PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Isaac Rutledge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Nostra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rutledge
vs
Nostra

224 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Isaac Rutledge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marco Nostra!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nostra has closed the distance and engaged Rutledge in a clinch.

Nostra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nostra drives through with a takedown into guard.

Rutledge manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Nostra stalling against the cage.
Nostra should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Nostra blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Rutledge has hold of one of Nostra's legs. Nostra is fighting the takedown attempt but Rutledge gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nostra 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.
Rutledge will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nostra trying to control the position.
Rutledge is looking to stand up but Nostra won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rutledge decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rutledge really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Nostra moves into range and clinches up with Rutledge.
Rutledge is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nostra is trying to force a seperation but Rutledge has the dominant position.
Rutledge tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Nostra pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rutledge gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nostra to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Nostra decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rutledge, up you get!
Nostra throws a jab when Rutledge was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nostra prevents Rutledge from breaking the clinch.

Rutledge breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Rutledge.
Nostra throws a head kick but Rutledge moves out of range.
Rutledge is looking to counter punch.
Nostra throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rutledge is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nostra misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rutledge.
Rutledge throws a quick counter head kick but Nostra was just out of range.
Marco Nostra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nostra tries a head kick but it misses.
Nostra tries to clinch up but Rutledge circles away and keeps his distance.
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!

Nostra closes the distance and clinches.

Nostra gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rutledge regains guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge has his foot on Nostra's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nostra works his way back into a safe position though.

Rutledge is looking for a triangle but Nostra pushes his legs off easily.

Rutledge looking for a guillotine here but Nostra defends easily.
Rutledge is trying to control the position but Nostra postures up.
Nostra trying to control but Rutledge is working from the bottom.

Rutledge looking for a guillotine here but Nostra defends easily.
Rutledge is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rutledge throws his legs up looking for a submission but Nostra uses it to pass to side control.
Rutledge striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
The referee asks Nostra politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Nostra prefers to stall for the moment though.
Nostra tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Nostra wants to stand but Rutledge is controlling his arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Nostra dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rutledge tries to keep at a distance but Nostra has taken the fight into the clinch.

Nostra lands a takedown into guard.
Nostra throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rutledge is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rutledge lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nostra is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rutledge defends well.
Nostra looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rutledge drops back looking for a leg! Nostra is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nostra manages to kick Rutledge off! Rutledge jumps back into Nostra's guard.

Rutledge thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nostra is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nostra is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rutledge is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rutledge wants to stand but Nostra is controlling his posture from full guard.

Rutledge stands up from Nostra's guard - Rutledge perhaps looking for a knockout.

Nostra shoots in and gets a takedown into Rutledge's guard.

Rutledge wriggles free and stands up.
Isaac Rutledge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge forces Nostra back against the cage and clinches.

Rutledge manages to break the clinch.

Nostra looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nostra is breathing heavily.
Rutledge is looking to control Nostra's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rutledge avoid being mounted?
Nostra is nestled in close to Rutledge, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Rutledge looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nostra really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rutledge. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rutledge regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nostra got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rutledge has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nostra has managed to get both his arms back between Rutledge's legs - danger averted.
Rutledge keeping moving, preventing Nostra from controlling successfully.
Nostra connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nostra passes Rutledge's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rutledge trying to hold on to Nostra's head to control him but Nostra postures up.
Rutledge throws a strike from the bottom but Nostra passes into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sloppy strikes there by Nostra.
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 Isaac Rutledge will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nostra misses with a double jab
and Rutledge counters with a one-two to the body.

Nostra feints and as Rutledge raises his hands in defense, Nostra changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Rutledge has his feet on Nostra's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nostra tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rutledge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rutledge misses with a wild combination.

Nostra closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nostra has hold of one of Rutledge's legs. Rutledge is fighting the takedown attempt but Nostra gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Nostra avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rutledge uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Nostra takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nostra closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rutledge's guard.

Rutledge looking for a guillotine here but Nostra defends easily.
Nostra sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nostra trying to control the position from guard on top but Rutledge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rutledge escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nostra gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rutledge is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nostra wanted to stand there but Rutledge had control of the position.

Nostra avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nostra stands and throws Rutledge's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Nostra tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nostra has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nostra tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Nostra advances to mount.
Nostra looking to control but Rutledge is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Isaac Rutledge overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rutledge tries to lock up and control but Nostra gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rutledge really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nostra trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rutledge is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rutledge regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rutledge punching from the bottom.
Well, if Nostra is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

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 Isaac Rutledge.
I think Rutledge 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Isaac Rutledge!