PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Rowen (ranked 3185 p4p, 24373 weight class) and Helen Salvacion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rowen
vs
Salvacion

179 cm
20
164
7 - 11 - 0

182 cm
19
160
9 - 14 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brendan Rowen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Helen Salvacion!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Chris Dean and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Salvacion on the side of the head.
Rowen looks to throw the jab but Salvacion is out of range.
Salvacion takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rowen throws a hook but Salvacion avoids it easily.
And Salvacion responds with a good body kick, but Rowen manages to step out the way in time.
Salvacion darts in looking for a takedown but Rowen gets double underhooks and turns Salvacion into the cage.
Rowen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Salvacion.
Salvacion lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Rowen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Salvacion did well to prevent Rowen getting side control.
Salvacion trying to control from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Rowen seems content to control.
Salvacion keeps control of the position for the meantime.
We've been hearing that Rowen has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Rowen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowen wants to pass to mount but Salvacion is defending the position.
Rowen throws a strike but Salvacion avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salvacion pulls Rowen in close to his closed guard and prevents Rowen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rowen is looking to stand up but Salvacion won't let him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Salvacion takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Salvacion ducks right into an uppercut from Rowen.
Salvacion ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rowen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Salvacion replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Rowen blocks it well.
Rowen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rowen lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rowen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Salvacion being controlled for a moment.
Rowen trying to control the position but Salvacion is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rowen moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rowen tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Rowen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rowen decides to stand back up. Rowen steps back and let's Salvacion get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Rowen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Salvacion dives in and scores a takedown into Rowen's guard.
Brendan Rowen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rowen seems keen to control Salvacion's posture.
Salvacion stays in close to Rowen's body and controls the position.
Rowen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowen keeping moving, preventing Salvacion from controlling successfully.
Rowen trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion trying to control but Rowen is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rowen connects with a nice looking jab.
Salvacion looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rowen missing with a left hand there. Salvacion was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Salvacion tries to sprawl but Rowen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rowen controlling the pace.
Rowen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Salvacion for as long as he can get away with.

Rowen seems to be working for a kimura but Salvacion defends the submission attempt.

Rowen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion trying to control but Rowen postures up.
Rowen controlling the action here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Salvacion avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rowen.

Rowen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rowen controlling the action here.
Salvacion gets full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rowen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Salvacion's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Salvacion walks into a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Rowen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rowen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Jab from Rowen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rowen. Salvacion does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rowen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Rowen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Salvacion, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowen tries to score a body lock takedown but Salvacion shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Salvacion has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rowen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rowen.

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

Salvacion throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rowen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Salvacion is in Rowen's guard.

Rowen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Salvacion defends it easily.
Salvacion wants to control from the top but Rowen keeps moving.

Rowen throws his legs up looking for a submission but Salvacion uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion working away.
Rowen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Salvacion off and has taken his back!
Rowen trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Salvacion doesn't escape.
Salvacion is taking damage to the body and head.
Rowen throwing wild punches that miss their target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rowen biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowen gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
What can Salvacion do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Salvacion takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rowen lands shots from the back.
Salvacion is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rowen.

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.
I really don't envy Salvacion right now.
Rowen has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Salvacion's body.
Helen Salvacion has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Brendan Rowen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rowen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:26
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:26
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brendan Rowen!