PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Sleeper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rutten comes to the ring accompanied by Joe Esposito - Your the Best Around. Sleeper is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Love me Sexy. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rutten
vs
Sleeper

187 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bas Rutten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tyler Sleeper!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten throws a nice looking combination but Sleeper bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sleeper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Rutten paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rutten lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sleeper backs up against the ropes.

It looks like Tyler Sleeper has been cut.
Sleeper takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rutten throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sleeper.
Rutten tries to clinch but Sleeper moves out of range.
Sleeper throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Bas Rutten has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sleeper shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rutten lands with a slapping head kick.
Rutten throws a body kick that misses.
Rutten throws a right and a left that Sleeper avoids nicely.
Sleeper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sleeper shoots in but Rutten avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rutten throws a series of punches but Sleeper avoids them all with ease.

Rutten shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sleeper is trying to defend but Rutten finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rutten moves into full mount! Sleeper won't be happy about that!
Rutten landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sleeper tries to hold on but Rutten pushes him away.
Rutten looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rutten trying to control but Sleeper is having none of it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sleeper is bucking up trying to escape but Rutten cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sleeper is trying to stand up.
Rutten blocks Sleeper's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Rutten prevents Sleeper from getting the reversal.
Sleeper looks gassed!

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.
Rutten tries to control but Sleeper wriggling away.
A nice elbow there by Rutten.
Rutten trying to control but Sleeper is having none of it.
Rutten punishing his opponent with strikes.
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 looking for a guillotine from mount but Sleeper is having none of it.
Sleeper'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.
A nice elbow there by Rutten.
Rutten looking to control but Sleeper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sleeper wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutten working for a choke but Sleeper is defending well.
Rutten has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Sleeper's body.
Sleeper is trying to get back to his feet but Rutten has full control of the position and if anything, Sleeper has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Rutten trying to control momentarily.
Rutten is trying to control but Sleeper is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Sleeper tries to lock up and control but Rutten gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rutten looking to control but Sleeper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Rutten is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Some wild striking there from Rutten.
A head kick misses from Rutten.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rutten scores with a one two! Sleeper had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rutten throws a right and a left that both miss.
A swing and a miss from Sleeper.
A nice combination there by Rutten.
Sleeper showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rutten.

Sleeper drives through and clinches with Rutten against the ropes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rutten with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rutten scores with a knee to the head.

Rutten breaks the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Sleeper as he connects with a hook.
Sleeper throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Sleeper will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The crowd cheers as Sleeper lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rutten doesn't seem phased though.
Rutten throws a wild body kick that Sleeper sees coming a mile off.
Rutten is looking to clinch.
Sleeper throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rutten throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sleeper.
Sleeper chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rutten can pounce on him.
Sleeper scores with a head kick.
Rutten scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sleeper in his tracks.
Sleeper takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rutten lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rutten looks to land a combination but Sleeper avoids it well.
Rutten swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sleeper counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sleeper drives through with a takedown into guard.

Sleeper stands up and waves to Rutten to follow him.
Rutten throws a body punch but Sleeper moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sleeper is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rutten's half guard.
Rutten trying to control but Sleeper postures up.
Sleeper is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Sleeper is pressing down on Rutten's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rutten is holding on for now.
Rutten regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rutten trying to keep a closed guard but Sleeper is proving a slippery customer.
Rutten has a closed guard, preventing Sleeper from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sleeper won't allow Rutten to sweep him here.

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

Rutten closes the distance and clinches.
Sleeper tries to pull guard but Rutten won't allow it.
Sleeper wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rutten using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sleeper has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rutten lands a damaging elbow.
Sleeper avoids the elbow strike from Rutten, against the ropes.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Sleeper is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rutten pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rutten goes for a takedown attempt but Sleeper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rutten lands with a right hand.

Rutten rushes Sleeper and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sleeper breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sleeper tries to clinch up.
Some wild striking there from Rutten.
Sleeper walks into a stiff left hand from Rutten.
Rutten lands a head kick!
Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
Rutten misses with a double jab.

Sleeper looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rutten wants to control but Sleeper is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rutten tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rutten is looking to improve his position.
Sleeper passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rutten!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten is desperately trying to improve his position but Sleeper has a good base and remains in mount.
Sleeper lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Sleeper there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rutten is desperately trying to improve his position but Sleeper has a good base and remains in mount.
Sleeper trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sleeper takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rutten throwing hammer fists to the chest of Sleeper. What's that going to do exactly?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Sleeper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Rutten takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rutten throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rutten throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rutten misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rutten throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sleeper's waist but Sleeper gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rutten off to one side.
Sleeper takes one on the button.
Bas Rutten is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick and Sleeper moves out of range easily.

Sleeper shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sleeper showed some decent athleticism there.
Sleeper passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rutten!
Sleeper avoids the attempt from Rutten to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sleeper throws a wild left hand from mount and Rutten manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sleeper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rutten keeps working.
Rutten avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sleeper.
Sleeper tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rutten controls his leg.

Rutten kicks off Sleeper and gets to his feet.
Rutten fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice body kick there by Rutten.
Rutten throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Rutten lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rutten lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rutten throws a series of punches but Sleeper moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sleeper checks a leg kick.
No joy there for Rutten, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sleeper connects with a single shot there.
Sleeper uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rutten.
Rutten walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Some bone on bone action there as Sleeper checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rutten throws a nice looking combination but Sleeper bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rutten connects with a right hand. Sleeper shakes it off.
Sleeper tries to clinch but Rutten is having none of it.
Rutten is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sleeper dodges the punch combination from Rutten.
Sleeper tries to clinch but Rutten is having none of it.
Sleeper tries to clinch but Rutten moves out of range.
Sleeper throws a series of punches but Rutten avoids them all with ease.
Rutten will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sleeper lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sleeper.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sleeper tries to clinch up.
Rutten tries to bum rush Sleeper with a series of wild strikes but Sleeper uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sleeper tries to clinch
and Rutten counters with a nice leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sleeper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sleeper misses with the body kick

and Rutten counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rutten landing knees to the head.

Sleeper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sleeper paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sleeper fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sleeper is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rutten sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sleeper takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rutten. Sleeper shrugs it off though.

Rutten gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rutten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sleeper will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rutten closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sleeper lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sleeper counters by moving into the clinch.
Rutten with a knee to the head.
Sleeper lands an elbow that stopped Rutten in his tracks for a moment.
Sleeper has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rutten is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sleeper is keeping busy.
Sleeper can't get the takedown.
Sleeper avoiding damage as Rutten throws knees to the body.
Sleeper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rutten's efforts to push away.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rutten.
Sleeper tries to break free but Rutten pushes him back against the ropes.
Rutten creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sleeper tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bas Rutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Sleeper.
Rutten digs a right hand underneath Sleeper's ribcage. Sleeper let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sleeper working hard to break the clinch.
Rutten blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rutten looking to throw knees to the head but Sleeper is blocking nicely.

Rutten pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rutten keeps the fight on the outside.
Rutten throws a right hand that Sleeper ducks under and follows up with a left that Sleeper also avoids with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Rutten. No joy for Sleeper on that attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bas Rutten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rutten 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

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