PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Buck Rowland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bailey Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buck Rowland has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rowland
vs
Sanders

155 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Buck Rowland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bailey Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowland throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rowland tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sanders drives through and clinches with Rowland against the cage.

Sanders pulls guard successfully.
Rowland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sanders is trying to keep Rowland in close.
Rowland missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rowland could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowland is in close to Sanders's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Sanders has his foot on Rowland's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rowland works his way back into a safe position though.

Sanders escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rowland gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowland being controlled here momentarily.
Rowland 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.
Rowland 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanders trying to strike off his back.
Sanders wants to hit a switch here but Rowland passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sanders there!
Rowland putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rowland is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sanders is surviving well by controlling Rowland's body position as best he can.
Sanders tries to lock up and control but Rowland gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rowland tries to control but Sanders wriggling away.

Rowland looking to secure an arm triangle but Sanders defends it well.
Sanders tries to reverse the position but Rowland maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowland manages to capitalize on a mistake by Sanders to take his back!
Rowland is working the ground and pound. Can Sanders escape?

Rowland is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Rowland working for a choke but Sanders is defending well.

Rowland working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is trying to break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sanders fending off the submission attempt from Rowland.

Sanders fending off the submission attempt from Rowland.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buck Rowland dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sanders lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rowland circles away quickly and effectively.

Sanders gets a clinch.
Rowland has a couple of punches blocked by Sanders.
Rowland tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sanders smiles and moves away.
Sanders ducks under a wild hook from Rowland.
Rowland is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanders can do to turn this around?

Sanders dives in and scores a takedown into Rowland's guard.

Rowland uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Sanders shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rowland's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanders pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rowland is keeping the position for now.
Rowland can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sanders controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowland looking to control.
Rowland keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.
Sanders must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sanders slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sanders wants to control from the top but Rowland keeps moving.
Sanders lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rowland keeping moving, preventing Sanders from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Sanders has Rowland up against the cage in a clinch.
Rowland is trying to pull guard but Sanders turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rowland tries to pull guard but Sanders holds him up against the cage and eventually Rowland drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buck Rowland. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanders turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rowland is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sanders working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Rowland's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
A lull in the action here.
Rowland is trying to control Sanders's posture but Sanders avoids it.

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.

Sanders goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rowland rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sanders's guard! Nice work there by Rowland!
Sanders is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sanders working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rowland doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rowland manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanders is on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bailey Sanders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sanders tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rowland pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sanders feints the counter takedown.
Bailey Sanders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sanders shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rowland napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Rowland sneaks out the side door and pushes Sanders away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rowland enables Sanders to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rowland manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rowland lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rowland wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.
Sanders tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rowland thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sanders with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Rowland can't handle though.
Sanders trying to control the position.
Sanders looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanders wants to stand but Rowland is controlling the position.
Rowland throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanders works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sanders trying to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sanders pulls Rowland in to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rowland throws a head kick that misses.
Sanders tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rowland swats him away and circles back towards the center.
That kick from Sanders tenderised Rowland's leg. Rowland is trying to keep his angry face on.

Sanders takes the fight into the clinch.
Rowland has Sanders pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sanders manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Sanders pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowland trying to control but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Sanders looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sanders looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanders, not yet.
Sanders has Rowland pulled in close to control his posture.

Sanders has an active guard here but Rowland has managed to pass into half guard.
Sanders takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sanders trying to control here.

Rowland is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sanders is just riding it out for now. Rowland eventually gives up the hold.
Rowland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanders keeps working.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buck Rowland showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

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