PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Lesner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bas Rutten has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rutten
vs
Lesner

185 cm
23
220 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

194 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Lesner!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten has a takedown stuffed.
Rutten closes the distance and clinches up with Lesner, looking for a takedown. Rutten pushes Lesner against the cage but Lesner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lesner tries a low kick but Rutten avoids it.
Rutten tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lesner swivels and escapes.
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 with a lovely double leg takedown. Lesner manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rutten trying to control but Lesner is working from the bottom.
Rutten won't allow Lesner to get back to his feet.
Rutten with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rutten throws a big right hand that misses.
Lesner is looking to stand up but Rutten isn't so interested in that idea.

Rutten drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lesner looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lesner looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lesner!
Rutten is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lesner decides to stand back up. Lesner steps back and let's Rutten get back to his feet.
Rutten looks for a takedown but Lesner sprawls well.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but Lesner shows good takedown defense.
Some wild striking there from Lesner.
Lesner throws a series of punches but Rutten moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rutten.
Lesner fails to land with a series of punches.
Lesner misses with a few strikes there.
Lesner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rutten circles away quickly and effectively.
Rutten connects with a high kick.
Lesner throws a head kick that misses
and Rutten makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Lesner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Rutten counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lesner uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rutten is breathing heavily.
Lesner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but Lesner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lesner falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rutten counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rutten with a flurry of punches that miss.

Lesner is working an open guard so Rutten takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rutten shoots in and drives through. Lesner sprawls well.
Lesner throws a body kick that misses.
Lesner throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

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

Rutten is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lesner is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lesner wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lesner tries to escape but Rutten is in control.
Rutten sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lesner is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Lesner wants to get back to his feet but Rutten drags him back down.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lesner stops Rutten from passing to mount.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lesner fails to land with a series of punches.

Rutten looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rutten wants to stand but Lesner has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Lesner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Rutten drops back looking for a leg! Lesner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lesner manages to kick Rutten off! Rutten jumps back into Lesner's guard.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Lesner keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rutten is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lesner is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Rutten is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lesner is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lesner has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lesner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bas Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutten fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lesner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lesner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lesner throws a nice looking combination but Rutten bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rutten decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Lesner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rutten.
Rutten prevents Lesner from standing back up.
Rutten seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lesner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lesner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rutten is keen to just control but Lesner is a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lesner throws a leg kick but Rutten sees it coming and moves out of range.
Lesner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Rutten shoots in and bounces Lesner off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rutten trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
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.
Lesner has a closed guard, preventing Rutten from standing up.

Lesner manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Lesner swinging wildly here.
Lesner takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rutten looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lesner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rutten postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Lesner pushes Rutten off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rutten shoots in but Lesner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lesner throws a left and a right that both miss

so Rutten counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Lesner wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rutten bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Lesner is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutten tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rutten has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lesner tries to escape but Rutten is in control.
Rutten throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Bas Rutten overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rutten trying to control the action but Lesner is working from the bottom.

Lesner throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Lesner fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rutten thuds a left hand into Lesner's body.
Lesner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rutten circles away quickly and effectively.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lesner sprawls well. Lesner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rutten gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bas Rutten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lesner fails to land with a series of punches.

Lesner gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lesner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rutten trying to control but Lesner is working from the bottom.
Rutten controlling from the top position.
Rutten thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lesner misses with a combination

and Rutten counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Lesner manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Lesner throws a push kick but Rutten slaps the foot to one side.
Lesner throws a series of punches but Rutten avoids them all with ease.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but Lesner shows good takedown defense.
Rutten scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lesner throws a combination that misses

and Rutten counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rutten.

Rutten breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lesner throws a combination that misses

and Rutten counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rutten thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rutten prevents Lesner from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lesner uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Rutten counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rutten won't allow Lesner to get back to his feet.
Rutten loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rutten stands up over Lesner, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Lesner wriggles free and stands up.
Lesner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rutten counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lesner wants to stand up but Rutten is controlling him.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Lesner keeps moving.

Rutten drops back looking for a leg! Lesner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lesner manages to kick Rutten off! Rutten jumps back into Lesner's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rutten decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lesner missing with a left hand there. Rutten was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rutten changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lesner tries to avoid it but Rutten manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lesner to the ground. Lesner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rutten shoots in and drives through. Lesner sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bas Rutten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lesner throws a leg kick but Rutten checks it.
A head kick misses from Lesner.
Lesner throws a leg kick that is checked

and Rutten counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rutten is working for a kimura but Lesner is defending it quite comfortably.

Rutten is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten passes to full mount!
Rutten can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lesner is looking to escape.
Lesner wants to try and get back to his feet.
Matt Lesner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rutten is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lesner can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

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.

Rutten jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lesner is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lesner and Rutten has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Bas Rutten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rutten wants to stand but Lesner has his arm trapped.

Rutten tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lesner is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lesner is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bas Rutten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rutten, 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

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