PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zito Bandito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riaq Rowanda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riaq Rowanda has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Bandito
vs
Rowanda

175 cm
20
169 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
20
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zito Bandito!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Riaq Rowanda!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowanda tries to clinch but Bandito is having none of it.
Rowanda swings for the body but Bandito moves out of range.
Bandito has been working on his boxing with his coaches at WarZone Training Facility 1 in the buildup to the fight.
Rowanda uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bandito.
Bandito throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rowanda misses with a double jab.
Bandito misses the shot to the body.
Bandito takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Rowanda feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bandito's calf.
Rowanda works Bandito's body with a nice hook.
We've been informed that Rowanda has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Bandito keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice jab there from Rowanda.
Rowanda rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bandito moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rowanda bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bandito's head backwards.
Bandito keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bandito misses with an uppercut. Rowanda saw that one coming.
Rowanda lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bandito at a distance.
Rowanda tries to clinch but Bandito moves away
and Bandito counters with a straight right hand.
Bandito tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bandito's corner calls for a 1-2. Bandito obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Both fighters circling a little - Rowanda finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Bandito jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Riaq Rowanda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bandito circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rowanda lands with an uppercut that bounces Bandito off the cage and back into range.
Bandito circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bandito counters with a nice uppercut.

Bandito looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bandito throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rowanda to regain full guard.
Rowanda looking to control.
Rowanda wants to get back to his feet but Bandito is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bandito has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bandito wants to control from the top but Rowanda keeps moving.
Rowanda avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bandito throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rowanda works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bandito trying to control but Rowanda is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda is pulling down on Bandito's head to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Rowanda moves into range and clinches up with Bandito.
Bandito struggles to land a body shot inside as Rowanda controls his hands.
Rowanda tries to work over Bandito's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rowanda trying to stall but Bandito improves his position.
Bandito misses with a punch to the body.
Rowanda stalling the fight.
Rowanda tries to throw a body punch but Bandito avoids it by throwing Rowanda back against the cage.
Bandito can't break the clinch.
Bandito digs a right hand into Rowanda's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rowanda's gas tank.
Rowanda taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Bandito.
Bandito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rowanda misses with a knee strike.
Bandito throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rowanda misses with a punch on the inside.
Rowanda doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rowanda makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rowanda tries to work over Bandito's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rowanda trying to control the position but instead, Bandito has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rowanda into the cage.
Bandito stalling in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rowanda.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Riaq Rowanda will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rowanda stuns Bandito with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bandito throws a hook to the side of Rowanda's head but Rowanda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rowanda slips under a jab from Bandito.
Rowanda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Crunch! Rowanda slams his shin into Bandito's torso.
Riaq Rowanda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bandito takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Rowanda gets caught napping as Bandito dives in and scores a takedown. Rowanda manages to retain guard.
Rowanda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bandito engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bandito missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bandito trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rowanda has momentary wrist control but Bandito slips an elbow through the middle.
Bandito is looking to pass into half guard but Rowanda pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rowanda is in guard.

Bandito not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rowanda preventing the sweep.
Rowanda content to stall in guard here.
Bandito on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bandito tries to get out of the position.
Bandito tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bandito looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A right-left combo lands from Rowanda.
Rowanda jabs at Bandito's body.
Bandito steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rowanda. That one must have hurt.
Rowanda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bandito scores with a punch to the head.
Rowanda moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bandito connects with a nice looking jab.
Bandito rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rowanda counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rowanda connects with an inside leg kick.
Rowanda is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rowanda tries to clinch
and Bandito cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rowanda misses with a combination

