PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Opala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Opala
vs
Rutten

188 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ricardo Opala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rutten drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Rutten looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rutten throws a strike aimed at the side of Opala's head but Opala avoids it well.

Rutten is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Opala has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rutten working away.
Opala manages to get back to half guard.
Opala regains full guard. Nicely done.

Opala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Opala controls Rutten momentarily but Rutten frees himself.
Opala looking for a sweep. Not yet Opala, not yet.
Opala is breathing heavily.
Rutten thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rutten drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rutten jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Opala has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rutten can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Opala has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rutten can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Opala keeps moving.
Opala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rutten closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rutten lands in his opponent's guard.
Rutten really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Opala. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Opala keeping moving, preventing Rutten from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opala is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rutten trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Opala keeping full guard, as Rutten tries to pass.
Rutten won't allow Opala to sweep him here.
Rutten would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rutten tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Opala swivels and escapes.

Rutten fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Opala sprawls well initially but Rutten persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Opala blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rutten.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opala is looking to control Rutten's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Opala avoid being mounted?
Rutten not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Opala looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Opala looking for submissions off his back.
Opala avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rutten.
Opala punching from the bottom.
Opala wants to control but Rutten is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rutten closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

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

Rutten working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opala is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rutten wants to stand but Opala is controlling his arm.
Opala tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Rutten is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Opala knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rutten trying to control the position but Opala is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Opala has his takedown stuffed

so Rutten counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Rutten drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rutten jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Opala is looking to stand up but Rutten isn't so interested in that idea.
Rutten trying to control but Opala is working from the bottom.
Opala wants to stand up but Rutten is controlling him.

Opala looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Opala keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Opala swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rutten goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Opala closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rutten circles away.

Rutten closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Opala trying to control from the bottom.
Rutten trying to mount his opponent but Opala defends it.
Rutten is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Opala looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rutten wants to advance to full mount but Opala doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opala looking to control.
Opala keeping moving, preventing Rutten from controlling successfully.
Rutten is stalling in the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rutten looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Opala!
Opala keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Opala wants to control but Rutten is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutten goes for an armbar but Opala turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Opala.

Rutten looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Opala wanted to stand there but Rutten had control of the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Opala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Rutten has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Opala can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Opala content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Opala stands up and waves to Rutten to follow him.

Rutten shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Opala's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Opala is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rutten working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rutten tries to stand up but Opala had a hold of his arm and he's managed to perform a nice reversal, into half guard.
Rutten is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rutten closes this distance looking for a takedown but Opala circles away.
Opala tries for a takedown but Rutten circles away easily

and Rutten counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rutten.
Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Opala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Opala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Opala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rutten stopping the sweep attempt from Opala.

Opala is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rutten is working for takedown but Opala is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opala wants a takedown but no success here.
Opala is trying to break free.
Rutten is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ricardo Opala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bas Rutten.
Rutten prevents a takedown attempt there.

Opala manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Opala has his foot on Rutten's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rutten works his way back into a safe position though.
Opala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bas Rutten has got the better of the ground game so far.

Opala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rutten doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rutten manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rutten looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Opala controls Rutten momentarily but Rutten frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rutten is stalling in the full guard.

Rutten is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Opala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Opala fails to land the takedown.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Rutten drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Opala had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rutten is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Opala Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rutten's back instead.
A lull in the action here.

Opala looking for the RNC.
Rutten is trying to stand back up.
Rutten is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Opala patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Opala not allowing Rutten to control his hands.
Opala controlling well, preventing Rutten from escaping the position.
Opala trying to control.
Rutten is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Ricardo Opala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bas Rutten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Opala controlling well, preventing Rutten from escaping the position.
Opala gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bas Rutten comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rutten has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bas Rutten!