PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russ Rutger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Calzaghe kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Pride of Wales. Rutger has chosen Prince Ital Joe feat. Marky Mark - United as his entrance music. Russ Rutger has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Calzaghe
vs
Rutger

182 cm
26
173 lbs
17 - 9 - 1

172 cm
29
175 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
•• Beast Mode ••

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Joe Calzaghe!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Russ Rutger!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calzaghe fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rutger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russ Rutger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutger moves forwards but Calzaghe connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rutger misses the shot to the body.
Calzaghe misses with an uppercut.
Rutger chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rutger tests Calzaghe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Calzaghe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rutger doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Calzaghe swings for the body but Rutger moves out of range.
Rutger takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutger swings away with a body shot that misses
and Calzaghe counters with a stiff right hand.
Calzaghe throws a hook but Rutger blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Joe Calzaghe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Calzaghe misses.
Rutger is looking to clinch.
Calzaghe defending well as Rutger loads up on a big left hand.
Rutger tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Calzaghe swivels and escapes.
Rutger moves in looking to clinch but Calzaghe pushes him off.
Rutger tries to clinch up.
Rutger swings widly with a right hand
and Calzaghe counters with a nice uppercut.
Calzaghe takes a swing at Rutger's ribcage but misses.
Calzaghe stuns Rutger with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rutger throws out a loose jab but Calzaghe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Calzaghe with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rutger to score with a decent uppercut.
Calzaghe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rutger sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe misses with a shot to the body

and Rutger counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rutger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Calzaghe is controlling Rutger's trapped leg to prevent Rutger from advancing to side control.
Rutger thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Calzaghe's head.
Rutger missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Calzaghe trying to control but Rutger postures up.
Rutger is pressing down on Calzaghe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Calzaghe is holding on for now.
Rutger slows the pace down in half guard.
Rutger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutger stops Calzaghe from getting back to his feet.
Rutger sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Calzaghe. Rutger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Calzaghe is looking to wear down Rutger with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Calzaghe's corner calls for a 1-2. Calzaghe obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A shot to the body from Calzaghe misses
and Rutger counters with a low kick, right behind Calzaghe 's knee.
Calzaghe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rutger.
Calzaghe ducks under a wild hook from Rutger.
Calzaghe walks into a stiff left hand from Rutger.
Rutger tries to clinch up but Calzaghe circles away and keeps his distance.
Calzaghe connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Calzaghe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rutger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutger chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Calzaghe misses with a body shot.
Rutger shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
That kick from Rutger tenderised Calzaghe's leg. Calzaghe is trying to keep his angry face on.

Rutger gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Come on Rutger - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A body shot lands from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe is trying to stall.

