PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Doyle (ranked 2130 p4p, 3497 weight class) and Steven Rutherford (ranked 213 p4p, 328 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Doyle might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Clash - Jimmy Jazz. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Doyle
vs
Rutherford

171 cm
48
150
38 - 24 - 1

183 cm
49
149
36 - 18 - 3

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jimmy Doyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 18 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven Rutherford!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutherford throws a body punch but Doyle moves out of range.
Rutherford moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Rutherford fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Doyle, pushing him back against the cage.
Doyle swings wildly with an uppercut but Rutherford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Doyle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rutherford wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Doyle has him pressed against the cage.
Doyle goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Doyle misses with a body punch.
Doyle tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Doyle working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rutherford lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Doyle backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short left from Rutherford.
Rutherford lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rutherford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rutherford blocking some punches.
Doyle misses with a body punch.
Rutherford tries a body shot but Doyle blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Doyle fails to land.
Doyle working aggressively here.
Doyle swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Doyle fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rutherford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rutherford throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Doyle tries to clinch there but Rutherford circles away.
Rutherford jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rutherford scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Doyle doesn't seem bothered though.
Rutherford works Doyle's body with a nice hook.
Rutherford throws an overhand right that lands on Doyle's shoulder, as Doyle tries to avoid the shot.
Doyle's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rutherford under the eye.
Rutherford wants to clinch
and Doyle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Doyle avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rutherford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Doyle just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford scores with a punch to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A telegraphed right hand from Rutherford misses the target.
Rutherford takes one to the chin there.
Doyle throws a body shot but no joy.
Doyle misses with a two punch combination.
Rutherford punishes Doyle's body with a nice straight punch.
Rutherford tries to clinch but Doyle moves out of range.
Rutherford throws a lazy uppercut
and Doyle counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rutherford steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Doyle.
Doyle fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rutherford on the side of the head.
Doyle looks to land a left hand but Rutherford moved out of range nicely.
Doyle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rutherford.
Doyle moves into range and connects with a jab.
Doyle moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Doyle misses with a wild body shot.
Doyle missing with a left hand there. Rutherford was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A lazy left from Doyle finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doyle chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Doyle lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Doyle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rutherford.
Rutherford is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Doyle ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rutherford moves away.
Doyle misses with a body punch
and Rutherford counters with an outside leg kick.
Doyle avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rutherford shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A counter left hand to the body from Doyle misses its target.
Doyle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rutherford.
Rutherford darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A shot to the body from Doyle misses

and Rutherford moves into the clinch.
Doyle pushes Rutherford back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Rutherford prevents a body shot from Doyle.
A right handed body shot lands from Doyle.
Doyle swings wildly with an uppercut but Rutherford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rutherford prevents a body shot from Doyle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rutherford creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rutherford misses with the head strike.
Doyle misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rutherford blocks a body shot from Doyle.
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!
Rutherford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Doyle tries a body shot but Rutherford blocks it.
Doyle swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rutherford prevents a body shot from Doyle.
Doyle tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rutherford softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Doyle misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Doyle fails to land.
A short right from Doyle.
Doyle tries a body shot but Rutherford blocks it.
Doyle misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jimmy Doyle will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rutherford fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Doyle looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A big right from Rutherford misses.

Rutherford has taken the fight to the clinch.
Doyle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Doyle tries a body shot but Rutherford blocks it.
Doyle misses with a body punch.
Rutherford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rutherford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Doyle misses with a body punch.
Doyle tries to work over Rutherford's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Doyle misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doyle swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rutherford is trying to force a seperation but Doyle has the dominant position.
Doyle lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rutherford backwards.
Good body shot from Doyle.
Doyle misses with some punches.
Rutherford doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doyle swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rutherford misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Doyle.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rutherford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Doyle looks to land a body kick but Rutherford moved away.
Rutherford takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Doyle is looking to clinch.
Doyle scores with a kick to the body.
Rutherford keeps the fight on the outside.
Doyle throws a right hand that misses
and Rutherford counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rutherford gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Doyle.
Doyle scores with a jab to the body.
Doyle throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rutherford sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rutherford wants to counter with a clinch but Doyle pushes him away.

