PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ellis Rowland (ranked 6489 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshi Takinawa (ranked 4218 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rowland
vs
Takinawa

192 cm
18
346 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ellis Rowland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yoshi Takinawa!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowland takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Takinawa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rowland has one of Takinawa's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Takinawa trying to control the position but Rowland is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takinawa in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rowland could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takinawa has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Rowland bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rowland is stalling in the full guard.
Rowland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Takinawa tries to strike from the bottom.
Takinawa wants to sweep but no luck.
Takinawa tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takinawa trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Takinawa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Takinawa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rowland works over Takinawa with some ground and pound from guard.
Rowland engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Rowland avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takinawa being controlled here, momentarily.

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

Takinawa manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rowland on his heels. He'll look to pass Rowland's guard now, I'm sure.
Takinawa throws an elbow that misses. Rowland uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Takinawa's guard. Nice move by Rowland!

Rowland controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowland lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Takinawa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rowland is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Takinawa looks winded!
Takinawa throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rowland is looking to stand up but Takinawa won't let him.

Takinawa throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rowland escapes and throws Takinawa's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ellis Rowland will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Takinawa scores with a takedown into Rowland's guard.
Takinawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rowland is keeping the position for now.
Rowland trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takinawa is looking to pass into half guard but Rowland pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rowland is in guard.

Rowland throwing strikes from guard but Takinawa blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowland with a nice head shot there.
Takinawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Takinawa looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rowland has picked Takinawa up and slammed him! Takinawa can't keep hold of the triangle and Rowland manages to pass to side control!
Takinawa is breathing heavily.
Rowland working the ground and pound.

Rowland looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rowland just content to control the position.
Rowland wants to control but Takinawa is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowland landing a few strikes.
Takinawa takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Rowland wants to control but Takinawa is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takinawa is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rowland trying to control the action but Takinawa is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowland landing a few strikes.
Takinawa tries to improve position but can't.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Rowland changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Takinawa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Takinawa bucks up and tries to throw Rowland off but instead Rowland has got his back!
Rowland just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takinawa is trying to get back to his feet but Rowland has full control of the position and if anything, Takinawa has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Rowland is looking for the choke from the back position but Takinawa is controlling his hands well.
Takinawa covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Rowland biding his time, looking for the opening.
Rowland is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takinawa can do to turn this around?
Rowland scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Takinawa is looking for a way out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ellis Rowland dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rowland.
Rowland controlling from side mount.
Rowland is looking to take a break and control but Takinawa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee asks Rowland politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rowland prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takinawa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rowland has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rowland working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rowland landing strikes.
A control attempt from Takinawa but he's now mounted!
Rowland controlling from mount.
Ellis Rowland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Takinawa is desperately trying to improve his position but Rowland has a good base and remains in mount.
Takinawa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rowland tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowland works his way to his opponent's back.
Takinawa trying to control the position but Rowland manages to sink in the hooks.
Takinawa can't escape the position.
Rowland scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Takinawa is in bad spot here.
Takinawa is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takinawa trying to control the position but Rowland manages to sink in the hooks.
Rowland is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Rowland. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Rowland controlling the position well here. Takinawa rolled but Rowland kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's four 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.

Takinawa is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Rowland gets his way!
Takinawa is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Rowland is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Takinawa has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rowland is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ellis Rowland showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rowland, 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

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