Rutger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rutger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Calzaghe throws out a powerful jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Russ Rutger will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rutger throws a body punch but Calzaghe moves out of range.
Rutger slips a straight right by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rutger throws out the jab.
Rutger connects with an inside leg kick.
Rutger tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Calzaghe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rutger bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The fighters circling - Calzaghe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rutger looks to score with a jab to the body but Calzaghe is just out of range.
Rutger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Calzaghe tries to avoid it but Rutger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Calzaghe to the ground. Calzaghe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rutger misses with a head kick.
Rutger walks into a stiff left hand from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws the left hand but Rutger avoids the punch easily.
Calzaghe blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Calzaghe swings for the body but Rutger moves out of range.
Calzaghe wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Calzaghe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Calzaghe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Calzaghe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Calzaghe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rutger manages to avoid it.
Calzaghe checks a leg kick.
Rutger with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rutger looks to land a body kick but Calzaghe moved away.
Calzaghe just misses with a punch to the body.
Calzaghe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rutger counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutger blocks a jab.
Calzaghe takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rutger swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Calzaghe misses the target.
Rutger is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Calzaghe.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rutger throws a series of punches but Calzaghe avoids them all with ease.
Calzaghe on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rutger scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Calzaghe doesn't seem bothered though.
Calzaghe takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rutger throws a poor cross that misses
and Rutger takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Calzaghe jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rutger on the side of the head.
Calzaghe moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Calzaghe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rutger moves away.
Rutger wants to clinch up but Calzaghe keeps it at a distance.
Calzaghe keeps the fight on the outside.
Rutger tries to clinch up but Calzaghe circles away and keeps his distance.
Rutger tries to clinch up but Calzaghe circles away and keeps his distance.
Calzaghe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Rutger counters by clinching up.
Rutger jumps guard but Calzaghe turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Rutger manages to break the clinch.
Rutger uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws a looping overhand right but Rutger ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe slaps away a takedown attempt from Rutger, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Joe Calzaghe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russ Rutger.
A jab from Calzaghe misses.
Calzaghe takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A big right from Rutger misses.
Rutger slips under a jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rutger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rutger lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rutger clobbers Calzaghe with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rutger throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rutger misses with a straight left.
Rutger throws a right hand that misses
and Calzaghe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Rutger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Calzaghe ducks under a wild hook from Rutger.
Calzaghe listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Russ Rutger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Calzaghe throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rutger stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Calzaghe tries to close the distance and clinch but Rutger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A jab from Calzaghe misses.
Rutger finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Calzaghe swings for the body but Rutger moves out of range.
Calzaghe scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rutger on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Calzaghe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rutger throws a leg kick which misses Calzaghe's front leg but catches the back leg as Calzaghe tries to avoid it.
Rutger bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutger lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Calzaghe misses with a straight right.
Rutger dips to his left and cracks Calzaghe with an uppercut!
Rutger thows a body shot but no joy.
Rutger digs a good hook to Calzaghe's body.
A combination from Rutger does no damage.
Calzaghe throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rutger makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rutger throws out a loose jab but Calzaghe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rutger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Calzaghe.
Rutger moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rutger tries to clinch there but Calzaghe circles away.
Calzaghe lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Calzaghe takes a kick to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Calzaghe takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Calzaghe is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Calzaghe throws a sloppy body shot
and Rutger counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Calzaghe thinking.
Calzaghe on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Calzaghe scores with a sloppy right hand. Rutger should have avoided that one.
A jab from Rutger finds it's way through Calzaghe's defenses.
Rutger misses with a hook to the body
and Calzaghe counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Calzaghe thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe lands a nice shot that snaps Rutger's head back.
Calzaghe takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Calzaghe is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Calzaghe blocks a head kick by Rutger.
Rutger throws a jab when Calzaghe was well out of range.
Calzaghe dodges the punch combination from Rutger.
Rutger feints and then cracks Calzaghe's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Calzaghe down.
Calzaghe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rutger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Calzaghe lands a slapping body shot.
Rutger throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rutger explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutger misses with an attempted mid kick.
Calzaghe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rutger counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rutger lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Rutger scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rutger working away.
Rutger working the head with strikes.
Rutger staying calm.
Rutger advances to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Calzaghe in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A looping hook to the body misses from Rutger. Calzaghe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rutger takes a swing at Calzaghe's ribcage but misses.
Calzaghe misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rutger counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Calzaghe is rocked!
Rutger takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Oh Calzaghe is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
An inside leg kick from Rutger misses.
Rutger jabs Calzaghe to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Calzaghe seems to have got his legs back now.
Rutger tries to clinch but Calzaghe is having none of it.
Rutger looks to score with a jab to the body but Calzaghe is just out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rutger.
Calzaghe misses with an uppercut. Rutger saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe just misses with a punch to the body.
Rutger misses the shot to the body.
Rutger throws a sloppy body shot
and Calzaghe counters with a lovely shot to the body.
No joy there for Rutger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rutger feints and then cracks Calzaghe's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Calzaghe down.
Rutger wants to slow Calzaghe down by chopping away at his legs.
Calzaghe missing with a left hand there. Rutger was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rutger closes the distance but Calzaghe moves to the side
and Calzaghe counters with a stiff right hand.
Calzaghe scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Calzaghe cracks Rutger with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rutger.
Rutger misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rutger, right into the meat.
Rutger throws a series of punches but Calzaghe moves out of range.
Rutger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rutger avoids the body shot from Calzaghe.
Rutger scores with a decent looking hook.
Rutger is looking to chop away at Calzaghe's legs.
Calzaghe misses the jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutger misses with a lunging right hand
and Calzaghe counters with a nice body shot.
Rutger tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calzaghe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rutger connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rutger at a distance.
A jab from Calzaghe misses.
Calzaghe connects with a body shot.
Calzaghe blocks a low kick nicely.
Rutger has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Rutger throws a lazy uppercut
and Calzaghe counters with a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Calzaghe. Rutger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rutger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Calzaghe lands with a shot to the body.
Rutger pushes Calzaghe away with a front kick.
Calzaghe scores with a hook.
Calzaghe swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rutger.
Rutger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Calzaghe was well out of range. Poor timing from Rutger.
Calzaghe avoids a kick to the body.
Calzaghe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rutger manages to avoid it.
Rutger moves in looking to clinch but Calzaghe pushes him off.
Calzaghe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rutger moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Calzaghe fails to land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A shot to the liver by Calzaghe. Beautiful body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutger takes a swing at Calzaghe's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Russ Rutger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A bone on bone clash there as Calzaghe blocks the leg kick.
Rutger looks to land a right hand but Calzaghe moved out of range.
A jab from Rutger misses.

Rutger moves into the clinch.
Calzaghe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A nice left hand lands by Rutger.
Rutger lands with a short shot to the head.
Calzaghe misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rutger drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Calzaghe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rutger lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Calzaghe or not.
Calzaghe can't break the clinch.
Rutger misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutger gets through Calzaghe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Calzaghe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rutger tries to pull guard but Calzaghe forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Calzaghe's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Calzaghe tries to break the clinch but Rutger is controlling the position.
Rutger displaying some good clinch control by pressing Calzaghe up against the cage.
A short left from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Rutger pulls guard.
Rutger is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Calzaghe looking to sit in guard and control but Rutger gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Calzaghe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Calzaghe is trying to keep Rutger in close.
Rutger wants to control from the top but Calzaghe keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rutger makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Russ Rutger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rutger throwing strikes from guard but Calzaghe blocks nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Calzaghe keeping moving, preventing Rutger from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutger advances to half guard.
Rutger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Calzaghe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rutger tries to pass to full mount but Calzaghe defends it.
Calzaghe wants to improve his position but Rutger is controlling well.
Rutger trying to control the pace.
Rutger thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Calzaghe's head.
Calzaghe won't allow Rutger to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is looking to get back to full guard here but Rutger has managed to pass to side control instead.
Rutger working away.
Calzaghe is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Joe Calzaghe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rutger looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Rutger is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Still in half guard, Rutger seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russ Rutger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rutger has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 45:50
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russ Rutger! Russ Rutger retains his welterweight title!
An out of breath and clearly excited Russ Rutger thanked FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).