PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darrell Rutledge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rice Boyd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rice Boyd looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Rutledge
vs
Boyd

170 cm
23
144 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
24
142 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darrell Rutledge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rice Boyd!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutledge throws a head kick that half lands.
Rutledge fails in his attempt to clinch.
Boyd shoots for a double leg takedown but Rutledge sprawls well. He's pushed Boyd's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rutledge scores with a head kick.

Rutledge moves into the clinch.
Rutledge tries a body shot but Boyd blocks it.
Boyd misses with a punch on the inside.
Boyd working aggressively here.
Boyd working aggressively here.
Boyd scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rutledge throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Boyd is trying to drag Rutledge to the mat but Rutledge just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Boyd scores with a shot to the side of Rutledge's head.
Knees to the body from Rutledge.
Boyd misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rutledge lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rutledge blocking some punches.
Boyd can't get the takedown.
Darrell Rutledge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rice Boyd.
Boyd looks gassed!
Rutledge lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyd softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Boyd jumps guard but Rutledge stands there with Boyd around his waist. Boyd gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rutledge.
Rutledge lands a nice knee to the body.

Rutledge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rutledge moves in looking to clinch but Boyd pushes him off.
Rutledge displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Rutledge moves into range and clinches up with Boyd.
Rutledge works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rutledge stalling the fight.
A short right from Rutledge.
A head punch on the inside from Boyd fails to land.
Boyd goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rutledge connects with a nasty looking knee right to Boyd's face.

Boyd jumps guard.
Rutledge wants to stand but Boyd has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rutledge has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutledge's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Boyd working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rutledge doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rutledge manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rutledge seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rutledge trying to control the position from guard on top but Boyd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rutledge is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Boyd looking for subs off his back but Rutledge has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Boyd is looking for a sweep. Rutledge is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rutledge is taking a breather. Boyd says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Boyd is staying active underneath Rutledge, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Boyd is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rutledge pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rutledge moves into range and clinches up with Boyd.
Rutledge tries to land a knee to the head but Boyd blocks with his arms.
Boyd doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Rutledge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rutledge tries to clinch up but Boyd circles away and keeps his distance.
Rutledge lands with a nice body punch.
Boyd goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rutledge jabs Boyd right on the nose. Boyd blinks but takes it well.
Boyd takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rutledge lands with a slapping head kick.
Rutledge throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Boyd tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rutledge counters with a nice body kick.
Rutledge fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boyd is breathing heavily.

Rutledge gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutledge struggles to land a body shot inside as Boyd controls his hands.
Rutledge has had enough of the clinch but Boyd keeps him there for the moment.
Rutledge swings wildly with an uppercut but Boyd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Boyd scores with a nice hook to the head.
Boyd has a couple of punches blocked by Rutledge.
Rutledge lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Boyd backwards.
Boyd tries a body shot but Rutledge blocks it.

Rutledge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Boyd fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boyd will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Boyd takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rutledge lands with a slapping head kick.
Darrell Rutledge is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rutledge dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Boyd. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyd blocks the body kick.

Rutledge has Boyd up against the cage in a clinch.
Rutledge connects with a nasty looking knee right to Boyd's face.
Good body shot from Rutledge.
Boyd lands a hook that snaps the head of Rutledge backwards.

Rutledge breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Rutledge.
Boyd takes one to the side of the head.

Rutledge has managed to clinch.
Boyd is trying to break the clinch but Rutledge has him pressed against the cage.

Rutledge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rutledge throws a nice looking combination but Boyd bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rice Boyd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutledge wants to clinch
and Boyd finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge clinches up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Boyd.
A right hook to the body lands for Rutledge.

Rutledge manages to break the clinch.
Boyd misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boyd chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rutledge can pounce on him.

Rutledge gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Boyd tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rutledge tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rutledge is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rutledge is trying to maintain a safe position but Boyd gets an underhook and turns Rutledge into the cage.
A short left from Boyd.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyd walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rutledge.
Boyd looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rutledge is fending him off so far but Boyd persists. Nope, Rutledge circles away and we're back to standing.
Darrell Rutledge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rice Boyd.
Rutledge throws a head kick that half lands.
Rutledge lands a nice looking kick to the body. Boyd takes a step back to recover.
Rutledge cracks Boyd with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rutledge listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Boyd chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rutledge can pounce on him.
Boyd shoots and misses
and Rutledge connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rutledge tries to clinch up but Boyd circles away and keeps his distance.

Rutledge has managed to clinch.
Rutledge leaning against his opponent.
Rutledge missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darrell Rutledge dominated that second round.
That's time! Rutledge's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Boyd takes one to the chin there.
Boyd throws a head kick that misses.

Rutledge clinches up against the cage.
Boyd misses with a hook to the ribs.
Boyd tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rutledge just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rutledge has Boyd pressed against the cage.
Boyd tries a knee to the head but Rutledge blocks it.
Rutledge will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Boyd up against the cage.
Boyd has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rutledge is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boyd fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Darrell Rutledge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rice Boyd.
Rutledge stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Rutledge breaks the clinch.
Boyd takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rutledge tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutledge wants to clinch.
Rutledge scores with a push kick.

Rutledge gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rutledge is trying to break free.
Boyd tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rutledge's elbow.
Rutledge prevents a body shot from Boyd.
Boyd tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rutledge makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Rutledge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rutledge.
Boyd gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Rutledge fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Boyd, pushing him back against the cage.
Rice Boyd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Boyd.
Rutledge is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Boyd is keeping busy.
Boyd working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rutledge scores with a knee to the head.
Boyd'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.
A bit of stalling here from Rutledge.
A nice left hand lands by Rutledge.
Rutledge's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rutledge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Boyd.
Boyd wants a takedown but no success here.
Rutledge tries to land knees in the clinch but Boyd avoids the damage to the body.
Rutledge lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Boyd.
Rutledge using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Boyd has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Boyd tries to pull guard but Rutledge holds him up against the cage and eventually Boyd drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rutledge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Boyd walks into a straight right hand from Rutledge.
Rutledge slips a jab from Boyd.
Rutledge throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Boyd on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rutledge. Rutledge obviously looking to wear him down.

Rutledge clinches up with Boyd and pushes him back against the cage.
Boyd on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rutledge misses with an elbow over the top.
Rutledge throws a knee to the head but misses.
Boyd working aggressively here.
Rutledge lands a body shot.
Knees to the body from Rutledge.
Rutledge has Boyd pressed against the cage.
Boyd avoiding damage as Rutledge throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boyd tries to work over Rutledge's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rutledge wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Boyd has him pressed against the cage.
Rutledge throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Boyds head.
Boyd fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rutledge lands a body shot in the clinch.

Rutledge breaks from the clinch.
Boyd circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rutledge takes the fight into the clinch.
Boyd throws a punch but it's blocked by Rutledge.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boyd on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Boyd lands a takedown into guard.

Boyd drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rutledge looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rutledge looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rutledge!

And that's the end of the fight!
Darrell Rutledge showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rutledge, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

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