PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joakim Kroon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bas Rutten has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Kroon
vs
Rutten

193 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

White Gorilla Nutrition
White Gorilla Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joakim Kroon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kroon drives through and clinches with Rutten against the cage.

Kroon manages to pull guard.

Kroon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kroon throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kroon tries to strike from the bottom.
Kroon keeping moving, preventing Rutten from controlling successfully.
Rutten stopping the sweep attempt from Kroon.
Rutten is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Kroon keeps moving.
Rutten is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rutten bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kroon regains half guard.
Kroon is trying to maintain the position but Rutten is very close to passing his half guard.
Still in half guard, Rutten seems content to control.
Kroon is looking to control Rutten's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kroon avoid being mounted?
Kroon tries to get to full guard but Rutten has control of the leg.
Rutten takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rutten throwing shots but Kroon is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kroon keeps working.
Rutten missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kroon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rutten shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kroon is not content to let Rutten control the position.
Rutten is looking to advance position but Kroon won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kroon tries to get to full guard but Rutten has control of the leg.
Rutten is keen to just control but Kroon is a slippery customer.
Kroon is looking to control Rutten's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kroon avoid being mounted?
Kroon is trying to get back to full guard.
Kroon is breathing heavily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kroon has his takedown stuffed
and Rutten cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kroon fails with the takedown

and Rutten holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten tries a knee to the head but Kroon blocks it.

Rutten manages to break the clinch.

Rutten fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kroon, pushing him back against the cage.

Rutten breaks the clinch.
Kroon shoots and misses

and Rutten counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joakim Kroon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rutten is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kroon has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rutten trying to control the position but Kroon is working away.
Kroon wants to control but Rutten postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rutten keeps the fight on the outside.
Kroon shoots for a takedown but Rutten saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Rutten closes the distance and pushes Kroon back into the cage.
Rutten stalling against the cage.

Rutten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rutten fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
Rutten tries to clinch but Kroon is having none of it.
Rutten throws a right and a left that Kroon avoids nicely.
Rutten tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kroon is able to avoid easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten blocks a head kick by Kroon.
Kroon lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rutten fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rutten gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kroon to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kroon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kroon passes Rutten's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten tries to get to full guard but Kroon has control of the leg.
Kroon missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kroon seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rutten is looking to control Kroon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rutten avoid being mounted?
Kroon wants to take a breather but Rutten is having none of it.
Kroon landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rutten has a hand on Kroon's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kroon takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Kroon avoids the attempt from Rutten to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kroon looking to ground and pound but Rutten is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutten is desperately trying to improve his position but Kroon has a good base and remains in mount.
Rutten is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kroon working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rutten really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten wants to hold on but Kroon pushes him away.
Rutten is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rutten in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The referee warns Rutten that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kroon trying to control but Rutten is having none of it.
Rutten wants to hold on but Kroon pushes him away.
Rutten regains half guard.
Kroon missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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 trying to control from the bottom.
Kroon tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rutten knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rutten is not content to let Kroon control the position.
Rutten moves into full guard.
Rutten lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kroon!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kroon tries to reverse the position but Rutten maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joakim Kroon will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rutten scores with a takedown into Kroon's guard.
Rutten working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kroon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rutten forces his way into half guard.
Rutten is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rutten has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kroon is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rutten wants to control the pace but Kroon is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten landing punches.
Rutten can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kroon is looking to escape.
Bas Rutten has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rutten swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kroon is now in Rutten's guard. A big mistake from Rutten there, giving up the dominant position!
Kroon tries to free his leg and advance position but Rutten is retaining full guard.
Rutten wants to sweep but no luck.
Kroon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kroon won't allow Rutten to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kroon scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Rutten is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kroon is aware though and is defending well.

Rutten working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kroon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Rutten is tightening it up a little... Kroon has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Kroon reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Kroon taps out! nice BJJ there by Rutten!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Bas Rutten!