PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebastiaan Rutten (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
Rutten

193 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jon Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sebastiaan Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten keeps the fight on the outside.
Jones misses with a head kick.
Jones throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rutten.
Rutten shoots in for a double leg but Jones sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rutten tries to clinch up

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown. Rutten fights it but they end up in guard.
Jones wanted to stand there but Rutten had control of the position.
Jones missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rutten keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Rutten is trying to keep Jones in close.
Jones stops Rutten from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.
Jones is looking to stand up but Rutten won't let him.
Rutten is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rutten closes the distance but Jones moves to the side

and Jones counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jones displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rutten up against the cage.
Rutten tries to stall but Jones uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rutten scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Jon Jones has been cut.
Jones wants to break free but Rutten has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jones fails to pull guard.
Jones is looking to break free of the clinch but Rutten has double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Jones fails to land.
Rutten misses with a knee strike.
Rutten with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jones jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rutten walks away with a smile on his face. Jones gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rutten gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Jones is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Rutten is looking to escape.
Jones misses with a head shot. Rutten uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten wants to control but Jones passes easily into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones wants to control but Rutten is keeping him busy.
Rutten wants to get back to his feet.
Jones uses his free foot to push down on Rutten's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rutten.
Jones lands a big shot there that rocks Rutten but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The referee warns Rutten that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

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.
Jones postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rutten looks a forlorn figure.
Jones scoring with strikes but Rutten is staying in there.
Rutten is trying to escape the mount.
Jones with the ground and pound from mount.
You get the feeling that Rutten really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Jones is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Jones with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Jones dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jon Jones's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jones lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rutten misses with a takedown attempt

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Rutten is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jones is aware though and is defending well.
Jones scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jones landing with the ground and pound.
Jones slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jones knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rutten on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rutten takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones advances nicely into full mount.
Rutten tries to lock up and control but Jones gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Jones can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rutten is looking to escape.

Jones has hold of Rutten's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rutten manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Jones avoids the attempt from Rutten to control.
Rutten is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Jones breaks from Rutten's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Jones with shots to the head and body - Rutten looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rutten is looking to get to half guard.
Jones postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rutten looks a forlorn figure.
Rutten tries to lock up and control but Jones gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Jones controlling from the full mount.
Rutten is desperately trying to improve his position but Jones has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rutten has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rutten'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.
Jones punishing his opponent with strikes.
You get the feeling that Rutten really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Jones raining down shots from the mount!
Rutten tries to lock up and control but Jones gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rutten regains half guard.
Rutten trying to control but Jones postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rutten manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Rutten looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jones wants to control from the top but Rutten keeps moving.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Jones dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jon Jones's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jones takes a swing at Rutten's ribcage but misses.
Jon Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones tries to clinch but Rutten is having none of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jones wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Jones is trying to break the clinch but Rutten is controlling him.
Rutten keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jones's efforts to push away.
Jones wants to break free but Rutten has control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rutten blocks an uppercut.
Jones wants to break free but Rutten has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten lands an elbow just above Jones 's eye.
Rutten is trying to break the clinch but Jones is controlling him.
Jones lands an uppercut.
Rutten lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Rutten drops Jones with a big knee straight up the middle! Jones is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Jones is rocked!
Rutten fails with the takedown
and Jones counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Oh Jones is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jones tries to clinch up.
Jones seems to have got his legs back now.
Rutten tries to clinch up but Jones circles away and keeps his distance.
Rutten with a poor takedown
and Jones counters with a left and a right that stings Rutten.
Rutten misses with a takedown

and Jones counters with a takedown into side control.
Jon Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastiaan Rutten.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones working away.
Rutten wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rutten taking punishment in the form of punches.

Jones stands up.
Rutten closes the distance looking to clinch

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rutten won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones scores with punches from side control.
Rutten wants to get back to his feet.
Rutten is looking for a sweep.
Rutten wants to get back to his feet but Jones drags him back down.
Rutten tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rutten is trying to control Jones's posture but Jones avoids it.
An elbow from Jones crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rutten misses with a takedown

and Jones counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jones.

Jones drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rutten manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jones has Rutten in his guard.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jones, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Jones!