PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Phil Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rutten comes to the cage accompanied by El Guapo Likes to Dance. The key to victory for Bas Rutten has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rutten
vs
Phil Davis

190 cm
24
220 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

182 cm
24
222 lbs
11 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Punishment Nutrition - All 159Q products now $75

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bas Rutten!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mr Phil Davis!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rutten wants to land a leg kick but Davis is out of range.
Rutten with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Davis misses with a takedown attempt - Rutten sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Davis clinches up with Rutten and pushes him back against the cage.
Rutten lands a nice elbow.

Rutten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rutten misses with a head kick.
No joy there for Rutten, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bas Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rutten misses the shot to the body.
Davis avoids a kick to the body.
Davis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rutten cracks Davis with a good jab.
Rutten looks to score with a jab to the body but Davis is just out of range.
Davis misses with a body shot
and Rutten counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten staying out of range there.
Davis moves out of range of the leg kick from Rutten.
Rutten slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Davis misses with a right hand
and Davis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Davis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
Davis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rutten manages to avoid it.
Rutten delivers a nice body kick.
Rutten works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rutten throws a one two combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed right hand from Davis misses the target.
Rutten fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Davis.
Davis loads up on a big right hand but Rutten slips the punch.
Rutten tries a head kick but it misses.
Rutten throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rutten throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rutten throws an overhand right that lands on Davis's shoulder, as Davis tries to avoid the shot.
A head kick misses from Rutten.
Rutten lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rutten's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rutten duly obliges.
Rutten fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Davis is out of range.

Davis moves into the clinch successfully.
Davis has Rutten pressed against the cage, preventing Rutten from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Davis takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Rutten scores with a nice short uppercut.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Davis lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rutten backwards.

Rutten breaks from the clinch.
Davis scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rutten in his tracks.
Rutten pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rutten lands a head kick. Davis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rutten shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Davis misses with a straight right.
Rutten lands with a thumping leg kick.
Davis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rutten fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Davis misses with a takedown attempt - Rutten sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bas Rutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mr Phil Davis.
Davis blocks a head kick by Rutten.
Davis moves out of range as Rutten throws a body kick.
Rutten throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rutten turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rutten moves away from the strike by Davis.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice jab there from Davis.
Good leg kick by Rutten there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Davis checks a low kick from Rutten.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rutten listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rutten lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A jab from Rutten does it's job there.
Rutten misses with a double jab.
A leg kick checked by Davis.
Bas Rutten is winning the standup battle so far.
Rutten pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Davis on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rutten misses with a looping left.
Davis throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Rutten counter with a right hand.
Rutten fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rutten circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice body kick there by Rutten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rutten throws a front kick aimed at Davis's knee but Davis avoids it well.
Rutten misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rutten thows a body kick. Davis tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rutten fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Davis has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rutten fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Davis is breathing heavily.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rutten stuffs the takedown.
Nice defenses there by Rutten.
An inside leg kick lands from Rutten.
No luck for Davis with that takedown attempt.
Nice straight punches there by Rutten. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rutten.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis walks into a stiff left hand from Rutten.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Davis walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rutten.
Nice body punch from Rutten.
Rutten throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rutten connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rutten tries a head kick but it misses.
Rutten lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rutten throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rutten is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Davis takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Davis's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Davis takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rutten!
Davis has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Rutten.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten lands a leg kick that knocks Davis off balance momentarily.
Rutten connects with a solid leg kick.
Rutten connects with a solid leg kick.
Rutten moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sloppy strikes from Rutten. Those never looked like landing.
Rutten scores with a hook.
Davis is trying desperately to land a takedown but Rutten is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Davis.
Good leg kick by Rutten there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Davis has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Davis there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rutten throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick and Davis moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Davis tries to move into range but Rutten moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
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!
Davis on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rutten. Rutten obviously looking to wear him down.
Rutten thumps Davis with a low kick.
Rutten dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rutten connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Davis takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Donk. Rutten catches Davis right on the button with a cross.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rutten throws a head kick that misses.
Davis loads up on a big right hand but Rutten slips the punch.
Rutten throws a good cross that connects.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rutten throws a chopping leg kick but Davis manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rutten walks into a stiff left hand from Davis.
Davis throws the left hand but Rutten avoids the punch easily.
Rutten looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Davis has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Davis ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Davis fails to land the takedown.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick and Davis moves out of range easily.
Davis just misses with a punch to the body.
Rutten lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rutten misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Davis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Davis dodges the punch combination from Rutten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rutten is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Davis can do to turn this around?
Rutten scores with a head kick. Davis tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rutten just misses with a punch to the body.
Rutten dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Davis. That did some damage!
Davis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rutten 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 Davis has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Davis and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
No joy there for Rutten, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rutten, right into the meat.
A shot to the liver by Rutten. Beautiful body shot.
Rutten scores with a push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Davis. That did some damage!
Nice shot lands for Rutten.
Davis takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Davis has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Davis there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rutten throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rutten moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rutten blocks a jab.
Davis avoids the head kick by Rutten.
Rutten keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rutten misses with a two punch combination.
Davis takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutten scores with a head kick. Davis tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Davis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rutten sprawls well. Rutten wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Davis gets slowly back to his feet.