Rutherford closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rutherford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rutherford tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Doyle was well out of range. Poor timing from Rutherford.
Jimmy Doyle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doyle blocks a head kick by Rutherford.
It looked like Doyle wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Doyle swings widly with a right hand
and Rutherford counters with a thumping low kick.
A jab from Doyle misses.
Rutherford blocks a jab.
Doyle tries to land a leg kick but Rutherford saw it coming and moves away.
Doyle slips a jab from Rutherford.
Doyle takes a swing at Rutherford's ribcage but misses.
Doyle throws out a leg kick but Rutherford moves out of range and Doyle only half commits.
A low kick lands for Doyle.
Rutherford ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Doyle moves away.
Doyle is looking to counter with head kicks.
Rutherford misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rutherford ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rutherford swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Doyle misses with a body shot.
Rutherford misses with a body kick.
Rutherford throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Doyle sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Doyle was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doyle misses with a looping right.
Doyle keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rutherford.
Rutherford changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rutherford throws a lazy right hand but Doyle sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Doyle fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rutherford tries to clinch but Doyle moves out of range.
Doyle throws out a loose jab but Rutherford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rutherford misses with a low kick.
Rutherford motions for Doyle to come forward. Rutherford throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rutherford misses with a lunging right hand
and Rutherford takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Doyle misses with a body shot.

Rutherford gets tackled into the cage by Doyle. Doyle maintains the clinch.
Doyle goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Doyle lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Doyle struggles to land a body shot inside as Rutherford controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doyle lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rutherford backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rutherford.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rutherford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rutherford with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Doyle to score with a decent uppercut.
Rutherford tries to close the distance and clinch but Doyle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rutherford avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rutherford looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Doyle tries to keep at a distance but Rutherford has taken the fight into the clinch.
Doyle throws a punch but it's blocked by Rutherford.
Doyle working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rutherford blocks a body shot from Doyle.

Rutherford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rutherford uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Doyle.
Rutherford tries to score with a low kick but Doyle moves his leg out of the way.
Doyle misses with a right hand
and Rutherford counters with an inside leg kick.
Doyle scores with a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Doyle dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Doyle takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Doyle loads up on a big right hand but Rutherford slips the punch.
Rutherford lands a head shot.
Rutherford lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rutherford throws a body punch but Doyle moves out of range.
Rutherford swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rutherford walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Doyle checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Doyle needs to keep his hands up - Rutherford had a free shot at his head there.
Rutherford works the jab nicely.
A swing and a miss from Rutherford.
A left lands for Rutherford.
Doyle jabs Rutherford to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rutherford throws the left hand but Doyle avoids the punch easily.
Doyle lands with a straight right. Rutherford didn't see that one coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A cross from Doyle lands.
Doyle misses with a wild body shot.
Rutherford staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Doyle has closed the distance and engaged Rutherford in a clinch.
Doyle can't find room to land a body shot as Rutherford controls the action.
Doyle scores with a shot to the side of Rutherford's head.

Rutherford breaks from the clinch.
Doyle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rutherford.
Rutherford attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Doyle looks to throw the jab but Rutherford is out of range.
Doyle misses with a hook. Rutherford ducked under it nicely.
Doyle with a jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Doyle darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Doyle thuds his right hand into Rutherford's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rutherford misses with a hook.
Rutherford throws a chopping leg kick but Doyle manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rutherford avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jimmy Doyle is winning the standup battle so far.
Doyle keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rutherford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford loads up on a big right hand but Doyle slips the punch.
Doyle wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Doyle tries to clinch but Rutherford is having none of it.
Rutherford throws a series of punches but Doyle moves out of range.
Doyle swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rutherford counters with a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Doyle. Rutherford does a little dance to reset his feet.
A nice side step and Rutherford releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Doyle throws a body kick that misses.
Rutherford connects with a high kick.
Rutherford uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Doyle.
Doyle dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Rutherford drives through and clinches with Doyle against the cage.
Rutherford prevents a body shot from Doyle.

Rutherford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rutherford lands a right hook to the body.
Rutherford is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Doyle scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rutherford in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Doyle catches Rutherford right on the button with a cross.
Doyle throws the left hand but Rutherford avoids the punch easily.
A good leg kick by Rutherford.
Rutherford blocks a jab.
Rutherford lands with a nice body punch.
A jab from Rutherford misses.
It looked like Doyle wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Doyle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Doyle scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Doyle with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rutherford to score with a decent uppercut.
Rutherford tries to work over Doyle's front leg with a kick but Doyle checks it.
Rutherford fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Doyle manages to avoid it.
Rutherford throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Doyle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Doyle lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Doyle misses with a straight left.
Doyle sets himself, and Rutherford steps forward looking for the clinch! Doyle avoids it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutherford throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Doyle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A decent looking cross lands there for Doyle.
Rutherford has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Doyle avoids the body shot from Rutherford.
Doyle throws a hook but Rutherford avoids it easily.
A lazy body kick from Doyle
and Rutherford counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rutherford throws a hook but Doyle avoids it easily.
As Rutherford backs away, Doyle returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Jab by Doyle.
Steven Rutherford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rutherford misses with a leg kick.
Doyle connects with a body shot that sends Rutherford's belly button to the back.
Rutherford moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice shot lands for Rutherford.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rutherford takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rutherford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Doyle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rutherford.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rutherford! But no joy.

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 Jimmy Doyle.
Well Doyle has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Doyle!
A relieved looking Jimmy Doyle thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.