PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frances Rowland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guti Cardoso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rowland
vs
Cardoso

154 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frances Rowland!
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, Guti Cardoso!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cardoso tries to sprawl but Rowland drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cardoso blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rowland.
Rowland thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cardoso wants to control but Rowland is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rowland throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cardoso moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cardoso tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rowland missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardoso is adopting a defensive guard.
Rowland working some strikes from top position.
Rowland has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowland scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rowland makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cardoso trying to keep a closed guard but Rowland is proving a slippery customer.
Cardoso controlling the position.

Cardoso looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cardoso bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rowland's guard.

Rowland controlling Cardoso's posture.

Rowland looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowland trying to strike off his back.
Cardoso trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rowland's guard.
Rowland keeping moving, preventing Cardoso from controlling successfully.
Rowland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Rowland looking for a guillotine here but Cardoso defends easily.
My spies in Cozad MMA Rio inform me that Cardoso has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cardoso tries to stand but Rowland is controlling from the bottom.
Cardoso distracts Rowland with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rowland looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rowland looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cardoso passes into half guard.
Cardoso wants to pass to mount but Rowland is defending the position.
Rowland wants to control but Cardoso is keeping busy.
Rowland wants to get back to his feet.
Rowland has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cardoso is working away from the top position though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cardoso gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Rowland counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cardoso won't be happy with that.
Rowland is breathing heavily.
Cardoso struggling a bit here.
Cardoso sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowland scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rowland really is a fat lump.
Cardoso works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cardoso wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rowland postures up.
Cardoso is wriggling around but Rowland manages to pass to half guard.
Rowland prevents Cardoso from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rowland throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frances Rowland 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.

Cardoso throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rowland was covering up waiting for the punch and Cardoso finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Rowland working for a triangle but Cardoso defends it easily.
Rowland is trying to control the position but Cardoso postures up.
Cardoso stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rowland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowland trying to control the position.
Rowland seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cardoso slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cardoso makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rowland working a defensive guard here.
Rowland wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Cardoso manages to pass to side control.
Cardoso seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rowland is trying to get back to full guard.
Rowland is working hard here to advance position.
Rowland gets back to full guard.
Cardoso works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rowland wants to control but Cardoso is keeping busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rowland is refusing to be controlled, as Cardoso sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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

Cardoso bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rowland tries to improve position but can't.
Cardoso is putting a hurting on Rowland here, landing some big shots from side control.

Cardoso is trying to get an arm triangle but Rowland is defending well.
Cardoso trying to control the action but Rowland is working from the bottom.
Rowland is trying to control Cardoso's posture but Cardoso avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso tries to move to mount but Rowland blocks the move with his legs.
Cardoso working away.
Rowland tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Cardoso can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rowland is looking to escape.
Cardoso cracks Rowland with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cardoso lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rowland tries to lock up and control but Cardoso gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rowland is squirming around, avoiding Cardoso's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guti Cardoso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rowland's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cardoso gets a double leg takedown into Rowland's guard.
Rowland keeping moving, preventing Cardoso from controlling successfully.
Cardoso has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cardoso stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cardoso tries to land a body kick

and Rowland counters with a single leg into guard. Cardoso didn't expect that.
Guti Cardoso has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cardoso looking to control but Rowland passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowland throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cardoso has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rowland is working away from the top position though.
Cardoso controlling the position well.
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.
Rowland sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cardoso defending well though.
Cardoso makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cardoso.
Rowland cracks Cardoso with a solid left hand.

Cardoso is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rowland defends well.
Cardoso punching to the body, from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cardoso trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rowland working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cardoso's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rowland accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cardoso wants to sweep but no luck.
Cardoso is pulling down on Rowland's head to control his posture.
Cardoso has momentary wrist control but Rowland slips an elbow through the middle.
Cardoso working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rowland.
Rowland working some strikes from top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardoso working for a triangle but Rowland defends it easily.
Rowland working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cardoso's head.
Rowland stands and throws Cardoso's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Cardoso's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cardoso tries to bench press Rowland off him but Rowland keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowland throws a strike aimed at the side of Cardoso's head but Cardoso avoids it well.
Rowland creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cardoso sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cardoso is trying to improve his position.
Cardoso is trying to control Rowland's posture but Rowland avoids it.
Rowland wants to stand but Cardoso is controlling his arm.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cardoso shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rowland is trying to defend but Cardoso finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rowland is trying to stand up here but Cardoso is controlling him well.

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 Frances Rowland.
I think Rowland has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frances Rowland!