PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Waldo Claudiano (ranked 1842 p4p, 188 weight class) and Riaq Rowanda (ranked 4383 p4p, 401 weight class). Riaq Rowanda struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 157.7lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Claudiano
vs
Rowanda

160 cm
30
158 lbs
12 - 13 - 2

170 cm
33
173 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Waldo Claudiano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Riaq Rowanda!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Claudiano.

Claudiano instigates a clinch.
Rowanda can't find room to land a body shot as Claudiano controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rowanda.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Claudiano.
Rowanda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Claudiano pushes Rowanda back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Claudiano lands an uppercut.
Claudiano blocking some punches.
Rowanda comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Waldo Claudiano has been cut.
Rowanda pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rowanda struggles to land a body shot inside as Claudiano controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Claudiano.
Claudiano lands with a left to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Claudiano throws a head punch that misses.
Claudiano tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rowanda can't find room to land a body shot as Claudiano controls the action.
Rowanda landing knees to the body.
Claudiano drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rowanda gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rowanda working aggressively here.
Rowanda misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Rowanda.
Rowanda working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Claudiano lands a shot to the body.
Claudiano tries to throw a body punch but Rowanda avoids it by throwing Claudiano back against the cage.
Claudiano avoids a wild elbow strike from Rowanda.
Rowanda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rowanda scores with a shoulder strike.
Claudiano lands a body shot in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Claudiano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Claudiano lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Claudiano fails to land.
Claudiano can't find room to land a body shot as Rowanda controls the action.
Rowanda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Claudiano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rowanda lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Claudiano backwards.
We've been hearing reports that Claudiano has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Rowanda lands an elbow just above Claudiano 's eye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rowanda lands a left hand that snaps the head of Claudiano backwards.
Claudiano lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rowanda backwards.
Rowanda misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Claudiano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda stops a takedown attempt from Claudiano.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Waldo Claudiano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Claudiano scores with a shoulder strike.
Claudiano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Claudiano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rowanda throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Claudianos head.
Rowanda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Claudiano.
Rowanda lands a left hand that snaps the head of Claudiano backwards.
Claudiano lands an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Rowanda.
Claudiano lands with a short shot to the head.
Claudiano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Claudiano lands with a right to the head.
Claudiano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Claudiano scores with a shot to the side of Rowanda's head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Claudiano.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rowanda.
Claudiano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Claudiano lands a right hand.
Claudiano working aggressively here.
Claudiano tries to throw a body punch but Rowanda avoids it by throwing Claudiano back against the cage.
Rowanda lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda trying to land knees to the body.
Claudiano scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rowanda lands an elbow that stopped Claudiano in his tracks for a moment.
Claudiano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rowanda misses with a punch on the inside.
Claudiano working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Claudiano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Claudiano fails to land.
Rowanda working aggressively here.
Rowanda lands an uppercut.
Claudiano lands with a right to the head.
Claudiano scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Claudiano misses with the head strike.
Rowanda has a couple of punches blocked by Claudiano.
Rowanda tries to work over Claudiano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Claudiano.
A body shot lands from Claudiano.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short uppercut from Claudiano.

