uppercut.
Assunsao is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Assunsao moves into the clinch successfully.
Assunsao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Assunsao tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Assunsao is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rutherford can't find room to land a body shot as Assunsao controls the action.

Rutherford pulls guard effortlessly.
Assunsao has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rutherford keeping full guard, as Assunsao tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assunsao stopping the sweep attempt from Rutherford.
Rutherford controls Assunsao momentarily but Assunsao frees himself.
Assunsao trying to control but Rutherford is working from the bottom.
Rutherford has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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.
Let's hope that Rutherford has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rutherford throws a leg kick
and Rutherford takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Assunsao blocks a head kick by Rutherford.

Assunsao clinches up with Rutherford and pushes him back against the cage.
Assunsao misses with a knee strike.
Assunsao crunches a lovely knee into Rutherford's ribcage.
Rutherford lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Assunsao throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rutherford blocks it with crossed arms.
Rutherford tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Assunsao smiles and moves away.
Assunsao tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rutherford swats him away and circles back towards the center.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Rutherford.
I think Rutherford 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

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