PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Rowlands (ranked 5237 p4p, 525 weight class) and Erik Sykes (ranked 6387 p4p, 571 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rowlands
vs
Sykes

190 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Rowlands!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erik Sykes!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sykes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sykes scores with a takedown into Rowlands's guard.

Rowlands looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sykes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sykes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowlands keeping moving, preventing Sykes from controlling successfully.
Rowlands is trying to keep Sykes in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowlands tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sykes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rowlands is keeping the position for now.
Sykes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rowlands works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rowlands preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rowlands working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sykes fails to land with a series of punches.

Rowlands gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Rowlands manages to pull guard.
Sykes lands a couple of elbows.
Sykes wants to control from the top but Rowlands keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowlands throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rowlands trying to control the position.
Sykes trying to control but Rowlands is working from the bottom.
Sykes won't allow Rowlands to sweep him here.

Rowlands looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sykes won't allow Rowlands to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykes postures up in Rowlands's guard and throws a big left but Rowlands blocks it.
Rowlands is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Rowlands feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rowlands avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rowlands in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Sykes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rowlands doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rowlands manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sykes looking to control but Rowlands passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rowlands really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sykes is not content to let Rowlands control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rowlands seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sykes trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rowlands seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sykes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sykes felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Sykes punching from the bottom.

Sykes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rowlands pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Erik Sykes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rowlands moves into the clinch successfully.

Rowlands tightens his grip and picks Sykes up, before dumping him to the ground. Sykes manages to land in guard.
Rowlands has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rowlands postures up.
Rowlands throwing strikes but missing.
Rowlands wants to control from the top but Sykes keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowlands has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sykes is proving hard to escape from.

Sykes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rowlands can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowlands trying to control but Sykes is working from the bottom.
Sykes is pulling down on Rowlands's head. It's preventing any offense from Rowlands, at least for the moment.

Sykes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rowlands wants to control from the top but Sykes keeps moving.
Rowlands is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Erik Sykes has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rowlands postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

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

Rowlands content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Sykes has locked up a guillotine! Sykes's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Rowlands is holding on here and Sykes must be using up a lot of energy. Rowlands has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Sykes gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Erik Sykes!