PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Rowen (ranked 2935 p4p, 24419 weight class) and Rico Salvacion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rowen
vs
Salvacion

179 cm
21
164
9 - 13 - 0

182 cm
20
160
6 - 19 - 2

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brendan Rowen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico Salvacion!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Salvacion.
Salvacion is trying to counter with his kicks.
Rowen with a hook.
Rowen misses with a hook.
Good shot there by Rowen.
Salvacion ducks under a wild hook from Rowen.
Salvacion follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Rowen misses with a straight left.
And Salvacion responds with a good body kick, but Rowen manages to step out the way in time.
Rowen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Salvacion counters with a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salvacion tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rowen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Salvacion somewhat.
The fighters circling - Rowen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Salvacion takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Salvacion slips a jab from Rowen.
And Salvacion responds with a good body kick, but Rowen manages to step out the way in time.

Salvacion gets the takedown into side control.
Rowen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rowen can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowen is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salvacion trying to control the action but Rowen is working from the bottom.
Rowen manages to get back to half guard.
Salvacion prevents Rowen from improving his position.
Salvacion with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowen is looking to improve his position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rowen jabs Salvacion right on the nose. Salvacion blinks but takes it well.
Rowen shoots in and drives through. Salvacion sprawls well.
Salvacion follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Salvacion drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Rowen closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rowen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rowen connects with a couple of short punches.
Rowen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Salvacion keeping full guard, as Rowen tries to pass.
Rowen is looking to pass into half guard but Salvacion pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Salvacion is in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salvacion lands a couple of elbows.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Rowen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rowen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Salvacion slips under a jab from Rowen.
Salvacion follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Rowen loads up on a big right hand but Salvacion slips the punch.
Salvacion takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rowen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Salvacion on the side of the head.
Rowen misses with an uppercut
and Salvacion finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Salvacion feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Salvacion being controlled here momentarily.
Rowen trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rowen has Salvacion pulled in close to control his posture.
Salvacion stops Rowen from standing up.
Rowen is pulling down on Salvacion's head. It's preventing any offense from Salvacion, at least for the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rowen looking for a sweep. Not yet Rowen, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Salvacion darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Rowen has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Salvacion is on him like a limpet, forcing Rowen back against the cage.
Salvacion tries for a takedown but Rowen manages to get underhooks.

Rowen breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Rowen catches Salvacion right on the button with a cross.
Rowen shoots for a double leg takedown but Salvacion sprawls well. He's pushed Rowen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And Salvacion responds with a good body kick, but Rowen manages to step out the way in time.
Rowen fails to land the takedown.
Salvacion is trying to counter with his kicks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rowen lands a really nice looking cross but Salvacion seems unphased.
Rowen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Salvacion takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rowen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Brendan Rowen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A swing and a miss from Rowen.
Rowen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rowen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Salvacion is trying to counter with his kicks.
Rowen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salvacion tries to avoid it but Rowen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salvacion to the ground. Salvacion escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And Salvacion responds with a good body kick, but Rowen manages to step out the way in time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendan Rowen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rowen looks to throw the jab but Salvacion is out of range.
Salvacion follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Rowen scores with a jab to the head.
Rowen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Salvacion replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Rowen blocks it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rowen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Salvacion's waist but Salvacion gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rowen off to one side.
Salvacion replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Rowen blocks it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Rowen dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rowen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rowen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rowen is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Salvacion will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Rowen wants to stand but Salvacion is controlling his arm.
Rowen trying to control the action but Salvacion is working from the bottom.
Rowen staying calm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rowen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Rowen is trying to get an arm triangle but Salvacion is defending well.

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.
Salvacion can't do much from the bottom here.
Rowen looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Rowen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rowen working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowen controls the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rowen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Salvacion as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rowen dives in and grabs Salvacion's left leg, looking for a takedown. Salvacion pushes down on Rowen's head and hops out.
Salvacion counters with a body kick.
Rowen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendan Rowen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rowen throws a hook but Salvacion blocks it.
Rowen throws a lazy uppercut
and Salvacion counters with a nice body kick.
Salvacion displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rowen.
Salvacion replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Rowen blocks it well.
Rowen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rico 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!
Salvacion fails with a takedown attempt.

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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

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