|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thabiso Rowan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davis Marcus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus comes into a darkened arena with his song building. "Princes of the Universe," by Queen kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.
 |
|
 |
| 180 cm
23
193 lbs
6 - 0 - 0 |
|
178 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 2 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin |
|
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thabiso Rowan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Davis Marcus!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marcus misses with a low kick.
Rowan ducks under a wild hook from Marcus.
Marcus works Rowan's body with a nice hook.
Marcus looks to throw the jab but Rowan is out of range.
Marcus comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rowan has a takedown stuffed.
Marcus stuffs the takedown.
Rowan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marcus just misses with a punch to the body.
Rowan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rowan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Marcus gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marcus has his feet on Rowan's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rowan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rowan showed some decent athleticism there.
Rowan with the ground and pound but Marcus uses the opportunity to regain guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowan lands a couple of elbows.
Marcus wants to sweep here but Rowan controlling him for the moment.
Rowan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Marcus throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rowan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rowan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rowan lands a couple of digs.
Marcus manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rowan manages to get himself to full guard.
Marcus wants to stand and escape but instead Rowan has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcus is wriggling around but Rowan manages to pass to half guard.
Rowan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Marcus regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Rowan.
Rowan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rowan stands up over Marcus, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rowan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcus works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rowan wants to control from the top but Marcus keeps moving.
Rowan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rowan throws a big right hand that misses.
Rowan looking to sit in guard and control but Marcus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rowan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Marcus!
Marcus is looking to get to half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rowan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Marcus tries to reverse the position but Rowan maintains control.
Rowan putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rowan with a couple of short strikes.
Rowan with a couple of short strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rowan lands a nice shot to the head.
Rowan with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Thabiso Rowan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Marcus keeps the fight on the outside.
Rowan misses with a takedown attempt - Marcus sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rowan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marcus but Marcus pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rowan lands a really nice looking cross but Marcus seems unphased.
Rowan shoots in for a double leg but Marcus sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thabiso Rowan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marcus throws a sloppy head kick and Rowan moves out of range easily.
A jab from Marcus misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Marcus misses with a body shot.
Rowan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Marcus looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Marcus.
Marcus jabs at Rowan's body.
Rowan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marcus's guard.
Marcus has momentary wrist control but Rowan slips an elbow through the middle.
Marcus is looking to stand up but Rowan isn't so interested in that idea.
Rowan wants to pass the guard but Marcus is keeping the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowan throws a strike but Marcus rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Marcus would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rowan throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rowan wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Marcus is now in half guard.
Marcus moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Rowan.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rowan tries to buck Marcus off but Marcus is having none of it.
Rowan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rowan lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Rowan flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rowan tries to get to full guard but Marcus has control of the leg.
Rowan misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rowan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rowan tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowan tries to get to full guard but Marcus has control of the leg.
Rowan throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rowan moves into full guard.
Rowan trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Marcus throws a leg kick which misses Rowan's front leg but catches the back leg as Rowan tries to avoid it.
Rowan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rowan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rowan tries to free his leg and advance position but Marcus is retaining full guard.
Rowan trying to control but Marcus is working from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowan throws a strike but Marcus rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rowan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Marcus wants to stand but Rowan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rowan is trying to control the position but Marcus postures up.
Marcus has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rowan is proving hard to escape from.
Rowan controls Marcus momentarily but Marcus frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Thabiso Rowan dominated that second 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.
Marcus lands a jab-cross combination.
Rowan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rowan connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Marcus some visible discomfort.
Check out the look on Rowan's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rowan scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Marcus to see if he's OK.
Rowan throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Marcus works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Rowan moves into full mount! Marcus won't be happy about that!
A nice elbow there by Rowan.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowan scoring with strikes but Marcus is staying in there.
Thabiso Rowan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rowan lands with some strikes.
Marcus working to try and regain half guard.
Marcus is bucking up trying to escape but Rowan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rowan has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Marcus's face.
Rowan cracks Marcus with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Marcus taking shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rowan lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Marcus hang on?
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowan wants to control the pace but Marcus is squirming around nicely.
Rowan lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rowan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rowan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
BOOM! Rowan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rowan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marcus can do to turn this around?
Rowan trying to control but Marcus is having none of it.
Marcus is desperately trying to improve his position but Rowan has a good base and remains in mount.
Marcus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowan postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Marcus looks a forlorn figure.
Marcus wants to control but Rowan is having none of it.
Rowan is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Marcus can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rowan landing shots from mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marcus can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rowan looking to finish Marcus with some ground and pound. This is bad for Marcus!
Rowan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Marcus is bucking up trying to escape but Rowan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rowan controlling his opponent.
Marcus is in a horrible position here. Rowan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The referee warns Marcus that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rowan with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rowan controlling from mount.
Rowan looking to finish Marcus with some ground and pound. This is bad for Marcus!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Thabiso Rowan clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Rowan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rowan has managed to clinch.
Marcus tries to break the clinch but Rowan is controlling the position.
