PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Flexen (ranked 2461 p4p, 280 weight class) and Sebastian Rutten (ranked 1844 p4p, 228 weight class). Flexen's entrance music is Break Stuff-Limp Bizkit. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Flexen
vs
Rutten

185 cm
23
181 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Flexen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Sebastian Rutten!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rutten.
Rutten shoots in for a double leg but Flexen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
It looked like Flexen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Flexen as he avoids it easily.
Flexen is looking to counter punch.
Chris Flexen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastian Rutten.
Rutten tries for a takedown but Flexen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rutten looks for a takedown but Flexen sprawls well.
Rutten will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rutten pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten avoids the head kick by Flexen.

Rutten closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Flexen's guard.
Rutten is fighting to break Flexen's control of his arms but Flexen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Flexen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flexen has momentary wrist control but Rutten slips an elbow through the middle.

Flexen looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rutten has picked Flexen up and slammed him! Flexen can't keep hold of the triangle and Rutten manages to pass to side control!
Flexen is looking to reverse the position.
Rutten landing strikes.
Rutten tries to move to mount but Flexen blocks the move with his legs.
Flexen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Flexen tries to buck Rutten off but Rutten is having none of it.
Rutten throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutten tries to advance to mount but can't.
Rutten scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flexen is looking to reverse the position.
Rutten tries to advance to mount but Flexen denies him.
Rutten cracks Flexen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Flexen is trying to get back to half guard.

Rutten looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rutten wants to control but Flexen is keeping him busy.
Rutten wants to stand but Flexen has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flexen gets back to half guard.

Flexen actively working from the bottom here.
Rutten is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Flexen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rutten winds up and cracks Flexen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Flexen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Flexen trying to keep a closed guard but Rutten is proving a slippery customer.
Rutten is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flexen is trying to control the position but Rutten postures up.

Flexen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rutten defends it easily.
Rutten showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Flexen keeping moving, preventing Rutten from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rutten wants to clinch up but Flexen keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastian Rutten dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Flexen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rutten pushes Flexen off but Flexen dives into side control.
Rutten is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sebastian Rutten has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flexen looks up at the clock and then as Rutten takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Flexen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The strikes coming from Flexen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flexen misses with the ground and pound.
Rutten is not content to let Flexen control the position.
Rutten wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Flexen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The ground and pound from Flexen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Flexen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Flexen prevents Rutten from escaping the position.
Rutten is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Rutten is trying to buck Flexen off.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Rutten tries to keep at a distance but Flexen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rutten prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten tries for a takedown. No joy.
Flexen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rutten pulls his leg out and moves away.
Flexen throws a head kick that Rutten semi-blocks.
Rutten closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rutten shoots in and drives through. Flexen sprawls well.
Rutten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Flexen looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Rutten shoots in but Flexen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Chris Flexen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastian Rutten.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rutten.
Flexen lands with a kick to the temple. Rutten shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but Flexen shows good takedown defense.

Rutten closes the distance and clinches.

Flexen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rutten uses from the top position.
Flexen trying to control the position here.
Rutten lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rutten controlling from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rutten with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Flexen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Flexen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rutten shoots for a double leg takedown but Flexen sprawls well. He's pushed Rutten's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rutten just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromFlexen.
Rutten fails to land the takedown.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Chris Flexen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastian Rutten.
Flexen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rutten doesn't manage to clinch there - Flexen circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flexen tries a head kick but it misses.
Sebastian Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Rutten.
Rutten tries to score a power double leg takedown but Flexen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rutten somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten looks for the body kick but Flexen saw that one coming.
Flexen appears to be looking for a big counter.
Flexen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Flexen misses with a hook. Rutten ducked under it nicely.
Flexen connects with a single shot there.

Flexen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rutten stopping the sweep attempt from Flexen.
Rutten wanted to stand there but Flexen had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flexen wants to sweep here but Rutten controlling him for the moment.
Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Flexen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flexen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rutten can do to turn this around?

Flexen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rutten gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rutten trying to control the position from guard on top but Flexen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rutten pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Flexen is keeping the position for now.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Flexen keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten stopping the sweep attempt from Flexen.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rutten fails to land the takedown.
Flexen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rutten fails with the takedown
and Flexen counters with a left and a right that stings Rutten.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rutten.
Rutten will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Flexen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rutten takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten shoots and misses
and Flexen counters with a one-two to the body.
Rutten fails in his attempt to clinch.
Chris Flexen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rutten uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Flexen.
Rutten pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Flexen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Rutten forces Flexen back against the cage and clinches.
Flexen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rutten.

Flexen decides to pull guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Flexen 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.

Flexen is looking for a triangle but Rutten pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Flexen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Flexen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Flexen!
Chris Flexen took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Was there any doubt...'.