PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Domermuth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Domermuth has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rutten
vs
Domermuth

185 cm
23
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
275 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bas Rutten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keith Domermuth!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Franklyn Lucas and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Domermuth as he jumps to the side.
Domermuth takes a swing at Rutten's ribcage but misses.
No joy there for Rutten, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Domermuth defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rutten.
Domermuth takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rutten throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rutten moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Rutten decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rutten wants to control but Domermuth is keeping him busy.

Rutten is trying to work for a kimura but Domermuth is defending well.
Rutten is trying to control. Domermuth wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Domermuth is looking for a sweep. Rutten is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Domermuth is trying to maintain the position but Rutten is very close to passing his half guard.
Domermuth looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rutten is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Domermuth defends it well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rutten in particular looking to stall.
Rutten not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Domermuth stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Domermuth wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bas Rutten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but Domermuth shows good takedown defense.
Domermuth keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rutten keeps Domermuth at a distance using the push kick.

Rutten feints and as Domermuth raises his hands in defense, Rutten changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Domermuth keeping moving, preventing Rutten from controlling successfully.
Rutten throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rutten pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Domermuth is keeping the position for now.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Domermuth keeps moving.

Rutten drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Domermuth dives on top into guard.
Rutten being controlled here, momentarily.
Domermuth has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rutten is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutten is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rutten is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Domermuth wants to stand but Rutten has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Rutten looking for a guillotine here but Domermuth defends easily.

Domermuth stands and steps away. Rutten gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

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.

Domermuth changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rutten looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Domermuth wants to stand but Rutten is controlling his arm.
Rutten is looking to reverse the position.
Rutten is trying to get back to his feet.
Rutten tries to bench press Domermuth off him but Domermuth keeps the position.

Domermuth stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Rutten with a lazy takedown attempt

and Domermuth counters with a takedown into side control.

Domermuth stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Domermuth closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Domermuth dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rutten fails with the takedown

and Domermuth counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rutten controls Domermuth momentarily but Domermuth frees himself.

Rutten working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Domermuth doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Domermuth manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rutten has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Domermuth can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rutten is working an open guard so Domermuth takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rutten shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Domermuth decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rutten's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten keeping full guard, as Domermuth tries to pass.
Domermuth trying to control but Rutten is working from the bottom.
Rutten looking for a sweep. Not yet Rutten, not yet.
Domermuth has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rutten is proving hard to escape from.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rutten is on top in guard.

Rutten postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Domermuth is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rutten, into his guard.
Rutten preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Domermuth trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rutten's guard.

Rutten escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Domermuth gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Domermuth preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rutten has his feet on Domermuth's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Rutten shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Domermuth 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 works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Domermuth is working to get back to half guard.
Domermuth wants to control but Rutten is having none of it.
Domermuth is desperately trying to improve his position but Rutten has a good base and remains in mount.
Rutten working away from the top, dropping strikes.
BOOM! Rutten connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Rutten looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Rutten stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Domermuth fails to land the takedown.
Domermuth swinging wildly here.
Rutten has his takedown stuffed

and Domermuth counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rutten!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bas Rutten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Domermuth content just to control the position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rutten is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Domermuth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Domermuth defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rutten.
Rutten shoots and misses

and Domermuth counters with a single leg into guard. Rutten didn't expect that.
Rutten wants to sweep here but Domermuth controlling him for the moment.
Rutten seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Domermuth wants to control from the top but Rutten keeps moving.
Keith Domermuth has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rutten looking for a guillotine here but Domermuth defends easily.
Domermuth wants to stand but Rutten has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Domermuth is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rutten is on top in guard.
Rutten pushing down on Domermuth's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rutten prevents Domermuth from standing back up.
Nice strikes from Rutten there.

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.
Rutten throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Domermuth tries to kick Rutten off but Rutten keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Domermuth wants to improve his position but Rutten is controlling well.
Rutten wants to lay and pray for a moment but Domermuth keeps working.
Domermuth regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rutten throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rutten with a lazy takedown attempt

and Domermuth counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bas Rutten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rutten looking to hit a scissor sweep but Domermuth is one step ahead there.
Rutten is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutten looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rutten wants to sweep but no luck.

Rutten looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Domermuth loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rutten has a closed guard, preventing Domermuth from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rutten has his takedown stuffed

and Domermuth counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten is trying to control the position but Domermuth postures up.
Rutten keeping full guard, as Domermuth tries to pass.
Bas Rutten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Domermuth decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A head kick from Rutten lands but Domermuth takes it in his stride.
Rutten with a poor takedown
and Rutten takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Domermuth lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Domermuth scores with a nice head shot.
Domermuth just misses with a punch to the body.
Rutten thuds a left hand into Domermuth's body.
Keith Domermuth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rutten connects with a high kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Domermuth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Domermuth winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Domermuth!