PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Easton Bauer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vernon Rookshaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rookshaw is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Mouth for War - Pantara. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bauer
vs
Rookshaw

182 cm
21
189 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

180 cm
26
198 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Easton Bauer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vernon Rookshaw!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rookshaw changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bauer tries to avoid it but Rookshaw manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bauer to the ground. Bauer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bauer tries to clinch up.
Rookshaw takes a swing at Bauer's ribcage but misses.
Rookshaw throws a body punch but Bauer moves out of range.
Rookshaw takes one to the side of the head.
Bauer connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Rookshaw is rocked!
Bauer has a takedown stuffed.
Rookshaw is still on wobbly legs! Can Bauer finish him?

Bauer moves into range and clinches up with Rookshaw.
Rookshaw seems to have recovered his senses.
Rookshaw misses with some punches.
Rookshaw tries for a takedown. No joy.

Rookshaw breaks the clinch.
Bauer lands a head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bauer fails to land the takedown.
Bauer scores with a sloppy right hand. Rookshaw should have avoided that one.
Rookshaw shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bauer but Bauer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Easton Bauer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vernon Rookshaw.
A jab from Bauer does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bauer throws a body punch but Rookshaw moves out of range.
Bauer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rookshaw is looking to clinch.
Bauer connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rookshaw momentarily.
Rookshaw misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Bauer tries to keep at a distance but Rookshaw has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bauer tries for a takedown but Rookshaw manages to get underhooks.
Rookshaw wants to stall.
Rookshaw tries to work over Bauer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rookshaw throws a punch but it's blocked by Bauer.
Bauer has Rookshaw pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rookshaw manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rookshaw tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bauer smiles and moves away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rookshaw, right into the meat.
Rookshaw tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bauer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bauer tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rookshaw counters with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bauer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rookshaw moves away.
Bauer lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bauer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rookshaw circles away.
Rookshaw darts in trying to clinch
and Bauer counters with a nice body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bauer wants to clinch
and Rookshaw counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Bauer tries to bum rush Rookshaw with a series of wild strikes but Rookshaw uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bauer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rookshaw moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bauer shoots in but no luck this time.
Rookshaw misses with a hook.
Bauer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rookshaw tries to clinch but Bauer moves out of range.
Bauer closes the distance and clinches up with Rookshaw, looking for a takedown. Bauer pushes Rookshaw against the cage but Rookshaw circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bauer lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Bauer throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bauer tests Rookshaw's chin there with a solid looking shot.

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

Rookshaw had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bauer defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bauer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bauer is working hard here to advance position.
Bauer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bauer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bauer landing some decent shots from guard.
Bauer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rookshaw is keeping the position for now.
Bauer stops Rookshaw from standing up.
Bauer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bauer works over Rookshaw with some ground and pound from guard.
Bauer wants to pass the guard but Rookshaw is keeping the position.
Bauer forces his way into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bauer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bauer content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Easton Bauer dominated that round.
That's time! Bauer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bauer throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Rookshaw decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rookshaw tries to stand and escape but Bauer actually recovers to full guard.
Rookshaw passes Bauer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Rookshaw decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Rookshaw.
A big right from Bauer misses.
Bauer swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rookshaw counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rookshaw motions for Bauer to come forward. Rookshaw throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bauer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rookshaw keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rookshaw wants to clinch
and Bauer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Bauer.
Bauer throws a series of punches but Rookshaw avoids them all with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rookshaw looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rookshaw closes the distance looking to clinch
and Bauer makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rookshaw.
Rookshaw throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rookshaw is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bauer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rookshaw gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Bauer regains guard.
Rookshaw advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rookshaw wants to get back to his feet.
Rookshaw prevents Bauer from standing back up.
Rookshaw is keen to just control but Bauer is a slippery customer.

Bauer makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A lazy body kick from Rookshaw

and Bauer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rookshaw wants to improve his position but Bauer is controlling well.
Bauer stops Rookshaw from getting back to his feet.
Bauer working the head and body with strikes.
Bauer is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bauer thows a huge punch but Rookshaw dodges it nicely.
Bauer lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bauer trying to control from half guard but Rookshaw is working away.
Bauer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bauer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rookshaw is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bauer lands strikes from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bauer connects with a nice short shot to Rookshaw's temple.
Bauer slips a nice elbow through Rookshaw's hands, connecting with Rookshaw's forehead.
Bauer looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rookshaw with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Rookshaw kicks Bauer off and gets back to his feet.
Bauer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rookshaw.
Rookshaw misses with a leg kick
and Bauer counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rookshaw wants to land a leg kick but Bauer is out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bauer fails to land with a series of punches.

Bauer scores with a takedown into Rookshaw's guard.
Bauer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Easton Bauer dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bauer fails with a takedown attempt.
Rookshaw stalks Bauer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bauer's face. Bauer staggers backwards, shaken.
Rookshaw ducks right into an uppercut from Bauer.
Bauer ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bauer scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rookshaw in his tracks.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rookshaw.
Rookshaw clinches but Bauer breaks the clinch

and Bauer decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rookshaw's guard.
Bauer thows a big elbow that misses.
Rookshaw avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bauer lands a couple of elbows.
Bauer postures up in Rookshaw's guard and throws a big left but Rookshaw blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bauer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bauer chips away with some ground and pound.
Bauer throws a strike but Rookshaw rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bauer wants to stand up but Rookshaw is controlling him.
Rookshaw looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rookshaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Bauer is retaining full guard.
Easton Bauer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Rookshaw is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bauer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bauer has escaped and now he's on top!
Bauer passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Check out the look on Bauer's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bauer working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Bauer sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rookshaw is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Bauer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rookshaw keeps working.
Bauer prevents Rookshaw from escaping the position.
Bauer tries to move to mount but Rookshaw blocks the move with his legs.
You can see the frustration on Rookshaw's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rookshaw is trying to buck Bauer off.
Bauer creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rookshaw sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bauer throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rookshaw counters with a thumping low kick.
Bauer comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bauer scores with a three punch combo!

Bauer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bauer showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bauer lands a nice short elbow.
Vernon Rookshaw has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rookshaw is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bauer pulls his head out easily.
Bauer prevents Rookshaw from improving his position.
Bauer working the head and body with strikes.
Bauer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rookshaw defending well though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rookshaw looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bauer is trying to control the action in half guard but Rookshaw is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Easton Bauer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bauer 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Easton Bauer!