PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodrick Cassel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cj Bower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cassel comes to the cage accompanied by Sucks to be me . Rodrick Cassel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cassel
vs
Bower

175 cm
21
167 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

168 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rodrick Cassel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cj Bower!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cassel shoots in and bounces Bower off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bower is on top in guard.
Bower trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cassel controlling the position.
Bower looking to pass the guard.
Cassel wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bower is now in half guard.
Bower working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Cassel's thigh. Cassel counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Bower trying to control but Cassel is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassel is pulling down on Bower's head. It's preventing any offense from Bower, at least for the moment.
Cassel wants to stand and escape but Bower is having none of it.
Cassel seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bower tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cassel swivels and escapes.

Cassel shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cassel passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Cassel goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bower has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cassel but great work by Bower.
Cassel stops Bower from passing to mount.
Bower sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Cassel is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Cassel struggling a bit here.
Bower wants to control but Cassel is keeping him busy.
Cassel avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Bower.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassel tries to bench press Bower off him but Bower keeps the position.
Bower tries to move to mount but Cassel blocks the move with his legs.
Bower scoring with punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bower prevents Cassel from escaping the position.

Bower decides to stand back up. Bower steps back and let's Cassel get back to his feet.
Bower has a takedown stuffed.
Bower tries for a takedown but Cassel circles away easily

and Cassel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cassel.
Rodrick Cassel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cj Bower.
Cassel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Cassel wants the takedown. Bower is fighting it off but Cassel persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Bower's guard against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bower being controlled here, momentarily.
Cassel wants to control from the top but Bower keeps moving.
Cassel wants to pass the guard but Bower is keeping the position.
Cassel content to stall in guard here.

Rodrick Cassel has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Cassel closes the distance and pushes Bower back into the cage.
Cassel is trying to force a seperation but Bower has the dominant position.

Cassel lands a takedown into guard.
Cassel wants to pass the guard but Bower is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bower shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cassel but Cassel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rodrick Cassel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bower enables Cassel to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bower manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cassel trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bower's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bower is on top in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cassel holds on and takes a little breather.
Cassel wants to get back to his feet but Bower is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bower is looking to advance position but Cassel has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower has given up his back. Will we see Cassel going for some submissions?
Bower trying to control the position but Cassel manages to sink in the hooks.

Bower is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Bower prevents Cassel from getting a body triangle.

Cassel is looking for the choke from the back position but Bower is controlling his hands well.

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.
Bower looking very determined here, making life difficult for Cassel.

Bower defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cassel's arms.

Cassel is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Bower defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Cassel avoiding Bower 's attempts to control his hands.

Cassel is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Bower defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bower defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Bower defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cassel's arms.
Rodrick Cassel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bower rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

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.
Bower trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Cassel manages to pass to mount!
Bower holds of for dear life.
Cassel looking to control but Bower is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bower wants to hold on but Cassel pushes him away.

Cassel goes for an armbar but Bower turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Bower.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrick Cassel dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cassel lands a lovely overhand right.

Cassel looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bower!

Cassel moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Bower has worked his arm free - good work by Bower!

Cassel has an Americana. Bower didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Cassel is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Cassel hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Rodrick Cassel!