PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ed Whitaker (ranked 5503 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Rowlands (ranked 6131 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Whitaker
vs
Rowlands

150 cm
25
162 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ed Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lee Rowlands!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowlands shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Whitaker defends it nicely.
Lee Rowlands seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rowlands shoots and misses
and Whitaker counters with a nice uppercut.
Whitaker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rowlands.
Whitaker swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Ed Whitaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Rowlands.
Rowlands shoots in for a takedown but Whitaker shows good takedown defense.
Rowlands throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Whitaker shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rowlands is trying to defend but Whitaker finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

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

Whitaker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rowlands doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Whitaker.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rowlands looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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

Whitaker is looking for a kimura here.
Whitaker prevents Rowlands from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Whitaker tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rowlands.
Rowlands moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rowlands has momentary wrist control but Whitaker slips an elbow through the middle.
Whitaker really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Whitaker chips away with some ground and pound.
Whitaker wants to get up but he can't break Rowlands's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Rowlands looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Whitaker landing some decent shots from guard.
Rowlands has momentary wrist control but Whitaker slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker stands up over Rowlands, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Whitaker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rowlands working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitaker.
Rowlands wants to stand and escape but Whitaker is having none of it.

Rowlands is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rowlands escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Whitaker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Whitaker could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rowlands looks winded!
Whitaker is working Rowlands over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Whitaker with a nice head shot there.
Whitaker 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.
Whitaker throws a big elbow that misses.
Whitaker scoring with punches to the head and body.
Whitaker lands a couple of digs.
Whitaker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rowlands trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Whitaker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Whitaker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rowlands's head.
Whitaker cracks Rowlands with a solid left hand.
Whitaker is in close to Rowlands's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Whitaker is in close to Rowlands's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Whitaker scoring with some ground and pound.

Whitaker gets to his feet. Rowlands looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rowlands tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Rowlands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice shot lands for Whitaker.
Rowlands throws a nice looking combination but Whitaker bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Whitaker changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rowlands shoots in and drives through. Whitaker sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Whitaker 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.

Rowlands throws a head kick that misses.
Rowlands fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fighters circling - Whitaker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Whitaker on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Whitaker misses the shot to the body.
Rowlands shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Whitaker sprawls well. Whitaker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rowlands gets slowly back to his feet.
Whitaker is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowlands looks to clinch
and Whitaker connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rowlands tries to close the distance and clinch but Whitaker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rowlands gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rowlands escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rowlands slips under a jab.
Rowlands shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Whitaker as he avoids it easily.
Ed Whitaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Rowlands.
Rowlands is breathing heavily.

Whitaker takes the fight into the clinch.
Whitaker has Rowlands pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rowlands's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Whitaker controlling the action here for a moment.
Whitaker stops a takedown attempt from Rowlands.
Rowlands drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Whitaker gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Whitaker leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rowlands just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rowlands tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Whitaker pulls Rowlands into guard.
Whitaker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rowlands is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Whitaker is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Whitaker has escaped and now he's on top!

Rowlands utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Whitaker chips away with some ground and pound.
Whitaker is in close to Rowlands's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Whitaker landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Whitaker stands up over Rowlands, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rowlands wants to stand but Whitaker is controlling the position.
Whitaker landing some decent shots from guard.

Whitaker gets to his feet. Rowlands looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rowlands will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rowlands tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Whitaker is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Whitaker darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Whitaker is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rowlands is just riding it out for now. Whitaker eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker wants to work for an arm triangle but Rowlands is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Whitaker working the head and body with strikes.

Whitaker is working for a kimura but Rowlands is defending it quite comfortably.
Whitaker stops Rowlands from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Whitaker is trying to work for a kimura but Rowlands is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Whitaker dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Whitaker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rowlands is trying to control the position but Whitaker postures up.
Whitaker distracts Rowlands with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rowlands working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitaker.
Whitaker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Whitaker cracks Rowlands with a solid left hand.
Rowlands bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Whitaker's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowlands pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Whitaker is keeping the position for now.
Whitaker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rowlands is one step ahead there.
Whitaker is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker lands with a punch from half guard.
Whitaker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Whitaker seems to be working for a kimura but Rowlands defends the submission attempt.

Whitaker looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Whitaker scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

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

Whitaker is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rowlands sees it coming and defends easily.
Rowlands trying to control but Whitaker postures up.
Whitaker slips a nice elbow through Rowlands's hands, connecting with Rowlands's forehead.

Rowlands looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rowlands takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rowlands is looking to improve his position.
Whitaker scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rowlands is just riding it out for now. Whitaker eventually gives up the hold.

Whitaker wants to work for an arm triangle but Rowlands is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Whitaker wants to work for an arm triangle but Rowlands is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Whitaker winds up and cracks Rowlands with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Whitaker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rowlands can do to turn this around?
Rowlands is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Whitaker scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Whitaker seems to be working for a kimura but Rowlands defends the submission attempt.
Rowlands pushes Whitaker off looking to stand but Whitaker dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Whitaker slips a nice elbow through Rowlands's hands, connecting with Rowlands's forehead.
Whitaker scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rowlands wants to get back to his feet.
Whitaker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Whitaker is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Whitaker lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ed Whitaker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Whitaker 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ed Whitaker!