PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodgers Owen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory Novicar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Owen
vs
Novicar

175 cm
20
150 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

171 cm
20
144 lbs
2 - 6 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Rodgers Owen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Rory Novicar!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Skip Squint and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Novicar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Novicar connects with a single shot there.
Owen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Novicar has time to react.
Owen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Owen.

Owen clinches.
Novicar prevents a takedown attempt there.

Novicar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Novicar blocks a jab.

Owen darts in and clinches Novicar up against the cage.
Novicar has had enough of the clinch but Owen keeps him there for the moment.

Novicar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Novicar has managed to clinch.
Novicar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Novicar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Novicar fails with an attempt to clinch.
Novicar lands with a good body shot.
Owen throws a body punch but Novicar moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owen fails with the takedown.
Novicar misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Owen shoots in and drives through. Novicar sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodgers Owen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Novicar moves out of range of the strikes.
Owen seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Novicar takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Novicar throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Owen.

Novicar drives through and clinches with Owen against the cage.

Novicar manages to break the clinch.
A big left from Novicar misses.
Novicar tries to bum rush Owen with a series of wild strikes but Owen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A clash of legs there as Owen blocks the low kick.
Novicar slips under a jab.
Novicar throws a leg kick

and Owen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Novicar won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Novicar parries the strikes from Owen easily there. Owen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Novicar to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novicar is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Owen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
You can see the frustration on Novicar's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Owen scores with punches from side control.
Novicar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Owen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Owen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Owen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Owen trying to control the position but Novicar is working away.
Owen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Owen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Novicar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Owen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Novicar taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Owen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Novicar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Owen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Owen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Owen 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.
Novicar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Owen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Owen in side control lands a decent elbow.

Owen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Owen throws a strike aimed at the side of Novicar's head but Novicar avoids it well.
Novicar is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owen working the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Novicar on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Owen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Novicar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Owen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Owen working the head with strikes.

Owen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Novicar can do anything to dispel that myth.
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!

Owen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Owen in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Novicar is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rodgers Owen!
A relieved looking Rodgers Owen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.