PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ham lll (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?

Rutten
vs
lll

166 cm
23
139 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

172 cm
23
139 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Rutten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Ham lll!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
lll is looking to clinch.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rutten fails with an attempt to clinch.
lll misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick
and lll counters with a low kick, right behind Rutten 's knee.
lll avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rutten misses with a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rutten looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
Rutten closes the distance and lands a one-two.
lll tries to clinch but Rutten is having none of it.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up but lll swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rutten misses with a head kick.
Rutten pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts lll, as that shot connected.
lll tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
lll throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Joe Rutten has been cut.
lll wants to clinch up but Rutten keeps it at a distance.
Ham lll seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

lll rushes Rutten and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rutten can't get the takedown.

lll breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rutten!

That's one minute gone in the round.
lll scores with a one two! Rutten had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rutten keeps the fight on the outside.
lll tests Rutten's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rutten is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rutten swats away the attempt to clinch by lll.
Ham lll is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch lands to the side of Rutten 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rutten moves in looking to clinch but lll pushes him off.
Rutten takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
lll throws a head kick that misses

and Rutten counters with a shoot takedown. lll fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutten is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

lll kicks Rutten off and gets to his feet.
lll closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rutten counters with a flying knee. Nice.
lll throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rutten's head.
Rutten lands with a kick to the ribs.

lll clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten lands an elbow just above lll 's eye.
lll is trying to drag Rutten to the mat but Rutten just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

lll breaks from the clinch.
lll tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rutten swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rutten blocks a head kick by lll.
Donk. lll catches Rutten right on the button with a cross.
Rutten throws a head kick that lll semi-blocks.
lll lands a nice looking body kick.
Rutten tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

lll rushes Rutten and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
lll lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Rutten is fighting off a takedown attempt but lll is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rutten to the mat. Rutten regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Rutten manages to escape and get back to his feet.

lll drives through and clinches with Rutten against the cage.
Rutten is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rutten misses with a knee to the head.

Rutten pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
lll cracks Rutten with a solid left hand.
Rutten wants to stand up but lll is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rutten throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

lll thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rutten has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Rutten working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. lll doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. lll manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rutten manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
lll is trying desperately to improve position.
lll trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
BOOM! Rutten connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rutten putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rutten is landing with some decent strikes but lll is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
lll is working to get back to half guard.
Rutten connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rutten breaks from lll's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The referee warns lll that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rutten dominating with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rutten working for a submission but lll is keeping him at bay.
lll keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ham lll dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Rutten's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
lll throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rutten counters with a left and a right that stings lll.
Rutten shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. lll defends it nicely.
lll scores with a head kick.
lll fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ham lll seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rutten tries to clinch up

and lll counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rutten is trying to force a seperation but lll has the dominant position.
Rutten wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from lll.

lll escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice body kick from Rutten.
Rutten punishes lll's body with a nice straight punch.
Rutten clinches but lll breaks the clinch

and lll holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by lll.
lll lands a hook to the side of the head.
lll tries to break free but Rutten pushes him back against the cage.
Rutten with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rutten wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but lll has him pressed against the cage.
lll is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rutten gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Knees to the body from lll.
Rutten lands a hook to the side of the head.
lll tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rutten just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rutten misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from lll.
Rutten tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rutten tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
lll trying to stall but Rutten improves his position.
lll wants to get back to striking at distance but Rutten won't allow it.
A short left from lll.

lll breaks the clinch.
lll fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rutten wants to clinch up but lll keeps it at a distance.
Rutten tries to clinch there but lll circles away.

That's two 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.
The fight stays on the outside here - lll looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

lll forces Rutten back against the cage and clinches.
lll blocks the elbow strike.
lll lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

lll escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good leg kick by lll there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
lll wants to clinch up but Rutten keeps it at a distance.
lll circles away from the clinch attempt.
lll throws a head kick that misses.
Rutten misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up but lll swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rutten moves into range and clinches up with lll.
lll crunches a lovely knee into Rutten's ribcage.
lll makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
lll wants to get back to striking at distance but Rutten won't allow it.
Rutten misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

lll breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
lll wants to clinch up but Rutten keeps it at a distance.
Rutten tries to clinch there but lll circles away.
A good leg kick by lll.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but lll shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Rutten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
lll tries to clinch but Rutten moves out of range.
lll tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rutten lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

lll tries to keep at a distance but Rutten has taken the fight into the clinch.
lll wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
lll is stalling here.
Rutten has a couple of punches blocked by lll.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rutten jumps guard but lll stands there with Rutten around his waist. Rutten gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for lll.
Rutten throws an elbow but it misses.

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.
Rutten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
lll is pressed up against the cage. Rutten has hold of a leg and is looking to drag lll down to the mat. lll avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
lll looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Rutten gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
lll tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rutten's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
lll tries to score a body lock takedown but Rutten shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rutten drops to a knee looking for a takedown but lll gets the underhooks and prevents it.

lll's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
lll tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rutten moves into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for lll.
Rutten landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rutten drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
lll has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rutten avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ham lll will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joe Rutten's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rutten moves into the clinch successfully.
lll misses with a knee to the head.
Rutten lands with a light punch inside.
Rutten prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rutten letting lll take a breather here.
A short body shot lands from Rutten as the two fighters clinch.
Rutten misses with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from lll.
Rutten tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. lll smiles and moves away.
Rutten wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten tries to score a power double leg takedown but lll sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rutten somewhat.
Rutten is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten lands with a straight right. lll didn't see that one coming.
A good leg kick by lll.
Rutten tries a head kick but it misses.
Rutten takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rutten lands a jab to the nose.
Rutten clinches but lll breaks the clinch
and lll counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rutten is lucky that one didn't land flush.
lll swats away the attempt to clinch by Rutten.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up but lll swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rutten throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around lll's waist but lll gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rutten off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Rutten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rutten wants to clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by lll.

That's two 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.

Rutten rushes lll and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
lll tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Rutten breaks the clinch.
lll throws a combination that misses

and Rutten counters by clinching up.
Rutten tries to pull guard but lll won't allow it.
Rutten wants to get back to striking at distance but lll won't allow it.

Rutten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rutten tries a head kick but it misses.
lll closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rutten holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
lll tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rutten just stands there and leans against the cage.

lll escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rutten wants to clinch.

Rutten forces lll back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rutten lands a knee to the body.
Rutten prevents lll from breaking the clinch.
Nice body punch from lll.
Rutten is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. lll is defending well for now.

lll breaks the clinch.
Rutten tries to clinch up but lll circles away and keeps his distance.
lll closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rutten counters with a head kick. That will keep lll thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rutten jabs at lll's body.

Rutten gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
lll lands a knee to the body.
Rutten blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rutten with an attempt at a knee that misses.
lll misses with a knee to the head.

lll pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
lll connects with a looping right hand.

That's four 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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
lll wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rutten has him pressed against the cage.
Rutten is trying to break the clinch but lll has him pressed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rutten tries to land a knee to the head but lll blocks with his arms.
Rutten misses with a punch on the inside.

Rutten breaks from the clinch.
lll lands with a slapping head kick.
lll scores with a spinning back kick!
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up but lll swats him away and circles back towards the center.
lll tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Rutten.
Rutten scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rutten misses with a kick to the body
and lll counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rutten thinking.
Rutten wants to clinch up but lll keeps it at a distance.
Rutten tries to clinch but lll is having none of it.
Rutten blocks a head kick by lll.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Rutten showed his dominance in that final round.
I think lll 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for Ham lll!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Ham lll!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Ham lll!

Ham lll wins by unanimous decision!