PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Hopler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopler comes into the arena with Bodies (Let the Bodies Hit the Floor) blaring out of the sound system. Sammy Hopler is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Hopler
vs
Rutten

196 cm
26
201 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

186 cm
27
205 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sammy Hopler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten shoots for a double leg takedown but Hopler sprawls well. He's pushed Rutten's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hopler misses with a straight right.
Hopler displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rutten.
Rutten takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rutten connects with a right hand. Hopler shakes it off.
Rutten staying out of range there.
Rutten shoots in looking for a takedown but Hopler manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rutten's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sammy Hopler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bas Rutten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopler connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rutten uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hopler.
Rutten ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hopler lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rutten has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rutten and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rutten wants to clinch but Hopler slips to the side
and Hopler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Bas Rutten has been cut.
Rutten throws a front kick that sends Hopler stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rutten stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A slow jab from Hopler misses its intended target.
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!
Hopler thows a body shot but no joy.
Hopler throws a series of punches but Rutten moves out of range.
Rutten shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hopler defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten misses with a takedown attempt
and Hopler counters with a three punch combo that has Rutten backing up. Rutten nods at Hopler to acknowledge the strikes.
Hopler throws a right hand that Rutten ducks under and follows up with a left that Rutten also avoids with ease.
Rutten tries for a takedown but Hopler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rutten fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hopler avoids it really well and circles away.
Hopler lunges at Rutten with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rutten's hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutten shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hopler manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutten missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rutten trying to control but Hopler is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rutten might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hopler kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bas Rutten will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bas Rutten's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rutten tries to clinch up but Hopler circles away and keeps his distance.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hopler as he jumps to the side.
Hopler stuffs the takedown attempt from Rutten. Rutten gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten looks for a takedown but Hopler sprawls well.
Sammy Hopler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bas Rutten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten misses with a two punch combination.
Rutten is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hopler sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hopler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rutten as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rutten is defended easily by Hopler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten has his takedown stuffed
and Rutten takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Rutten scores with a takedown into Hopler's guard.

Rutten drops back looking for a leg! Hopler is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hopler manages to kick Rutten off! Rutten jumps back into Hopler's guard.
Rutten won't allow Hopler to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten wants to control from the top but Hopler keeps moving.
Rutten pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hopler is keeping the position for now.
Rutten trying to control but Hopler is working from the bottom.
Rutten postures up in Hopler's guard and throws a big left but Hopler blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hopler is keeping the position for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bas Rutten.
Hopler feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ruttens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hopler avoids the head kick by Rutten.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown but Hopler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rutten ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hopler moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bas Rutten's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rutten misses with a takedown
and Rutten takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hopler misses with the combination.
Rutten shoots in looking for a takedown. Hopler tries to sprawl out of it but Rutten keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hopler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hopler displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rutten.
Sammy Hopler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bas Rutten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hopler as he avoids it easily.
Rutten throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hopler's waist but Hopler gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rutten off to one side.
Hopler throws a body punch but Rutten moves out of range.

That's two 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 bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hopler misses with a lunging right hand
and Rutten makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hopler looks to land a right hand but Rutten moved out of range.
Rutten misses with a takedown

and Hopler counters with a shoot takedown. Rutten fights it but they end up in guard.

Hopler gets to his feet. Rutten looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hopler scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hopler is thwarting Rutten's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rutten looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bas Rutten is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rutten looks like he's trying to stand up.

Hopler decides to return to a standing position.
Rutten shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hopler but Hopler pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rutten takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten shoots in but no luck this time.
Hopler lands with a nice body punch.
A combination from Hopler does no damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sammy Hopler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rutten misses with a takedown attempt - Hopler sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sammy Hopler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rutten has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!