PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tomasz Rut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Bachaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Bachaj's choice of entrance music: Disturbed - indestructible. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rut
vs
Bachaj

160 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
21
140 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tomasz Rut!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damian Bachaj!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rut changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bachaj looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
A lull in the action here as Rut stalls from top position.
Bachaj is not content to let Rut control the position.
Bachaj is trying to control Rut's posture but Rut avoids it.
Bachaj is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rut wants to control but Bachaj is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rut looking to control but instead Bachaj has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Rut wants to control but Bachaj is keeping him busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Bachaj fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rut, pushing him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bachaj.
Rut is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bachaj gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bachaj tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rut tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Rut gets control of Bachaj's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rut will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bachaj wants to pass the guard but Rut is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rut looking to control.
Rut is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Rut has an active guard here but Bachaj has managed to pass into half guard.
Rut is looking to control Bachaj's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rut avoid being mounted?
Bachaj is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Rut manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rut trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Rut has his foot on Bachaj's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bachaj works his way back into a safe position though.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bachaj accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rut wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rut tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bachaj looking to sit in guard and control but Rut gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
Rut works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rut seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bachaj does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rut sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rut throws a strike but Bachaj avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rut stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Bachaj misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomasz Rut dominated that round.
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.

Rut thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Bachaj if he has to take too many more of those.

Rut feints and as Bachaj raises his hands in defense, Rut changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rut passes Bachaj's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rut performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bachaj is looking to control Rut's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bachaj avoid being mounted?

Rut is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bachaj doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rut.
Rut wants to take a breather but Bachaj is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bachaj blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rut.
Bachaj avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rut.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rut prevents Bachaj from improving his position.
Bachaj wants to control but Rut is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bachaj!
Nice takedown defense from Bachaj. No joy for Rut on that attempt.
Rut shoots for a double leg takedown but Bachaj sprawls well. He's pushed Rut's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rut has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bachaj uses from the top position.
Bachaj won't allow Rut to sweep him here.
Bachaj prevents Rut from getting back to his feet.
Bachaj stopping the sweep attempt from Rut.
Rut is working hard here to advance position.
Bachaj looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rut kicks Bachaj off and gets to his feet.
Rut misses with a takedown attempt - Bachaj sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomasz Rut. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rut clinches with his opponent.
Bachaj lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rut jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bachaj walks away with a smile on his face. Rut gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rut circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rut counters by clinching up.
Bachaj's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Bachaj throws an elbow but it misses.
Rut drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bachaj pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bachaj misses with a double jab

and Rut counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rut blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bachaj lands a body punch.
Bachaj misses with some punches.
Rut tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bachaj just stands there and leans against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomasz Rut dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rut is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bachaj sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bachaj scores with a hook to the body. Rut takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Rut looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rut might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Rut drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bachaj dives on top into guard.
Bachaj controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rut keeping moving, preventing Bachaj from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rut 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.
Bachaj stays in close to Rut's body and controls the position.
Rut looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bachaj controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bachaj must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rut throws a nice elbow from the bottom.

Rut has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bachaj can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rut wants to sweep here but Bachaj controlling him for the moment.
Rut is looking to sweep but instead, Bachaj has passed into half guard.
Damian Bachaj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rut is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bachaj's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bachaj's back!

Rut is persistently looking for the submission but Bachaj is defending it well.
Bachaj is trying to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rut throwing damaging strikes from the back! Bachaj could be in trouble here!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Damian Bachaj.
I think Rut 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomasz Rut!