PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benson Jones (ranked 5602 p4p, 4965 weight class) and Matthew Rutczan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jones
vs
Rutczan

180 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
169
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benson Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matthew Rutczan!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutczan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rutczan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jones as he jumps to the side.
A good leg kick by Rutczan.
Jones defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rutczan.
Jones wants to clinch.
Rutczan unleashes a big counter combination but Jones bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutczan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Benson Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Rutczan.
Jones misses with a few strikes there.
Rutczan tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rutczan darts in looking for a takedown but Jones gets double underhooks and turns Rutczan into the cage.
Jones feinted with a counter takedown.

Rutczan moves into range and clinches up with Jones.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rutczan rushes Jones and presses him up against the cage.
Jones is trying to force a seperation but Rutczan has the dominant position.
Rutczan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jones's face.

It looks like Benson Jones has been cut.

Jones turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Jones manages to end up in side control.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rutczan keeps working.

Jones tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jones has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Jones wants to stand but Rutczan has his arm trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutczan is not content to let Jones control the position.
Jones misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Jones trying to control the action but Rutczan is working from the bottom.
Rutczan is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Jones asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control the action but Rutczan is working from the bottom.
Jones is really struggling to control Rutczan but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rutczan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jones wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Jones.
Rutczan throws a series of punches but Jones moves out of range.
Jones will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rutczan checks a leg kick.
Rutczan doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Rutczan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rutczan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jones has a takedown stuffed.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matthew Rutczan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Benson Jones's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rutczan closes the distance and clinches.

Rutczan has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Jones regains guard immediately.
Jones 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.

Rutczan gets to his feet. Jones looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Benson Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rutczan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jones fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones shoots in looking for a takedown but Rutczan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jones's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jones looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rutczan throws out a counter right but Jones avoids it with no problem.

Rutczan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutczan prevents Jones from improving his position.
Jones trying to hold on to Rutczan's head to control him but Rutczan postures up.
Rutczan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutczan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jones's head.
Jones wants to get back to full guard.
Rutczan trying to control the pace.
Jones gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Jones is working an open guard so Rutczan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rutczan shoots in but no luck this time.
Rutczan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jones.
Rutczan throws a fast counter high kick but Jones manages to duck under it in time.
Rutczan shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jones shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rutczan counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Jones is lucky that one didn't land flush.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benson Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rutczan is breathing heavily.
Rutczan darts in looking for a takedown but Jones gets double underhooks and turns Rutczan into the cage.

Rutczan moves into the clinch.
Rutczan stops a takedown attempt from Jones.
Jones tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutczan is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jones to keep the fight standing.
Jones looking for a takedown.
Jones tries to pull guard but Rutczan won't allow it.

Rutczan has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Jones uses from the top position.
Rutczan is controlling Jones's posture.
Jones looking to pass the guard.
Rutczan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jones wants to control from the top but Rutczan keeps moving.
Jones would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rutczan keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Rutczan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matthew Rutczan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jones missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rutczan takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rutczan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rutczan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jones as he avoids it easily.
Jones appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Rutczan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Benson Jones's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rutczan counters by clinching up.

Rutczan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rutczan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jones sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rutczan somewhat.
Jones takes a swing at Rutczan's ribcage but misses.
Rutczan misses with a double jab.
Jones doesn't manage to clinch there - Rutczan circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutczan swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones.
Nice sprawl there from Jones as Rutczan shoots in.
Rutczan misses with a head kick.
Rutczan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rutczan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jones is defended easily by Rutczan.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Rutczan pushes him off.
Jones throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benson Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rutczan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jones is looking to counter the offense by Rutczan and move into the clinch.
Jones looks to throw the jab but Rutczan is out of range.
Rutczan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rutczan darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.
Rutczan looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jones wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rutczan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jones after a bit of a struggle.
Jones is trying to stall.
Rutczan leaning his opponent against the cage.
Jones changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rutczan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Matthew Rutczan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones is looking to clinch.
As Jones backs off Rutczan throws a huge counter combo but Jones manages to avoid it all.
Jones looks to score with a jab to the body but Rutczan is just out of range.
Jones takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Jones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rutczan tries to avoid it but Jones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rutczan to the ground. Rutczan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rutczan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jones looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rutczan is fending him off so far but Jones persists. Nope, Rutczan circles away and we're back to standing.
Rutczan keeps the fight on the outside.

Rutczan takes the fight into the clinch.
Jones tries to pull guard but Rutczan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rutczan wants a takedown but no success here.
Jones doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jones is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rutczan is defending well.
Jones fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones stalling in the clinch but Rutczan improves position.
Jones fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Rutczan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Jones. No joy for Rutczan on that attempt.
Jones half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Rutczan shows good takedown defense.
Rutczan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jones is fending him off so far but Rutczan persists. Nope, Jones circles away and we're back to standing.
Jones appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Jones closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
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!
Jones lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rutczan is looking to reverse the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones cracks Rutczan with a big right hand but Rutczan just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Benson Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matthew Rutczan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jones throws an elbow but Rutczan slips to the side and avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Rutczan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rutczan 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Rutczan!