PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Liam Lesner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Lesner
vs
Rutten

196 cm
22
210 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

186 cm
26
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam Lesner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten connects with an inside leg kick.
Lesner throws a series of punches but Rutten moves out of range.
Lesner moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Bas Rutten has been cut.
Rutten showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lesner.
Rutten tries to clinch but Lesner is having none of it.
Lesner connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rutten momentarily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rutten is defended easily by Lesner.
Rutten connects with a high kick.

It looks like Liam Lesner has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A combination from Lesner does no damage.

Rutten moves into range and clinches up with Lesner.
Lesner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rutten is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lesner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rutten has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lesner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Liam Lesner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bas Rutten.
Lesner is working for takedown but Rutten is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rutten tries to score a body lock takedown but Lesner shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lesner wants to get back to striking at distance but Rutten won't allow it.
Rutten is trying to push Lesner away but Lesner has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lesner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rutten has him pressed against the cage.
Rutten is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lesner pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lesner throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rutten tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rutten is trying to break the clinch but Lesner has him pressed against the cage.
Lesner stops a takedown attempt from Rutten.
Rutten drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lesner pulls his leg out and moves away.
Lesner misses with the combination.
Liam Lesner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutten scores with a head kick. Lesner tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
No joy there for Lesner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lesner looks to land a combination but Rutten avoids it well.
Rutten is looking to clinch.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lesner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rutten shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lesner pinned against the cage. Lesner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lesner throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rutten counters with a big head kick but Lesner shrugs it off.
Rutten walks into a jab.
Rutten dives in and grabs Lesner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lesner pushes down on Rutten's head and hops out.
Lesner throws a combination. Rutten tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lesner fails to land with a series of punches.
Rutten shoots for a double leg takedown but Lesner sprawls well. He's pushed Rutten's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rutten slips a jab and a cross from Lesner.
Lesner keeps the fight on the outside.
Rutten fails in his attempt to clinch.
Liam Lesner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Lesner.
Rutten takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesner misses with a series of wild punches.
Lesner is breathing heavily.
Lesner takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lesner scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lesner throws a body kick that misses.
Lesner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rutten tries to bum rush Lesner with a series of wild strikes but Lesner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lesner leaves Rutten with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lesner lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Lesner misses with a wild body shot.
Rutten moves out of range as Lesner throws a body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Lesner. No joy for Rutten on that attempt.
Lesner throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rutten takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lesner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice defenses there by Rutten.
Lesner throws a hook but Rutten avoids it easily.
Lesner buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rutten will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lesner misses with the combination.
Lesner goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Lesner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lesner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lesner fails to land with a series of punches.
Lesner fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rutten checks it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rutten tries to clinch there but Lesner circles away.
Lesner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rutten tries to clinch but Lesner moves out of range.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lesner sprawls well. Lesner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rutten gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Liam Lesner will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rutten tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lesner swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown by Rutten or perhaps it was just good defense by Lesner which made him look bad.
Lesner throws a combination. Rutten tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lesner stuns Rutten with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Some wild striking there from Lesner.
Lesner shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rutten shoots for a takedown but Lesner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Liam Lesner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bas Rutten.
Lesner scores with a jab. Rutten acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick and Lesner moves out of range easily.
Lesner attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Liam Lesner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lesner throws a sloppy head kick and Rutten moves out of range easily.
Lesner misses with a two punch combination.
Lesner throws a head kick but Rutten moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lesner throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lesner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lesner throws a nice looking combination but Rutten bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lesner misses with an attempted mid kick.
A combination from Lesner does no damage.
Rutten shoots in looking for a takedown but Lesner manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rutten's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rutten fails with a takedown attempt.
Rutten throws a right and a left that Lesner avoids nicely.
Rutten throws a head kick that half lands.
Lesner throws a series of punches but Rutten avoids them all with ease.
Rutten tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rutten avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rutten looks to land a combination but Lesner avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lesner defends it nicely.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but Lesner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lesner connects with the punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rutten moves in looking to clinch but Lesner pushes him off.
Liam Lesner is winning the standup battle so far.
Rutten moves out of range of the body kick.
Rutten looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lesner is fending him off so far but Rutten persists. Nope, Lesner circles away and we're back to standing.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lesner!

Rutten is rocked!
Lesner connects with a left and a right that sees a clearly hurt Rutten covering up! Lesner comes in with a big uppercut and Rutten goes doooown! He's slumped up against the cage, eyes staring blankly into space.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Liam Lesner!