PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Rutherford (ranked 1134 p4p, 139 weight class) and Lugh Blackburn (ranked 1202 p4p, 146 weight class). Blackburn comes into a darkened arena with his song building. When the Man Comes Down kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rutherford
vs
Blackburn

187 cm
34
190 lbs
13 - 15 - 0

187 cm
37
200 lbs
28 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thomas Rutherford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lugh Blackburn!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Rutherford.
Rutherford wants to clinch up but Blackburn keeps it at a distance.
Blackburn throws a lazy right hand but Rutherford sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rutherford chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Blackburn scores with a body shot.
Rutherford throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Blackburn throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rutherford stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rutherford tries to bum rush Blackburn with a series of wild strikes but Blackburn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rutherford misses with a kick to the body
and Rutherford takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Blackburn closes the distance and clinches.
Rutherford throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rutherford gets through Blackburn's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rutherford.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rutherford.
Rutherford has a couple of punches blocked by Blackburn.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rutherford.
Blackburn using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rutherford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rutherford taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Rutherford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rutherford throws a sloppy head kick and Blackburn moves out of range easily.
Blackburn tries to clinch but Rutherford moves away
and Rutherford counters with a one-two to the body.
Rutherford throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Blackburn let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutherford is looking to score with low kicks.
Rutherford explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rutherford buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rutherford throws a front kick aimed at Blackburn's knee but Blackburn avoids it well.
Blackburn blocks the body kick.
Rutherford looks to clinch
and Blackburn counters with a nice uppercut.
Blackburn comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rutherford scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A leg kick checked by Blackburn.
Blackburn looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rutherford throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Blackburn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rutherford is trying to break free.
Rutherford misses with a hook from the clinch.

Rutherford manages to break the clinch.
Blackburn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rutherford throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Blackburn chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rutherford can pounce on him.
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 cracks the inside of Blackburn's front leg.
Blackburn takes a swing at Rutherford's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn tries to clinch up but Rutherford circles away and keeps his distance.
Blackburn is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rutherford rather than just go for the knockout.
Rutherford tries to clinch there but Blackburn circles away.
Blackburn looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rutherford misses with a low kick.
We've been told by Rutherford's head coaches at Big Bear Fight Factory that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Rutherford cracks the inside of Blackburn's front leg.
Blackburn checks a leg kick nicely.
Rutherford tries to land a leg kick but Blackburn saw it coming and moves away.
Blackburn scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rutherford throws a leg kick but Blackburn moved away.
Blackburn chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rutherford can pounce on him.
Rutherford connects with an inside leg kick.
Rutherford scores with a head kick.
Blackburn on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rutherford. Rutherford obviously looking to wear him down.
Blackburn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rutherford.
It looked like Rutherford was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rutherford is looking to chop away at Blackburn's legs.
Nice jab there from Rutherford.
Blackburn's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rutherford misses with a low kick.
Rutherford tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blackburn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blackburn takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rutherford moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rutherford moves out of range as Blackburn strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Rutherford.
Blackburn misses with an uppercut. Rutherford saw that one coming.
Blackburn throws a looping overhand right but Rutherford ducks down to avoid it.
Rutherford throws a head kick that misses.
Rutherford tried to score with a low kick but Blackburn checks it.
Rutherford tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Blackburn is able to avoid easily.
Blackburn misses with a body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rutherford bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rutherford is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Some bone on bone action there as Blackburn checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rutherford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rutherford uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Blackburn.
Blackburn sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Blackburn checks a leg kick.

Blackburn gets tackled into the cage by Rutherford. Rutherford maintains the clinch.
Blackburn lands a body shot.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Blackburn fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rutherford.
Rutherford tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rutherford misses with some punches.
Blackburn throws a head punch that misses.
Rutherford tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blackburn's elbow.
Rutherford misses with some punches.
A short uppercut from Blackburn.
Blackburn tries a knee to the head but Rutherford blocks it.
Blackburn tries to pull guard but Rutherford holds him up against the cage and eventually Blackburn drops back down to his feet.
Rutherford is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Blackburn utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rutherford is trying to maintain a safe position but Blackburn gets an underhook and turns Rutherford into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blackburn tries to pull guard but Rutherford won't allow it.
Thomas Rutherford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lugh Blackburn.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blackburn.
Blackburn throws a punch but it's blocked by Rutherford.
A nice left hand lands by Rutherford.
Rutherford can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Rutherford dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rutherford is looking to clinch but Blackburn is avoiding it.
Thomas Rutherford is winning the standup battle so far.
Rutherford throws a series of punches but Blackburn moves out of range.
Blackburn catches Rutherford with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rutherford is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blackburn can do to turn this around?
Blackburn checks a leg kick.
Blackburn moves out of range of the body kick.
Blackburn looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rutherford throws a leg kick which misses Blackburn's front leg but catches the back leg as Blackburn tries to avoid it.
Blackburn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rutherford throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Blackburn checks a leg kick.
Blackburn just misses with a punch to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rutherford.
Blackburn lands a body shot.
Blackburn on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rutherford. Rutherford obviously looking to wear him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rutherford clinches up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Rutherford fails to land.
Blackburn is trying to pull guard but Rutherford has him pressed against the cage.

