PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zane Rutledge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rutledge
vs
Griffin

209 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

173 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Zane Rutledge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin throws a solid leg kick but Rutledge takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Griffin.
As Griffin looks to move away, Rutledge throws a big counter combo but Griffin just gets out of the way.
Griffin attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Griffin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Griffin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Griffin throws a head kick that misses.
Rutledge avoids a kick to the body.
Griffin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As Griffin looks to move away, Rutledge throws a big counter combo but Griffin just gets out of the way.
Griffin throws a sloppy head kick and Rutledge moves out of range easily.
Griffin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Rutledge was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Griffin misses with a head kick.
Griffin misses with a body kick.
Griffin throws a head kick that misses

and Rutledge counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Griffin is trying to escape back to his feet but Rutledge uses the scramble to pass into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rutledge scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rutledge works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rutledge controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rutledge stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Griffin throws a sloppy head kick and Rutledge moves out of range easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Rutledge blocks the leg kick.
As Griffin looks to move away, Rutledge throws a big counter combo but Griffin just gets out of the way.
Griffin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Griffin is looking to land body kicks.
Rutledge avoids the head kick by Griffin.
It looked like Rutledge was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Griffin throws a lazy head kick
and Rutledge connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rutledge moves out of range of the body kick from Griffin.
Rutledge shoots for a double leg takedown but Griffin sprawls well. He's pushed Rutledge's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alex Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffin wants to slow Rutledge down by chopping away at his legs.
That kick from Griffin tenderised Rutledge's leg. Rutledge is trying to keep his angry face on.
Griffin thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rutledge if he has to take too many more of those.
Rutledge shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Griffin sprawls well. Griffin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rutledge gets slowly back to his feet.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin throws a low kick, looking for Rutledge's leg but Rutledge calmly moves out of range.
Griffin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rutledge is looking for a counter combo.
Griffin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Griffin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Griffin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Griffin misses with a head kick.
Alex Griffin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Griffin looks winded!
Rutledge fails with an attempt to clinch.
Griffin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rutledge went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rutledge has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zane Rutledge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rutledge takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Griffin throws a sloppy head kick
letting Rutledge counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
As Griffin looks to move away, Rutledge throws a big counter combo but Griffin just gets out of the way.
Griffin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rutledge checks a low kick from Griffin.
Griffin misses with a leg kick
and Rutledge counters with a one-two to the body.
Griffin throws a low kick, looking for Rutledge's leg but Rutledge calmly moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Griffin.
Rutledge tries to close the distance and clinch but Griffin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Griffin is looking to land body kicks.
Rutledge avoids the head kick by Griffin.
Griffin throws a head kick that Rutledge semi-blocks.
A chopping leg kick lands by Griffin.
A head kick by Griffin misses
and Rutledge counters with a two punch combo.
Griffin bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rutledge avoids the head kick by Griffin.
Rutledge went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rutledge distracts Griffin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rutledge stops Griffin from standing up.
Rutledge is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rutledge throws a big elbow that misses.

Rutledge gets to his feet - Griffin follows without any prompting.
Rutledge has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Griffin.
Griffin tries a head kick but it misses.
Rutledge blocks a head kick by Griffin.
Rutledge shoots in looking for a takedown but Griffin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rutledge's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Griffin throws a head kick that misses
and Rutledge counters with a one-two to the body.
Griffin lands a high kick!
Griffin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rutledge seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Griffin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Griffin throws a lazy head kick
and Rutledge counters with a series of strikes. Griffin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Griffin throws a push kick but Rutledge slaps the foot to one side.
Griffin misses with a head kick.
Rutledge shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Griffin pinned against the cage. Griffin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zane Rutledge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick by Griffin misses
and Rutledge counters with a left and a right that stings Griffin.
Rutledge lands a leg kick that knocks Griffin off balance momentarily.
Rutledge tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Griffin swivels and escapes.
Griffin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rutledge defends it well.
Griffin throws a head kick but Rutledge moves out of range.
Rutledge drops down looking for a counter takedown but Griffin sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin throws a head kick that misses.
Griffin is breathing heavily.
Griffin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rutledge changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Griffin tries to avoid it but Rutledge manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Griffin to the ground. Griffin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zane Rutledge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Rutledge, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Griffin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rutledge has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Alex Griffin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Griffin.
Griffin throws a leg kick
and Rutledge counters with a good low kick that Griffin was not able to check.
Griffin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Griffin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rutledge blocks a head kick by Griffin.
A head kick misses from Griffin.

Rutledge closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Griffin's guard.
Rutledge works over Griffin with some ground and pound from guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Griffin can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rutledge is in close to Griffin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutledge makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Griffin 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 content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rutledge distracts Griffin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rutledge throws a big elbow that misses.

Rutledge gets to his feet. Griffin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rutledge shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Griffin as he jumps to the side.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Griffin throws a low kick, looking for Rutledge's leg but Rutledge calmly moves out of range.
Griffin lands a high kick!
Rutledge walks forward, straight into a front kick from Griffin.
Griffin throws a head kick but Rutledge moves out of range.
Rutledge pivots, looking for a leg kick but Griffin is out of range and Rutledge settles back down.

Rutledge changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Griffin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Griffin wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutledge postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Griffin tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Rutledge will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Griffin is trying to get back to his feet but Rutledge has full control of the position and if anything, Griffin has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Griffin knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Griffin for a finish.
Rutledge has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Griffin preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rutledge.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Rutledge. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Griffin is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Griffin showing good submission defense here.
Griffin is trying to stand back up.

Rutledge is persistently looking for the submission but Griffin is defending it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zane Rutledge dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rutledge shoots in and drives through. Griffin sprawls well.
Griffin misses with a low kick.
Griffin stuffs the takedown attempt from Rutledge. Rutledge gets slowly back to his feet.
Griffin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Rutledge is rocked!
Griffin throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Oh Rutledge is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Griffin lands a nice looking body kick.
Rutledge wants to stay close but Griffin steps back to make room for something. Rutledge seems frozen to the spot and bam! huge swing of the leg from Griffin and Rutledge drops like he has been shot! A huge head kick and it's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Alex Griffin!
Alex Griffin bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.