PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wellen Dowd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Gardens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Gardens acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Dowd
vs
Gardens

177 cm
21
189 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Attliction Inc. - badass sold out last night....

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wellen Dowd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcus Gardens!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dowd throws a push kick but Gardens slaps the foot to one side.
Gardens tries for a takedown but Dowd sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Dowd darts in and clinches Gardens up against the cage.
Dowd swings wildly with an uppercut but Gardens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dowd throws a punch but it's blocked by Gardens.
Dowd landing knees to the body.
Dowd struggles to land a body shot inside as Gardens controls his hands.
Dowd will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gardens up against the cage.
Dowd misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dowd stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Dowd.
Dowd swings wildly with an uppercut but Gardens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gardens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dowd prevents a takedown attempt there.
A head punch on the inside from Dowd fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dowd throws a head punch that misses.
Dowd tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gardens's elbow.
Gardens should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Dowd holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Dowd tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Dowd.
Dowd fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gardens blocking some punches.
Dowd lands with a left to the head.
Dowd misses with a punch on the inside.
Dowd lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gardens backwards.
Gardens wants a takedown but no success here.
Wellen Dowd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Gardens.
Dowd doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
with the fighters clinched against the cage, Dowd creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gardens moves away from the strike by Dowd.
Gardens fails to land the takedown.

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.
A punch combination from Dowd misses.
Gardens shoots in for a takedown but Dowd shows good takedown defense.
Wellen Dowd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dowd thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gardens takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Dowd throws a sloppy head kick and Gardens moves out of range easily.
Dowd pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dowd thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gardens closes the distance and clinches up with Dowd, looking for a takedown. Gardens pushes Dowd against the cage but Dowd circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dowd fails to land with a series of punches.

Dowd rushes Gardens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gardens blocks an uppercut.
Dowd struggles to land a body shot inside as Gardens controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gardens.
Dowd throws a head punch that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dowd.
Gardens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dowd is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dowd lands with a right to the head.
Gardens has Dowd pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dowd manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dowd tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dowd gets underhooks to prevent Gardens's takedown attempt.
Gardens looks gassed!
Gardens managing to block the knees to the body from Dowd.
Gardens is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A short right from Dowd.
Dowd tries a body shot but Gardens blocks it.
Dowd lands a right hand.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Dowd.
Dowd misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gardens.
Dowd misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gardens is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dowd pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dowd lands a nice elbow.
Dowd pressing his opponent against the cage.
Dowd working aggressively here.

That's four 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.

Gardens wants the takedown. Dowd is fighting it off but Gardens persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Dowd's guard against the cage.
Dowd keeping full guard, as Gardens tries to pass.

Dowd pushes Gardens off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Dowd has closed the distance and engaged Gardens in a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Dowd.
Dowd misses with a punch on the inside.
Dowd looking to throw knees to the head but Gardens is blocking nicely.
Dowd misses with a body punch.
Dowd misses with a punch on the inside.
Dowd avoiding damage.
Dowd misses with a punch on the inside.
Dowd misses with a knee strike.
Gardens drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dowd gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gardens blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gardens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gardens.
Dowd is looking to regain half guard here but Gardens keeps moving and retains side control.

Gardens is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dowd knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Gardens goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Dowd has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gardens but great work by Dowd.
Dowd tries to advance to mount but can't.
Dowd is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gardens will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Dowd decides to stand back up. Dowd steps back and let's Gardens get back to his feet.
Gardens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dowd throws a jab but it's blocked by Gardens.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dowd moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardens blocks a body shot from Dowd.
Dowd missing with knees to the body.
Dowd misses with a hook from the clinch.
The referee calls for Dowd to work.
Gardens can't get the takedown.
Gardens blocks an elbow strike.
Dowd stalling against the cage.
Dowd goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dowd is working Gardens over against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Dowd.
Gardens blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Gardens jumps guard.
Gardens keeping moving, preventing Dowd from controlling successfully.

Gardens looking for a guillotine here but Dowd defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dowd passes Gardens's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Gardens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gardens tries to roll over but Dowd keeps him under control.

Dowd gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Gardens slips a straight right by Dowd.
Dowd tries to clinch up.

Dowd clinches up with Gardens and pushes him back against the cage.
Dowd trying to land knees to the body.
Dowd missing with knees to the body.
Gardens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dowd digs a right hand underneath Gardens's ribcage. Gardens let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gardens blocks an elbow strike from Dowd.
Dowd leaning against his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardens drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dowd gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Wellen Dowd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Gardens.
Gardens is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dowd pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A bit of stalling here from Dowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dowd.
Dowd lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gardens backwards.
Dowd is pressed up against the cage. Gardens has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dowd down to the mat. Dowd avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dowd is looking to clinch.
Nice cross by Dowd.
Dowd moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Dowd rushes Gardens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dowd struggles to land a body shot inside as Gardens controls his hands.
Dowd throws an elbow that misses.
Dowd lands a body punch.

Gardens has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Dowd clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dowd tries to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dowd looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Gardens looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Dowd taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Marcus Gardens!