PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ellis Rowards (ranked 4806 p4p, 4960 weight class) and Edward Gallagher (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.

Rowards
vs
Gallagher

195 cm
25
190
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
190
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ellis Rowards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Edward Gallagher!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rowards manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gallagher on his heels. He'll look to pass Gallagher's guard now, I'm sure.
Gallagher working a defensive guard but Rowards passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rowards stalling.
Gallagher is looking to improve his position.
Gallagher wants to get back to full guard but Rowards has passed into side control.
Rowards advances to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rowards cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Rowards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher tries to buck Rowards off but Rowards takes his back!

Rowards is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Rowards biding his time, looking for the opening.
Rowards loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Gallagher hold on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gallagher rolls, trying to escape but Rowards keeps control of the position.
Rowards is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gallagher showing good submission defense here.

Gallagher defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Rowards just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Rowards is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gallagher has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowards is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Rowards gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Rowards gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Rowards apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Gallagher scores with a hook.
Gallagher throws a series of strikes that have Rowards backpedaling.
Gallagher looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rowards tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gallagher throws a nice looking combination but Rowards bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rowards darts in and clinches Gallagher up against the cage.

Rowards ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rowards no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gallagher slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gallagher looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rowards is on top in guard.

Gallagher being controlled here, momentarily.
Rowards working some strikes from top position.
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!
Rowards slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Rowards is trying to get an arm triangle but Gallagher is defending well.

Rowards decides to take the fight back to the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rowards.
Ellis Rowards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gallagher jabs at Rowards's body.
Rowards throws a sloppy head kick

and Gallagher counters with a single leg into guard. Rowards didn't expect that.
Gallagher trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rowards has his hands on Gallagher's head, controlling the position.
Rowards on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rowards tries to get out of the position.
Gallagher looking to sit in guard and control but Rowards gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowards slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Rowards tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Rowards controlling the position.

Rowards is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gallagher has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gallagher really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rowards. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gallagher struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gallagher looking for a sweep but Rowards has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Rowards avoids the attempt from Gallagher to control.
Gallagher is breathing heavily.
Rowards is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gallagher can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rowards lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rowards controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowards landing strikes from the mount.

Rowards is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Rowards moves into the clinch.
Rowards avoiding damage.
Rowards is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gallagher fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Rowards drags the fight down to the ground.
Rowards manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gallagher manages to get himself to full guard.

Ellis Rowards overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowards is pushing down on Gallagher's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gallagher is fighting to maintain full guard but Rowards has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gallagher tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Rowards manages to move to mount!

Rowards looking to secure an arm triangle but Gallagher defends it well.
Rowards content just to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rowards putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ellis Rowards dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rowards scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gallagher tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Rowards manages to move to mount!
Rowards breaks from Gallagher's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rowards with a couple of short strikes.
Rowards controlling the position easily from mount.
Rowards's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Rowards is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gallagher can do to turn this around?
Rowards tries to control but Gallagher wriggling away.
Gallagher takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowards takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Rowards is working for a guillotine from mount but Gallagher frees his head quite easily.
Rowards lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rowards scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Gallagher?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowards with the ground and pound from mount.

Rowards working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rowards tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rowards with good strikes from the mount here!

Rowards stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Rowards has a takedown stuffed.
Rowards throws a head kick but Gallagher moves out of range.
Rowards shoots for a takedown but Gallagher saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gallagher with the counter takedown but Rowards avoids it easily.
Gallagher throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher misses the jab.
Gallagher throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rowards counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Rowards's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rowards decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gallagher pushes Rowards off but Rowards dives into side control.
Rowards cracks Gallagher with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Rowards tries to stand but Gallagher is controlling his head.
Rowards advances to full mount.
Rowards 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.
Gallagher is in a horrible position here. Rowards smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowards pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rowards working the ground and pound effectively.
Rowards lands with some strikes.
Rowards controlling his opponent.
Rowards punishing his opponent with strikes.
Edward Gallagher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ellis Rowards is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rowards pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ellis Rowards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rowards, 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ellis Rowards!