PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Bowman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodolfo Newton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tom Bowman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bowman
vs
Newton

178 cm
29
177 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
175 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tom Bowman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodolfo Newton!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Newton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bowman napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Bowman throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Bowman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Newton tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Newton throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Newton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Newton is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bowman knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bowman keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowman is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Bowman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bowman tries to bench press Newton off him but Newton keeps the position.

Newton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bowman wants to control but Newton postures up.
Bowman parries the strikes from Newton easily there. Newton is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bowman to escape.
Bowman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Newton is looking to take a break and control but Bowman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Newton tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Newton has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bowman is trying to get back to half guard.

Newton goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Bowman rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Newton's guard! Nice work there by Bowman!

Bowman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Newton has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bowman has managed to get both his arms back between Newton's legs - danger averted.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowman passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bowman landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Newton being controlled for a moment.
Newton tries to buck Bowman off but Bowman is having none of it.
Bowman wants to take a breather but Newton manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Bowman.
Bowman pushes down on Newton's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Newton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bowman pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowman wants to pass to mount but Newton is defending the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bowman in particular looking to stall.
Bowman is pressing down on Newton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Newton is holding on for now.

Bowman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Newton defends it well.

Bowman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Newton tries to roll over but Bowman keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rodolfo Newton will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bowman defending well as Newton loads up on a big left hand.

Bowman bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Bowman tries for a kimura but Newton is defending well.
Newton wants to control but Bowman postures up.
Bowman trying to control the position but Newton is working away.
Bowman works to advance to full mount. Newton defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Newton in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bowman moves to take his opponent's back.
What can Newton do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Newton tries to break free.
Tom Bowman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowman controlling the position well here. Newton rolled but Bowman kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Newton is keeping busy.

Bowman working for a choke but Newton is defending well.
Bowman struggling to keep hold of the position.

Bowman is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Newton has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton tries to roll but Bowman sticks to his back.
Newton is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Bowman.
Newton is really stuck here.

Bowman working for a choke but Newton is defending well.
Bowman wants to control but Newton is keeping busy.

Newton is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Bowman looking for the RNC.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton tries to escape the position.

Newton is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Bowman controlling well, preventing Newton from escaping the position.
Bowman is riding his opponent, not letting Newton buck him off.
Bowman avoiding Newton 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bowman looking for the RNC.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bowman has the hooks in. Newton is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Bowman is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Newton wants to escape the position.

Bowman has managed to slip his arm under Newton's chin. This could be all over... yep, Newton is tapping out! Submission win for Bowman.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tom Bowman!