Blackburn manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blackburn keeping moving, preventing Rutherford from controlling successfully.
Rutherford throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blackburn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutherford tries to free his leg and advance position but Blackburn is retaining full guard.
Blackburn working a defensive guard here.
Rutherford trying to control but Blackburn is working from the bottom.
Blackburn is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rutherford scoring with some ground and pound.
Rutherford landing some decent shots from guard.

Blackburn looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rutherford showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rutherford with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Blackburn trying to control but Rutherford is working from the bottom.
Blackburn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rutherford manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blackburn manages to get himself to full guard.

Blackburn working for a triangle but Rutherford defends it easily.
Rutherford trying to control but Blackburn is working from the bottom.
Rutherford trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford trying to control the position from guard on top but Blackburn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blackburn is pulling down on Rutherford's head. It's preventing any offense from Rutherford, at least for the moment.

Blackburn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rutherford can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rutherford forces his way into half guard.
Blackburn trying to control here.
Rutherford working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Blackburn won't allow Rutherford to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Blackburn!
Rutherford is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rutherford looking to control but Blackburn is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Blackburn is in a horrible position here. Rutherford smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rutherford wants to control the pace but Blackburn is squirming around nicely.
Blackburn taking shots to the head.
The referee warns Blackburn that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blackburn tries to hold on but Rutherford pushes him away.
Blackburn sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Rutherford dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Blackburn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rutherford was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Blackburn moves in looking to clinch but Rutherford pushes him off.
Rutherford throws a leg kick
and Rutherford takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Rutherford has taken the fight to the clinch.
Blackburn tries to land a knee to the head but Rutherford blocks with his arms.
Rutherford is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Blackburn is defending well for now.
Rutherford throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Blackburn blocks it with crossed arms.
A left hand lands to the body for Rutherford.
Rutherford fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rutherford obliges.
Rutherford works on Blackburn's body with a couple of short punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rutherford.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blackburn successfully pulls guard.
Rutherford with a nice head shot there.
Thomas Rutherford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Blackburn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Blackburn keeping full guard, as Rutherford tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackburn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutherford is working hard here to advance position.
Rutherford postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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

Blackburn has an active guard here but Rutherford has managed to pass into half guard.
Blackburn is refusing to be controlled, as Rutherford sits in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rutherford in particular looking to stall.
Rutherford trying to mount his opponent but Blackburn defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rutherford working over Blackburn with some ground and pound. Blackburn looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rutherford thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Blackburn wants to get back to full guard.
Rutherford wants to take a breather but Blackburn is having none of it.
Blackburn controlling the position well.
Blackburn keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rutherford thows a huge punch but Blackburn dodges it nicely.
Rutherford wants to pass to mount but Blackburn is defending the position.
Ground and pound from Rutherford.
Rutherford is pressing down on Blackburn's thigh, looking to free his foot. Blackburn is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blackburn manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rutherford is looking to work some ground and pound but Blackburn has wrist control.

Blackburn is looking for a triangle but Rutherford pushes his legs off easily.

Blackburn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rutherford trying to control but Blackburn is working from the bottom.
Lugh Blackburn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rutherford throws an elbow that misses. Blackburn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rutherford's guard. Nice move by Blackburn!

Rutherford throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn throws a big elbow that misses.
Blackburn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rutherford looking for a sweep. Not yet Rutherford, not yet.
Blackburn advances to half guard.
Blackburn working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Rutherford's thigh. Rutherford counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Blackburn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thomas Rutherford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rutherford not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rutherford tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Rutherford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rutherford has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Rutherford!
Thomas Rutherford managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%), into his post fight interview.