and Bandito counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bandito is looking to take a break and control but Rowanda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda trying to hold on to Bandito's head to control him but Bandito postures up.
Bandito not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bandito is just content to waste time from the top position. Rowanda takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Rowanda has control of Bandito's left arm, preventing Bandito from doing any damage.
Rowanda avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bandito fails with a takedown attempt.
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!
Rowanda tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Riaq Rowanda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Bandito's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rowanda scores with the left hand. Bandito knows he should have avoided that one.
Rowanda tries to close the distance and clinch but Bandito swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rowanda misses with a series of wild punches.
Riaq Rowanda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bandito shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rowanda's guard.
Bandito wants to control from the top but Rowanda keeps moving.
Rowanda controlling Bandito's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowanda working a defensive guard but Bandito manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bandito tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bandito wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rowanda keeps working.
Bandito lands some shots froms side control.
Rowanda parries the strikes from Bandito easily there. Bandito is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rowanda to escape.
Bandito is looking to take a break and control but Rowanda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bandito looking to control but instead Rowanda has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rowanda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bandito controlling the action here.
Rowanda avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bandito.
Rowanda avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bandito.
Bandito seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rowanda does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rowanda throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda tries to clinch
and Bandito counters with a stiff right hand.
Rowanda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bandito.
Rowanda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Rowanda moves into the clinch successfully.
A short uppercut from Rowanda.
Rowanda is working Bandito over against the cage.
Rowanda lands an uppercut.
Rowanda prevents Bandito from breaking the clinch.
Rowanda tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rowanda struggles to land a body shot inside as Bandito controls his hands.
Bandito blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rowanda tries to throw a body punch but Bandito avoids it by throwing Rowanda back against the cage.
Rowanda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Bandito.
Bandito scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rowanda struggles to land a body shot inside as Bandito controls his hands.
Bandito drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bandito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rowanda.
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!
Rowanda makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rowanda throws a head punch that misses.
Bandito misses with a body punch.
Bandito blocks a body shot from Rowanda.
Rowanda misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Riaq Rowanda just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Bandito's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rowanda fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rowanda fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rowanda pushes Bandito up against the cage in a clinch.
Rowanda controlling the action here for a moment.
Bandito blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bandito.
Bandito working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Riaq Rowanda seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rowanda tries a body shot but Bandito blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Rowanda.
Bandito has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rowanda after a bit of a struggle.
Bandito tries to throw a body punch but Rowanda avoids it by throwing Bandito back against the cage.
Rowanda holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Bandito blocking some punches.
Rowanda lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bandito or not.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Rowanda fails to land.
Rowanda lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bandito backwards.
Rowanda tries to throw a body punch but Bandito avoids it by throwing Rowanda back against the cage.
Rowanda tries to stall but Bandito uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bandito prevents a body shot from Rowanda.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bandito.

Rowanda manages to break the clinch.
Bandito throws out a powerful jab.
Rowanda misses with a two punch combination.
Bandito is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Bandito swats away the attempt to clinch by Rowanda.
Rowanda tests Bandito's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bandito takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Riaq Rowanda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Bandito does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bandito throws a body punch but Rowanda moves out of range.
Rowanda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rowanda, right into the meat.
Rowanda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bandito paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Bandito throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rowanda tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bandito is in Rowanda's guard.
Bandito postures up.
Bandito wants to control from the top but Rowanda keeps moving.
Bandito is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rowanda is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bandito is really struggling to control Rowanda but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bandito working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bandito postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rowanda wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rowanda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rowanda pushes Bandito up against the cage in a clinch.

Rowanda manages to break the clinch.
Rowanda tries to clinch but Bandito is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riaq Rowanda dominated that fourth 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. This is the final round!

Rowanda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bandito paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rowanda tries to clinch there but Bandito circles away.
Rowanda closes the distance but Bandito moves to the side
and Bandito counters with a nice uppercut.
Rowanda misses with a wild combination.
Rowanda scores with a jab to the head.
Bandito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rowanda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bandito throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rowanda is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rowanda pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bandito throws a looping overhand right but Rowanda ducks down to avoid it.
Rowanda moves in looking to clinch but Bandito pushes him off.
Good standup being displayed there by Rowanda as he connects with a hook.
Rowanda wants to clinch up but Bandito keeps it at a distance.
Bandito on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bandito connects with a body shot.
Bandito looks to score with a jab to the body but Rowanda is just out of range.
Bandito misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bandito takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That kick from Rowanda tenderised Bandito's leg. Bandito is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bandito avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bandito misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda closes the distance looking to clinch
and Bandito counters with a nice uppercut.
Bandito looks to score with a jab to the body but Rowanda is just out of range.
Rowanda walks into a jab.

Bandito looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bandito controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Bandito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rowanda is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bandito accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bandito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rowanda is keeping the position for now.
Rowanda utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bandito being controlled here momentarily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Riaq Rowanda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bandito trying to control but Rowanda is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters circling - Bandito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zito Bandito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bandito misses the shot to the body.
Rowanda stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bandito has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rowanda.
Bandito looks to score with a jab to the body but Rowanda is just out of range.
Bandito tries to move into range but Rowanda moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rowanda bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bandito's head backwards.
Bandito will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Rowanda misses with a two punch combination.
Rowanda connects with a solid leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zito Bandito.
I think Rowanda 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 45:50
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 46:49
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riaq Rowanda! Riaq Rowanda retains his lightweight title!