PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rutten
vs
Thiago

166 cm
22
139 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

168 cm
19
134 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Rutten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Paulo Thiago!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thiago keeps the fight on the outside.
Rutten avoids the head kick by Thiago.

Rutten clinches up against the cage.
Thiago wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thiago lands a left hand.

Thiago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thiago closes the distance but Rutten moves to the side
and Rutten counters with a straight right hand.
Rutten misses with a head kick.

Thiago clinches up against the cage.
Thiago lands an elbow inside that Rutten shrugs off.

It looks like Joe Rutten has been cut.
Rutten prevents Thiago from breaking the clinch.

Thiago decides to pull guard.
Thiago has a closed guard, preventing Rutten from standing up.
Rutten tries to free his leg and advance position but Thiago is retaining full guard.

Thiago has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rutten off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Thiago clinches but Rutten breaks the clinch

and Rutten moves into the clinch.

Thiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thiago shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thiago unloading with bombs!
Thiago landing strikes, looking to finish!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thiago lands a big shot there that rocks Rutten but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Thiago scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rutten?
Rutten working to try and regain half guard.
Thiago trying to control but Rutten is having none of it.
BOOM! Thiago connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Thiago lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Thiago is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Thiago has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rutten's face.
Thiago lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten tries to lock up and control but Thiago gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rutten in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rutten keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rutten is breathing heavily.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rutten somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Rutten avoids the head kick by Thiago.
Thiago ducks under a wild hook from Rutten.
Thiago wants to clinch.
A good leg kick by Thiago.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rutten takes a kick to the side of the head.
Thiago tries to clinch there but Rutten circles away.

Thiago has taken the fight to the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Thiago manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick

and Thiago counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thiago.
Rutten jumps guard but Thiago stands there with Rutten around his waist. Rutten gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Thiago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Thiago darts in and clinches Rutten up against the cage.
Rutten lands a knee to the body.

Thiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thiago tries to clinch up
and Rutten counters with a leg kick.
Thiago doesn't manage to clinch there - Rutten circles away.
Thiago tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rutten swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thiago tries to close the distance and clinch but Rutten swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thiago tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rutten counters with a one-two to the body.
Thiago bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thiago tries to clinch there but Rutten circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago wants to clinch up but Rutten keeps it at a distance.
Thiago wants to clinch
and Rutten counters with a body kick.

Thiago drives through and clinches with Rutten against the cage.

Rutten breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Thiago.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick and Thiago moves out of range easily.
Thiago tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thiago looks for a takedown but Rutten sprawls well.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses

and Thiago moves into the clinch.
Rutten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thiago throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rutten tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thiago tries to break the clinch but Rutten is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice right hand lands inside from Thiago.
Rutten misses with an elbow strike.

Thiago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rutten takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rutten swats away the attempt to clinch by Thiago.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Thiago dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Rutten's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rutten misses with a head kick.
Rutten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck for Thiago with that takedown attempt.
Paulo Thiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutten avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rutten throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thiago circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thiago closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rutten circles away.

Rutten gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A shot in the inside from Rutten.
Rutten landing knees to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thiago decides to pull guard.
Thiago manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rutten manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rutten not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rutten scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Thiago closes the distance but Rutten moves to the side

and Rutten counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago regains half guard.
Rutten is pressing down on Thiago's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thiago is holding on for now.
Thiago is staying active underneath Rutten, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thiago is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rutten's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rutten's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thiago is trying to stick to Rutten's back but Rutten is turning into Thiago. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Thiago's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rutten.
Rutten won't allow Thiago to get back to his feet.
Thiago is trying to keep Rutten in close.
Thiago throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Rutten decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiago throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Thiago takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch but Thiago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rutten misses with a head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Thiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thiago tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rutten paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rutten closes the distance looking to clinch
and Thiago counters with a three punch combo that has Rutten backing up. Rutten nods at Thiago to acknowledge the strikes.

Rutten moves into the clinch.
Thiago wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thiago goes for a takedown attempt but Rutten pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Joe Rutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Thiago.
Rutten scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rutten throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Thiago is looking to clinch.
Rutten moves out of range of the strikes.
Thiago shoots in for a double leg but Rutten sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rutten closes the distance and clinches up with Thiago, looking for a takedown. Rutten pushes Thiago against the cage but Thiago circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Thiago tries to keep at a distance but Rutten has taken the fight into the clinch.

Thiago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thiago wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rutten tries to clinch up but Thiago circles away and keeps his distance.
Rutten keeps the fight on the outside.
Rutten wants to clinch up but Thiago keeps it at a distance.
Rutten tries to clinch but Thiago is having none of it.
Thiago throws a sloppy head kick and Rutten moves out of range easily.

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.
Rutten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rutten tries to clinch up
and Thiago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rutten misses the shot to the body.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thiago scores with a head kick.
Thiago misses with a head kick.
Thiago throws a head kick that misses
and Rutten counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rutten is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thiago throws a head kick that misses
and Thiago takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A head kick misses from Thiago.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rutten.
Thiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thiago fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but Thiago shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Rutten dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Rutten's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A slow jab from Rutten misses its intended target.
Thiago swats away the attempt to clinch by Rutten.
Rutten tries a head kick but it misses.
Rutten avoids the head kick by Thiago.

Thiago closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rutten is trying to buck Thiago off.
Rutten struggling a bit here.
Thiago landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thiago advances nicely into full mount.
Thiago lands a big elbow.
Thiago in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rutten is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thiago is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rutten can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rutten flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Rutten sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Thiago landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Thiago missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thiago prevents Rutten from standing back up.

Rutten looking for submissions off his back.

Thiago stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rutten to get to his feet.

Thiago clinches up with Rutten and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rutten blocks an elbow strike.
Thiago gets through Rutten's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Thiago breaks the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Thiago.

Thiago clinches with his opponent.
Thiago takes an elbow to the temple.
Rutten throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thiago blocks it with crossed arms.

Thiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thiago goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thiago tries to clinch up but Rutten circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice combination there by Thiago.

Thiago tries to keep at a distance but Rutten has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thiago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thiago swings wildly with an uppercut but Rutten uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten misses with a knee to the head.
Rutten working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Thiago.

Thiago manages to break the clinch.
Joe Rutten is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rutten paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Thiago is looking to clinch but Rutten is avoiding it.
Rutten lands with an overhand left.
Thiago is looking to clinch.
Rutten tries to clinch but Thiago is having none of it.
Donk. Rutten catches Thiago right on the button with a cross.
Thiago looks for a takedown but Rutten sprawls well.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rutten fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thiago tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rutten swivels and escapes.
Rutten clinches but Thiago breaks the clinch
and Thiago counters with a head kick. That will keep Rutten thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

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.
Thiago looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Joe Rutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Thiago.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick and Thiago moves out of range easily.
Thiago shoots for a double leg takedown but Rutten sprawls well. He's pushed Thiago's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thiago is looking to clinch but Rutten is avoiding it.

Thiago feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rutten is looking to stand up but Thiago isn't so interested in that idea.
Thiago distracts Rutten with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rutten trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Thiago stops Rutten from standing up.

Rutten is working an open guard so Thiago takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rutten.
Rutten lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Thiago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thiago 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Paulo Thiago!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Paulo Thiago!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Paulo Thiago!

Paulo Thiago wins by unanimous decision!