Davis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rutten!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rutten working to try and regain half guard.
Davis takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rutten can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis with shots to the head and body - Rutten looks very uncomfortable down there.
Davis postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rutten looks a forlorn figure.
Davis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Davis putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Davis landing strikes from the mount.
Davis is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Davis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Davis blocks Rutten's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Davis landing shots from mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rutten sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rutten avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Davis.
Davis trying to control from half guard but Rutten is working away.
Rutten wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Bas Rutten did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rutten drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Davis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rutten with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rutten throws a low kick, looking for Davis's leg but Davis calmly moves out of range.
Rutten lands a head kick. Davis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Davis connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rutten. Rutten circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rutten looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rutten will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Davis chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rutten can pounce on him.
Davis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rutten throws a series of punches but Davis avoids them all with ease.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten throws a leg kick that misses.
Davis lands a nice shot to the body.
A clash of legs there as Davis blocks the low kick.
Davis digs a good hook to Rutten's body.
Rutten scoring well with a low kick there.
Rutten tries to move into range but Davis moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bas Rutten is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rutten.
That kick from Rutten tenderised Davis's leg. Davis is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rutten buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rutten smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rutten scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Rutten lands but Davis takes it in his stride.
Davis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rutten as he avoids it easily.
Davis thows a body shot but no joy.
Davis fails with a takedown attempt.
Rutten looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Davis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bas Rutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mr Phil Davis.
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!
Rutten tries to bum rush Davis with a series of wild strikes but Davis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rutten lands a nice looking body kick.
Rutten cracks Davis with an open hand slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rutten will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd cheers as Davis lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rutten doesn't seem phased though.
Rutten scores with a head kick. Davis tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rutten, right into the meat.
Rutten takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Davis thows a body shot but no joy.
Rutten lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Davis closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rutten feints and then cracks Davis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Davis down.
Davis's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rutten connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Davis scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten throws out a leg kick but Davis moves out of range and Rutten only half commits.
Davis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rutten buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Davis is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rutten.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Davis takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A head kick misses from Rutten.
Rutten pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rutten's head backwards.
A head kick misses from Rutten.
Rutten thuds his shin into the meat of Davis's side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten had his way with Mr Phil Davis in that round.
That's time! Rutten's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rutten throws a sloppy head kick and Davis moves out of range easily.
Rutten pivots, looking for a leg kick but Davis is out of range and Rutten settles back down.
Davis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick from Rutten lands but Davis takes it in his stride.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Davis.
Rutten moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Davis checks a leg kick.
Davis throws a jab when Rutten was well out of range.
Rutten scores with a leg kick.
Rutten throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis throws a jab when Rutten was well out of range.
Davis is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Rutten fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rutten misses with an uppercut. Davis saw that one coming.
Rutten lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rutten uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Davis.
Rutten tries a head kick but it misses.
Rutten throws a head kick but Davis moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rutten.
Rutten misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rutten on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rutten lets loose with a powerful body kick. Davis will feel that in the morning.
Mr Phil Davis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten thumps Davis with a low kick.
Davis checks a leg kick nicely.
Rutten throws a nice outside leg kick.
A left lands for Davis.
Davis avoids the head kick by Rutten.
Rutten tries a head kick but it misses.
Davis looks for a takedown but Rutten sprawls well.
Rutten connects with an inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Davis dips to his left and cracks Rutten with an uppercut!
Rutten feints and then cracks Davis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Davis down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rutten fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Davis has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Davis fails with the takedown.
Bas Rutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mr Phil Davis.
A head kick from Rutten lands but Davis takes it in his stride.
Davis drops his hands momentarily and Rutten takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rutten scores with a head kick.
Rutten connects with a leg kick. Davis looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Davis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rutten pinned against the cage. Rutten gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rutten.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten scores with a head kick.
Rutten scoring well with a low kick there.
Rutten throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Davis on the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but Rutten shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rutten works Davis's body with a nice hook.
Rutten with a hook.
Both fighters circling a little - Rutten finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rutten throws a quick inside leg kick.
Davis takes one on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bas Rutten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rutten, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 49:45
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 50:44
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bas Rutten!
Bas Rutten retains his light heavyweight title!