PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denver Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riaq Rowanda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Washington
vs
Rowanda

189 cm
37
182 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

170 cm
31
188 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denver Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Riaq Rowanda!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowanda tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Washington swivels and escapes.

Rowanda moves into the clinch.
Rowanda tries to pull guard but Washington won't allow it.
Rowanda lands with a left to the head.

Washington pulls Rowanda into guard.
Rowanda trying to move into half guard but instead Washington has managed to sweep!

Washington avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Washington looking to pass the guard.
Washington looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Washington throws a strike but Rowanda rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Washington working for a triangle but Rowanda defends it easily.
Washington keeping full guard, as Rowanda tries to pass.
Washington is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Well, if Washington is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Rowanda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rowanda is staying active underneath Washington, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rowanda manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Rowanda looking for a guillotine here but Washington defends easily.
Washington makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Washington avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rowanda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Washington landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rowanda looking for a guillotine here but Washington defends easily.

Rowanda looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Washington's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Washington with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Rowanda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Washington trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowanda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Washington makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Washington will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rowanda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rowanda keeping moving, preventing Washington from controlling successfully.

Rowanda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Washington doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Washington manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Washington tries to free his leg and advance position but Rowanda is retaining full guard.
Washington works over Rowanda with some ground and pound from guard.
Washington cracks Rowanda with a solid left hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Washington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Washington stands and throws Rowanda's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rowanda wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denver Washington 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.

Washington bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Washington scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rowanda is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Washington advances to mount.
Washington landing shots from mount.
Washington lands a big shot there that rocks Rowanda but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Washington lands with some strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Washington pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Rowanda keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Washington lands a couple of good shots and Rowanda has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Denver Washington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowanda is in bad spot here.
Rowanda looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Washington lands shots from the back.
Rowanda trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Washington scores with strikes from the back.
Rowanda tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rowanda is looking to get to half guard.
Rowanda wants to control but Washington is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington wants to control the pace but Rowanda is squirming around nicely.
Washington lands with some strikes.
Washington scores with a couple of good head shots there.
A nice elbow there by Washington.
Washington with the ground and pound from mount.
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!

Rowanda defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Washington.
Washington 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.
Rowanda sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rowanda is looking for a sweep. Washington is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Washington is looking to take a break and control but Rowanda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rowanda actively working from the bottom here.
Washington winds up and cracks Rowanda with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Washington is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rowanda can do to turn this around?

Washington is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Washington is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rowanda is just riding it out for now. Washington eventually gives up the hold.
Rowanda has a hand on Washington's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Washington takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Rowanda slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda tries to get to full guard but Washington has control of the leg.
Rowanda is trying to maintain the position but Washington is very close to passing his half guard.

Washington is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rowanda is just riding it out for now. Washington eventually gives up the hold.
Rowanda tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Washington has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
BOOM! Washington connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denver Washington dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rowanda tries to clinch but Washington moves out of range.

Washington moves into range and clinches up with Rowanda.
Washington has Rowanda pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rowanda manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Washington wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Washington breaks from the clinch.
Denver Washington is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rowanda tries for a takedown but Washington sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rowanda throws a head kick that misses.

Washington shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rowanda tries to roll over but Washington keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowanda trying to control from the bottom.

Rowanda looking for submissions off his back.
Washington is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowanda is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Washington scores with a couple of nice shots.
Washington wants to stand up but Rowanda is controlling the position.

Washington is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Washington is trying to work for a kimura but Rowanda is defending well.

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.
Washington is trying to control. Rowanda wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rowanda makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rowanda.

Washington drops back looking for a leg! Rowanda is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rowanda manages to kick Washington off! Washington jumps back into Rowanda's guard.
Rowanda strikes from his own guard.
Washington trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowanda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rowanda is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rowanda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda keeping moving, preventing Washington from controlling successfully.
Washington sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rowanda's guard.
Washington lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Denver Washington is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rowanda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Washington pulls his head out easily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Washington in particular looking to stall.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Washington lands a nice short elbow.
Riaq Rowanda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rowanda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Washington pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rowanda trying to control but Washington postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washington content to control rather than advance.

Rowanda looking for subs from the bottom but Washington mounts him!

Washington looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Washington working for a submission but Rowanda is keeping him at bay.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rowanda really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denver Washington showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Washington, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denver Washington!
Post fight, an emotional Denver Washington said 'Time to call it, I want to thank the fans for all the support.'.