Marcus gets underhooks to prevent Rowan's takedown attempt.
Rowan looking for a takedown.
Rowan tries to pull guard but Marcus won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thabiso Rowan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marcus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rowan wants a takedown but no success here.
Rowan is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Marcus can't fight it off and eventually Rowan manages to take the fight to the floor. Marcus looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rowan stops Marcus from standing up.
Rowan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rowan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rowan looking to pass the guard.
Rowan postures up in Marcus's guard and throws a big left but Marcus blocks it.
Rowan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Marcus looking for a sweep. Not yet Marcus, not yet.
Marcus keeping full guard, as Rowan tries to pass.
Marcus lands some strikes from the bottom.
That's two 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.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rowan has a takedown stuffed.
Rowan shoots in but no luck this time.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Nice uppercut lands for Marcus. That snapped Rowan's head back.
Marcus throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rowan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rowan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marcus scores with a nice head shot.
Rowan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Marcus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rowan shoots in looking for a takedown. Marcus tries to sprawl out of it but Rowan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marcus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice body punch from Marcus.
Marcus throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rowan takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Marcus throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rowan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marcus loads up on a big right hand but Rowan slips the punch.
Rowan takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Marcus throws a solid leg kick but Rowan takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Marcus.
Davis Marcus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marcus lands a nice hook to Rowan's body. Rowan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rowan has a takedown stuffed.
Rowan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Marcus!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowan looking to finish with strikes here!
Marcus squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Rowan misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Marcus manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rowan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rowan is looking to stall here but Marcus recovers full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rowan stands up over Marcus, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rowan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rowan trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rowan throws and elbow that misses. Marcus uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rowan's guard. Nice move by Marcus!
Rowan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marcus is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Thabiso Rowan will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!
Marcus lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rowan shoots in and drives through. Marcus sprawls well.
Rowan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rowan closes the distance and clinches up with Marcus, looking for a takedown. Rowan pushes Marcus against the cage but Marcus circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thabiso Rowan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marcus lands a two punch combo.
Marcus connects with a looping right hand.
Marcus stuffs the takedown attempt from Rowan. Rowan gets slowly back to his feet.
Rowan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Marcus scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rowan in his tracks.
Marcus jabs Rowan right on the nose. Rowan blinks but takes it well.
Rowan walks into a jab.
Marcus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rowan moves away.
Marcus throws a shot to the body.
Rowan shoots in but Marcus avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rowan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Rowan looks for a takedown but Marcus sprawls well.
Marcus lands a right hook to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus throws a series of strikes that have Rowan backpedaling.
Marcus scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rowan doesn't seem bothered though.
Marcus sizes up Rowan with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Marcus lands with a right hand.
Rowan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marcus swivels and escapes.
Marcus bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rowan takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Marcus scores with a jab. Rowan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Marcus scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Marcus lunges at Rowan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rowan's hand.
Rowan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rowan takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Marcus slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Marcus scores with a hook to the body. Rowan takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Marcus scores with a one two! Rowan had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Marcus scores with a jab to the body.
Rowan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Davis Marcus seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rowan shoots for a double leg takedown but Marcus sprawls well. He's pushed Rowan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marcus fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rowan takes a shot right to the bread basket.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcus connects with a looping right hand.
Rowan avoids the head kick by Marcus.
Rowan shoots in but Marcus avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Marcus lands with a shot to the body.
Rowan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Marcus misses with a two punch combination.
Rowan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Marcus's corner calls for a 1-2. Marcus obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rowan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rowan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marcus pinned against the cage. Marcus gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rowan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rowan looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Marcus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Marcus.
Marcus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marcus lands an overhand right.
Marcus scores with a nice head shot.
Rowan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rowan takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rowan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Marcus lands the left hand.
Marcus scores with a jab. Rowan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nice cross by Marcus.
Marcus lands a with a good body shot.
Marcus cracks Rowan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Marcus lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rowan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marcus as he avoids it easily.
Davis Marcus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcus tests Rowan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rowan walks into a stiff left hand from Marcus.
Marcus misses with a jab, cross combination.
Marcus comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jab by Marcus.
Rowan misses with a takedown attempt - Marcus sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rowan walks into a straight right hand from Marcus.
Thabiso Rowan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rowan shoots in looking for a takedown. Marcus tries to sprawl out of it but Rowan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marcus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcus comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Marcus stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Marcus slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marcus dips to his left and cracks Rowan with an uppercut!
A shot to de liver by Marcus. Beautiful body shot.
Marcus stuffs the takedown.
Rowan moves out of range of the strikes.
Rowan tries to move into range but Marcus moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rowan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rowan prevents Marcus from getting back to his feet.
Rowan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marcus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rowan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marcus can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rowan controls the pace.
And that's the end of the fight!
Davis Marcus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rowan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 48:45
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 48:46
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 47:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thabiso Rowan!
Thabiso Rowan is the new middleweight champion!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
