PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Grover Guthrie (ranked 24141 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jai Ruane (ranked 7702 p4p, 0 weight class). Grover Guthrie has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Guthrie
vs
Ruane

217 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Grover Guthrie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jai Ruane!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Ruane. No joy for Guthrie on that attempt.
Ruane tries to land a front kick but Guthrie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ruane swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jai Ruane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruane defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Guthrie.

Guthrie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Ruane has one foot on Guthrie's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Guthrie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Guthrie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ruane's head.
Guthrie tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Ruane.
Guthrie lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guthrie prevents Ruane from improving his position.
Guthrie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ruane's head.
Guthrie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ruane taking some punishment here, with Guthrie in his half guard.
Guthrie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Guthrie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Guthrie tries to stand and escape but Ruane is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Guthrie connects with a nice short shot to Ruane's temple.

Guthrie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ruane has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guthrie thows a huge punch but Ruane dodges it nicely.
Ruane is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ruane trying to control but Guthrie postures up.
Ruane looks winded!
Guthrie working over Ruane with some ground and pound. Ruane looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ruane trying to control but Guthrie postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guthrie seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ruane blocking the ground and pound attempt from Guthrie.
Guthrie landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ruane on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ruane is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Guthrie scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ruane is looking for a sweep. Guthrie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ruane wants to control but Guthrie is keeping busy.
Guthrie 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.

Guthrie stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Ruane throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Guthrie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ruane as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grover Guthrie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Guthrie moves away.

Ruane drives through and clinches with Guthrie against the cage.
Guthrie is trying to pull guard but Ruane has him pressed against the cage.

Ruane breaks from the clinch.
Guthrie misses with a takedown attempt - Ruane sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Ruane clinches with his opponent.

Ruane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ruane will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Guthrie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ruane to the mat! Ruane manages to get full guard.
Ruane is looking to stand back up but Guthrie counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ruane.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grover Guthrie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jai Ruane's cut.
That's time! Guthrie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Guthrie has a takedown stuffed.

Guthrie shoots in and gets a takedown into Ruane's guard.

Ruane pushes Guthrie off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ruane goes for a double leg but Guthrie avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Guthrie continues to drive forward.
Guthrie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ruane defends it nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Guthrie.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grover Guthrie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruane is breathing heavily.

Guthrie moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guthrie fails to pull guard.
Guthrie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ruane tries to pull guard but Guthrie forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ruane drops down looking for an ankle pick but Guthrie pulls his leg out and moves away.
Guthrie shoots in but Ruane avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Guthrie shoots in looking for a takedown but Ruane manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Guthrie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ruane misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ruane fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guthrie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruane circles away.
Guthrie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ruane defends it nicely.
Ruane throws a series of punches but Guthrie avoids them all with ease.
Guthrie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ruane as he avoids it easily.
Ruane throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Guthrie's waist but Guthrie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ruane off to one side.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Guthrie is defended easily by Ruane.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guthrie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ruane is fending him off so far but Guthrie persists. Nope, Ruane circles away and we're back to standing.
Guthrie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Guthrie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ruane shoots in for a takedown but Guthrie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Ruane fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Guthrie, pushing him back against the cage.
Guthrie tries to pull guard but Ruane forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Guthrie jumps guard.
Guthrie looking to control but Ruane passes into half guard.

Ruane is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Guthrie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ruane.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guthrie trying to control here.
Guthrie wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruane trying to control the pace.
Guthrie wants to control but Ruane is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jai Ruane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jai Ruane's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Guthrie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Guthrie lands strikes from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Guthrie connects with a nice short shot to Ruane's temple.

Guthrie is trying to work for a kimura but Ruane is defending well.
Guthrie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Guthrie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Guthrie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Guthrie there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruane wants to control but Guthrie is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Guthrie gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Ruane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Guthrie.
Ruane lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Guthrie circles away quickly and effectively.
Guthrie moves out of range of the body kick from Ruane.

Guthrie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Guthrie connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ruane some visible discomfort.
Guthrie lands a nice forearm strike.
Guthrie cracks Ruane with a big elbow.
Guthrie lands a nice forearm strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guthrie is putting a hurting on Ruane here, landing some big shots from side control.
Guthrie looks up at the clock and then as Ruane takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Guthrie smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Guthrie lands a decent elbow from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Guthrie working the ground and pound from side control.

Guthrie stands up and beckons Ruane to his feet.
Guthrie shoots in for a takedown but Ruane shows good takedown defense.

Ruane moves into range and clinches up with Guthrie.
Guthrie tries to pull guard but Ruane holds him up against the cage and eventually Guthrie drops back down to his feet.
Guthrie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ruane.
Guthrie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ruane to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grover Guthrie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruane lands a good knee to the midsection. Guthrie won't want to take too many of those.
Guthrie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ruane holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Ruane breaks from the clinch.
Guthrie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruane but Ruane pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ruane misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Guthrie scores with a takedown into Ruane's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ruane manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guthrie tries to throw a body punch but Ruane avoids it by throwing Guthrie back against the cage.
Ruane keeps control of Guthrie as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ruane is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ruane lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ruane tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Guthrie just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Guthrie tries to break the clinch but Ruane is controlling the position.
Guthrie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ruane smiles and moves away.
Guthrie defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ruane.
It looked like Guthrie was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Guthrie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Guthrie tries to circle away but Ruane has him pinned against the cage.
Ruane goes for a takedown in the clinch but Guthrie prevents it.
Guthrie tries to pull guard but Ruane forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Grover Guthrie.
I think Guthrie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grover Guthrie!