Claudiano tightens his grip and picks Rowanda up, before dumping him to the ground. Rowanda manages to land in guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Claudiano with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowanda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rowanda has his hands on Claudiano's head, controlling the position.
Claudiano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Claudiano lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Claudiano drops back looking for a leg! Rowanda is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rowanda manages to kick Claudiano off! Claudiano jumps back into Rowanda's guard.
Claudiano missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waldo Claudiano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Waldo Claudiano's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Claudiano throws a leg kick that misses.
Claudiano throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rowanda has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rowanda there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rowanda slips a jab from Claudiano.
Rowanda swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Claudiano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Claudiano on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rowanda throws a wild body kick that Claudiano sees coming a mile off.
Rowanda takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Claudiano looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Claudiano slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bone on bone clash there as Rowanda blocks the leg kick.
Claudiano shoots in for a takedown but Rowanda shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Claudiano shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rowanda defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Waldo Claudiano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rowanda stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Claudiano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Rowanda misses.
Rowanda throws a push kick but Claudiano slaps the foot to one side.
Claudiano tests Rowanda's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Claudiano pushes Rowanda up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Claudiano.
Rowanda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Claudiano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rowanda misses with an elbow over the top.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Claudiano.
Rowanda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rowanda misses with a punch to the body.
Claudiano is leaning against Rowanda and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Claudiano lands a hook that snaps the head of Rowanda backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rowanda.
Claudiano lands with a light punch inside.
Claudiano wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano working some nice short punches in the clinch.
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 doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A body shot lands from Claudiano.
Rowanda swings wildly with an uppercut but Claudiano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rowanda tries to throw a body punch but Claudiano avoids it by throwing Rowanda back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Claudiano.
Claudiano throws a head punch that misses.
Claudiano tries to throw a body punch but Rowanda avoids it by throwing Claudiano back against the cage.
Rowanda blocks an uppercut.
Claudiano lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A body shot lands from Claudiano.
Claudiano lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rowanda or not.
Rowanda struggles to land a body shot inside as Claudiano controls his hands.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rowanda just misses with a elbow thrown towards Claudiano's brow.
Claudiano misses with some punches.
Claudiano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rowanda can do to turn this around?
Rowanda misses with a punch on the inside.
Claudiano gets through Rowanda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Claudiano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rowanda misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Claudiano lands a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Claudiano scores with a nice short uppercut.
Claudiano pushes Rowanda back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Claudiano scores with a nice short uppercut.
Claudiano digs a right hand underneath Rowanda's ribcage. Rowanda let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rowanda is breathing heavily.
Claudiano scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Claudiano on the inside.
Claudiano prevents a body shot from Rowanda.
Claudiano lands a body shot.
Claudiano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Claudiano lands an uppercut.
Claudiano pushes Rowanda back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Claudiano throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
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!
Claudiano is working for takedown but Rowanda is calmly controlling the position for now.
Claudiano lands a shot to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Claudiano.
Claudiano lands with a short shot to the head.
Rowanda throws a head punch that misses.
Claudiano throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Claudiano scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano lands a body shot.
Claudiano lands a hook that snaps the head of Rowanda backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Claudiano.
A short right from Claudiano on the inside.
Rowanda throws an elbow but it misses.

Claudiano has picked Rowanda up - he's going for a ride! Claudiano dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Claudiano seems content to control.
Claudiano drops an elbow to the side of Rowanda's head.
Claudiano looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rowanda on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Claudiano looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rowanda with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Claudiano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Claudiano takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waldo Claudiano dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Waldo Claudiano's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice straight punches there by Claudiano. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Claudiano.
Claudiano ducks under a wild hook from Rowanda.
Rowanda throws a good cross that connects.
Claudiano shoots in for a takedown but Rowanda shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Claudiano gets a double leg takedown into Rowanda's guard.
Rowanda is looking to stand back up but Claudiano counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Rowanda.

Claudiano working over Rowanda with some ground and pound. Rowanda looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Claudiano is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rowanda has managed to free his arm - good work.
Claudiano wants to pass to mount but Rowanda is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Claudiano throwing shots but Rowanda is blocking nicely.
Rowanda is looking for a sweep. Claudiano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rowanda trying to control here.
Claudiano working Rowanda over with strikes.
Claudiano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rowanda moves into full guard.
Riaq Rowanda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano scoring with punches to the head and body.
Claudiano wants to control from the top but Rowanda keeps moving.
Rowanda lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rowanda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Claudiano seems keen to control Rowanda's posture.
Claudiano has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rowanda lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Waldo Claudiano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano is pulling down on Rowanda's head. It's preventing any offense from Rowanda, at least for the moment.
Rowanda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rowanda is fighting to break Claudiano's control of his arms but Claudiano is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rowanda throws a lazy right hand but Claudiano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Claudiano appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Claudiano lands with a shot to the body.
Claudiano swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rowanda.
Waldo Claudiano is winning the standup battle so far.
Rowanda with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano blocks a jab.
Rowanda throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rowanda misses with a wild body shot.
Rowanda drops his hands momentarily and Claudiano takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rowanda throws an overhand right that lands on Claudiano's shoulder, as Claudiano tries to avoid the shot.
Rowanda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Claudiano looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rowanda!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rowanda is looking to regain half guard here but Claudiano keeps moving and retains side control.
Claudiano landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rowanda tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee asks Claudiano politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Claudiano prefers to stall for the moment though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Waldo Claudiano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Claudiano has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Waldo Claudiano!