PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rhett Rutledge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Merle Walker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merle Walker is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rutledge
vs
Walker

217 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very confident

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 Helsinki, Rhett Rutledge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Merle Walker!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rutledge.
Walker throws a lazy uppercut
and Rutledge counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Rutledge closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Walker to the mat! Walker manages to get full guard.

Walker working for a triangle but Rutledge defends it easily.

Walker is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rutledge defends well.

Walker has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rutledge is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Walker.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Walker tries to buck Rutledge off but Rutledge is having none of it.
Rutledge wants to control but Walker is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Walker tries to get to full guard but Rutledge has control of the leg.

Walker looking for submissions off his back.
Walker wants to improve his position but Rutledge is controlling well.

Walker looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Walker slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
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.

Walker 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Walker looking for a guillotine here but Rutledge defends easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rutledge got a little sloppy there for a moment and Walker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rutledge has managed to get both his arms back between Walker's legs - danger averted.
Rutledge trying to control the position from guard on top but Walker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutledge not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Rutledge is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Walker has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rutledge trying to control the action but Walker is working from the bottom.
Walker tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walker manages to get back to half guard.
Walker wants to improve his position but Rutledge is controlling well.

Walker is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rutledge pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Walker is looking for a sweep. Rutledge is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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

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

Walker closes the distance and clinches up with Rutledge, looking for a takedown. Walker pushes Rutledge against the cage but Rutledge circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Walker tries for a takedown but Rutledge circles away easily
and Rutledge counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Walker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rhett Rutledge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Merle Walker.
Walker swats away the attempt to clinch by Rutledge.
Walker darts in looking for a takedown but Rutledge gets double underhooks and turns Walker into the cage.

Rutledge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Walker has his takedown stuffed
and Rutledge cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker shoots in looking for a takedown but Rutledge manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Walker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Walker with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rutledge moves into the clinch.
Walker tries to pull guard but Rutledge holds him up against the cage and eventually Walker drops back down to his feet.
Walker jumps guard but Rutledge stands there with Walker around his waist. Walker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Walker is breathing heavily.

Rutledge breaks the clinch.

Rutledge has managed to clinch.

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

Rutledge clinches with his opponent.

Rutledge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Walker dives in for a single leg takedown but Rutledge sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Rutledge breaks from the clinch.
Walker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rutledge as he jumps to the side.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Walker drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rutledge dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Walker looking for a guillotine here but Rutledge defends easily.
Walker keeping moving, preventing Rutledge from controlling successfully.

Walker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rutledge wants to control from the top but Walker keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walker has an active guard here but Rutledge has managed to pass into half guard.

Walker is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rutledge pulls his head out easily.
Walker slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Walker wants to sweep here but Rutledge controlling him for the moment.

Walker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutledge trying to control the position from guard on top but Walker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rutledge has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Walker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Walker working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rutledge has passed into half guard!
Walker gets full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rutledge stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Walker swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Walker looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Rutledge is defending well. Walker quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Rutledge has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Walker celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Merle Walker!