PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between God Devil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonah Rowlah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Devil
vs
Rowlah

180 cm
20
178 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

184 cm
19
170 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

MMA ANIMAL

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, God Devil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jonah Rowlah!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Devil - just one landing.
Devil lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Devil showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rowlah.
Rowlah displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Devil.
Devil throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rowlah rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Devil moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice defenses there by Devil.

Devil decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Devil seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rowlah does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Devil is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Devil lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rowlah slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Devil has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rowlah is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Devil knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rowlah on the ground.
Rowlah utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowlah tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Devil works over Rowlah with some ground and pound from guard.
Devil preventing the sweep.

Rowlah has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Devil can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Devil is working Rowlah over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Devil controls from within his opponent's guard.
Devil distracts Rowlah with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Devil in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Devil controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Devil throwing strikes from guard but Rowlah blocks nicely.
Rowlah looking for a sweep. Not yet Rowlah, not yet.

Devil avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Devil trying to control but Rowlah is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rowlah's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Devil prevents Rowlah from improving his position.
Devil takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Rowlah looking for submissions off his back.
Devil is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Devil winds up and cracks Rowlah with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rowlah is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rowlah is refusing to be controlled, as Devil sits in half guard.
Devil thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devil is keen to just control but Rowlah is a slippery customer.
Rowlah taking some punishment here, with Devil in his half guard.

Rowlah looking for submissions off his back.
Devil is looking to take a break and control but Rowlah is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Devil seems content to control.
Rowlah regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rowlah looking for a sweep. Not yet Rowlah, not yet.
Rowlah has momentary wrist control but Devil slips an elbow through the middle.
Devil content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Devil is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rowlah is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rowlah is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devil trying to control but Rowlah is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rowlah is on top in guard.
Devil is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rowlah being controlled here momentarily.
Rowlah postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

We're going to have a standup here because God Devil wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A telegraphed right hand from Rowlah misses the target.
Rowlah staying out of range there.
No luck for Devil with that takedown attempt.
Rowlah shoots in for a double leg but Devil sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

God Devil dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Devil lands a jab-cross combination.
Devil misses with an uppercut
and Rowlah makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rowlah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Devil was well out of range. Poor timing from Rowlah.
Good standup being displayed there by Devil as he connects with a hook.
Rowlah takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rowlah lands with a shot to the body.

Devil shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rowlah manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Devil controls from within his opponent's guard.
Devil keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rowlah's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rowlah lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Devil!
Rowlah thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Rowlah working the ground and pound effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowlah prevents Devil from getting the reversal.

Rowlah wants to finish this one by submission but Devil is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rowlah.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Devil wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rowlah.
Devil sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Devil is looking for a sweep. Rowlah is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rowlah tries to pass to full mount but Devil defends it.
Rowlah is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rowlah not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Rowlah is working for a kimura but Devil is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil tries to get to full guard but Rowlah has control of the leg.
Rowlah thows a huge punch but Devil dodges it nicely.

Rowlah seems to be working for a kimura but Devil defends the submission attempt.
Rowlah sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Devil defending well though.

Rowlah is trying to work for a kimura but Devil is defending well.
Devil is positioning himself well to prevent Rowlah advancing to mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Devil makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Devil.
Devil wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Devil looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rowlah stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Devil swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rowlah postures up in Devil's guard and throws a big left but Devil blocks it.
God Devil overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rowlah stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Devil swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Devil controlling Rowlah's posture.
Rowlah passes into half guard.
Rowlah prevents Devil from improving his position.
Devil works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devil wants to sweep here but Rowlah controlling him for the moment.
Rowlah with a nice head shot there.
Devil utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rowlah forces his way into half guard.
Devil is trying is best to control the position here.
Rowlah missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Devil manages to get to full guard.
Rowlah loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Devil on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Devil tries to get out of the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rowlah passes into half guard.
Rowlah wants to pass to mount but Devil is defending the position.
Devil is looking for a sweep. Rowlah is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jonah Rowlah will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rowlah takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rowlah lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Devil backs up against the cage.
Devil steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rowlah.
Devil displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rowlah.
God Devil is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rowlah lands a head shot.

Devil shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rowlah manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Devil is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Devil makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Devil wants to control from the top but Rowlah keeps moving.
Devil won't allow Rowlah to sweep him here.
Devil tries to free his leg and advance position but Rowlah is retaining full guard.
Devil scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Devil trying to control but Rowlah is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devil not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rowlah is on top in guard.

Rowlah thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rowlah pushes down on Devil's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Devil wants to get back to full guard.
Rowlah wants to free his trapped foot but Devil is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rowlah missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Devil blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rowlah.
Devil has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rowlah is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowlah sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Devil defending well though.
Devil wants to improve his position but Rowlah is controlling well.
Devil blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rowlah.
Devil is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Devil is looking to control Rowlah's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Devil avoid being mounted?
Rowlah tries to pass the half guard into mount. Devil knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Devil looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rowlah not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rowlah is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Devil is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowlah works his way into side control.
Devil takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Devil wants to control but Rowlah postures up.
Devil is trying to improve his position.
Rowlah throws an elbow but Devil slips to the side and avoids it well.
An elbow from Rowlah crashes against the mat.
Devil dodges the ground and pound from Rowlah.
Devil is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rowlah connects with a decent elbow.
Rowlah working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rowlah working the ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rowlah is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Devil has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rowlah throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rowlah working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Devil manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rowlah is staying active underneath Devil, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rowlah regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Devil keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rowlah's head.
Devil throws a big right hand that misses.
Devil trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowlah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rowlah is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jonah Rowlah.
I think Rowlah has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonah Rowlah!