PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bowman Rook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eli Massey (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.

Rook
vs
Massey

180 cm
32
190 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

184 cm
29
194 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bowman Rook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eli Massey!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Massey ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rook moves away.
Rook takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Massey misses with a double jab.
Rook swings widly with a right hand
and Massey counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Massey throws a jab when Rook was well out of range.
Rook drops down looking for a counter takedown but Massey sprawls and moves away.
Massey catches Rook with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Massey fails with a takedown attempt.
Rook jabs Massey to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Massey thows a left - swing and a miss!
Massey misses with a hook

and Rook moves into the clinch.
Rook keeps control of Massey as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rook trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rook softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rook looking to stall.
Massey prevents a body shot from Rook.
Massey is trying to break the clinch but Rook is controlling him.
Rook looking to stall.
Rook misses with a knee to the head.
Rook is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Massey is defending well for now.
Massey tries to circle away but Rook has him pinned against the cage.
Rook keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Massey's efforts to push away.
Massey letting Rook take a breather here.
Massey blocks the elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on Massey's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Massey is trying to push Rook away but Rook has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rook is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Massey is defending well for now.

Massey escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rook throws a body punch but Massey moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rook uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Massey.
Rook takes a swing at Massey's ribcage but misses.
Massey will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rook looks to land a left hand but Massey moved out of range nicely.
Rook connects with an inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Rook.
Eli Massey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Massey misses with an uppercut.
Rook defending well as Massey loads up on a big left hand.
Massey takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rook misses with an uppercut. Massey saw that one coming.
Massey misses with a left hand

and Rook counters with a single leg into guard. Massey didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rook won't allow Massey to get back to his feet.
Rook throws an elbow that misses. Massey uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rook's guard. Nice move by Massey!

Massey landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massey landing with the ground and pound.
Massey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Massey accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Massey with a flurry of punches that miss.
Massey won't allow Rook to sweep him here.
Rook working a defensive guard but Massey passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Massey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Massey trying to control the action but Rook is working from the bottom.
Massey frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Massey unloads with some shots from mount but Rook bucks and avoids them well.
Massey thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rook is looking to get to half guard.
Massey lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rook regains half guard.
Rook is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Massey seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rook is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Massey scores with a couple of nice shots.
Massey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rook defending well though.
Rook regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eli Massey will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Massey with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Rook closes the distance and clinches.
Massey is struggling to control the position.
Rook tries a knee to the head but Massey blocks it.
Massey being controlled against the cage.
Rook lands a right hand that snaps the head of Massey backwards.
Massey looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Massey breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Massey avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rook tries to move into range but Massey moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rook throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rook misses with a low kick.
Massey misses with an uppercut.
Massey waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rook scores with a leg kick.
Rook with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rook keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Rook.
Rook with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rook slips under a jab.
Rook drops down looking for a counter takedown but Massey sprawls and moves away.
Massey scores with a nice strike.
Eli Massey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
That kick from Rook tenderised Massey's leg. Massey is trying to keep his angry face on.
Massey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Massey throws a right hand that misses

so Rook counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rook landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rook trying to control the position from guard on top but Massey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rook won't allow Massey to get back to his feet.
We've been hearing that Rook has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Rook forces his way into half guard.
Massey avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rook.
Massey is looking to improve his position.
Massey is not content to let Rook control the position.
Massey tries to kick Rook off in order to stand up. Rook Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Rook lands a decent elbow from side control.

Rook is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Massey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rook landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massey tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Rook lands a shot to the body.

Rook has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Rook keeps control of the position as Massey tries to break free.
Massey is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Massey is covering up but some of the strikes from Rook are getting through and doing damage.
Rook loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Massey hold on?
Rook scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rook working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Massey is trying to break free.
Rook is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Massey. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Massey is trying to get back to his feet but Rook has full control of the position and if anything, Massey has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Rook working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
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!
Rook just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Rook working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Massey rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rook is looking to take a break and control but Massey is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Massey throws a looping overhand right but Rook ducks down to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Rook on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rook moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Massey throws a lazy body kick

and Rook counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Massey is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Massey keeping moving, preventing Rook from controlling successfully.
Rook with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rook won't allow Massey to get back to his feet.
Rook missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rook loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Massey wants to stand but Rook is controlling the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Massey manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rook manages to get himself to full guard.

Rook can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Massey controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Massey avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rook throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rook avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Massey is in close to Rook's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rook is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Massey dives into side control.
Rook manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Massey is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rook sees it coming and defends easily.

Massey is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Massey has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rook tries to roll over but Massey keeps him under control.

Rook looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Massey seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Massey missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Massey working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rook is trying to maintain the position but Massey is very close to passing his half guard.
Massey wants to free his trapped foot but Rook is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Massey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rook defending well though.
Massey wants to pass the guard but Rook is defending well.

Rook actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rook manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rook manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Massey manages to get himself to full guard.

Massey had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rook defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rook prevents Massey from getting back to his feet.
Massey throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rook prevents Massey from getting back to his feet.
Massey has momentary wrist control but Rook slips an elbow through the middle.
Massey is wriggling around but Rook manages to pass to half guard.

Massey is defending against the submission attempts here by Rook.
Massey wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bowman Rook clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Massey misses with a straight right.
Rook uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Massey.
Rook swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A jab lands there for Massey.
Massey misses with a double jab.
Rook appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Massey misses with a straight left.
Massey lands a right hook to the body.
Massey throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Massey throws a body shot but no joy.
Massey on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rook. Rook obviously looking to wear him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Massey throws a body punch but Rook moves out of range.
Rook swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rook scores with a hook.
A good leg kick by Rook.
Rook misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massey scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A shot to the liver by Rook. Beautiful body shot.
Rook throws a leg kick but Massey sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rook is looking to wear down Massey with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A big left from Massey misses.
Rook throws a head kick that half lands.
Massey moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rook throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rook keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Massey.
Some wild striking there from Massey.
Rook seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rook motions for Massey to come forward. Rook throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rook shoots for a double leg takedown but Massey sprawls well. He's pushed Rook's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rook cracks Massey with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rook displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Massey throws out the jab.
Massey uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rook has time to react.
Massey's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A cross from Rook lands.

Massey lands a left and a right that sends Rook crashing to the canvas! Massey dives into mount looking to finish!

Rook is rocked!

It looks like Bowman Rook has been cut.
Rook is desperately trying to improve his position but Massey has a good base and remains in mount.
Oh Rook is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rook is squirming around, avoiding Massey's attempts to control the action.
Massey landing strikes from the mount and Rook is in trouble!
Massey lands with some strikes.
Whack. That's a big, big shot from Massey! Rook is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Eli Massey!
A victorious Eli Massey thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.