PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rory Fowler (ranked 5961 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Armstrong (ranked 8776 p4p, 0 weight class). Lucas Armstrong is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Fowler
vs
Armstrong

220 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
209 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rory Fowler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lucas Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Armstrong drives through and clinches with Fowler against the cage.
Fowler misses with an elbow strike.
Still in the clinch, Armstrong scores with a nice short uppercut.
Armstrong should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Fowler blocks an uppercut.
Fowler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fowler misses with a body punch.

Fowler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Fowler or perhaps it was just good defense by Armstrong, which made it look bad.
A low kick from Fowler misses

and Armstrong counters by clinching up.

Fowler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Armstrong moves into the clinch successfully.
Armstrong looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Fowler tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Armstrong misses with a hook to the ribs.
Armstrong lands a nice uppercut.
Fowler lands a left hand that snaps the head of Armstrong backwards.

It looks like Lucas Armstrong has been cut.
Fowler can't find room to land a body shot as Armstrong controls the action.
Armstrong keeps control of Fowler as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Fowler breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Armstrong fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fowler, pushing him back against the cage.

Fowler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Armstrong misses with a double jab.
Lucas Armstrong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fowler lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Armstrong fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fowler, pushing him back against the cage.
Fowler tries a body shot but Armstrong blocks it.
Fowler lands with a right to the head.
Fowler tries a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks it.
Fowler is looking to break free of the clinch but Armstrong has double underhooks.
Armstrong tries to work over Fowler's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Fowler breaks from the clinch.

Fowler scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Armstrong kicks off Fowler and gets to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Fowler pushes Armstrong up against the cage in a clinch.
Armstrong blocks a body shot from Fowler.
Fowler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fowler can't break the clinch.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Fowler.
Armstrong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fowler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Armstrong misses with a knee to the head.
Armstrong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fowler blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong blocks an elbow strike from Fowler.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Fowler.
Armstrong fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Fowler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fowler fails with the takedown.

Armstrong clinches with his opponent.

Fowler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fowler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Armstrong tries to avoid it but Fowler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Armstrong to the ground. Armstrong escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Despite the aggression on Armstrong's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Fowler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Armstrong closes the distance and pushes Fowler back into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Armstrong just misses with a elbow thrown towards Fowler's brow.
Armstrong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Armstrong swings wildly with an uppercut but Fowler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fowler avoids the elbow strike from Armstrong, against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Armstrong scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fowler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fowler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Armstrong.
Armstrong landing knees to the head.
Fowler looking to throw knees to the head but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Fowler tries to work over Armstrong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fowler blocks an uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Fowler just misses with a elbow thrown towards Armstrong's brow.
Armstrong gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Fowler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fowler looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Fowler avoids the head kick by Armstrong.
Fowler throws a low kick but Armstrong moves out of range easily.

Fowler gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Armstrong.
Armstrong misses with a body punch.

Fowler breaks from the clinch.

Armstrong gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fowler has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Armstrong comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Fowler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fowler tries to score a power double leg takedown but Armstrong sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fowler somewhat.
Armstrong tries to counter by closing the distance.

Fowler gets tackled into the cage by Armstrong. Armstrong maintains the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Fowler.

Fowler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rory Fowler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fowler clinches.
Fowler is trying to break free.
Fowler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Armstrong.
Armstrong prevents Fowler from breaking the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fowler wants to break the clinch but can't.
Armstrong doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fowler makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fowler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lucas Armstrong will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lucas Armstrong's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fowler throws a head kick but Armstrong moves out of range.
Fowler throws a sloppy head kick and Armstrong moves out of range easily.
Rory Fowler is winning the standup battle so far.
Fowler looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Armstrong is fending him off so far but Fowler persists. Nope, Armstrong circles away and we're back to standing.
Armstrong stuffs the takedown.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Fowler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fowler.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Fowler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Armstrong closes the distance and clinches.
Fowler trying to land knees to the body.
Armstrong lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fowler backwards.
Fowler tries to break free but Armstrong pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fowler is trying to force a seperation but Armstrong has the dominant position.
Armstrong pushes off an throws an elbow but Fowler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Armstrong misses with a punch on the inside.
Armstrong lands a left hand.
Fowler trying to land knees to the body.

Fowler breaks the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Armstrong gets caught flat footed, as Fowler shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Armstrong has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Fowler is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fowler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fowler throws a sloppy head kick
and Armstrong counters with a three punch combo that has Fowler backing up. Fowler nods at Armstrong to acknowledge the strikes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fowler tries to break free but Armstrong pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Armstrong fails to land.
Fowler tries to circle away but Armstrong has him pinned against the cage.
Fowler tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Armstrong swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Armstrong looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Fowler wants to break free but Armstrong has control.
Armstrong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fowler's elbow.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the head but Fowler blocks with his arms.
Armstrong is working Fowler over against the cage.
Fowler wants to break free but Armstrong has control.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Fowler creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fowler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Armstrong has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong misses with a punch to the body.
Armstrong with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Armstrong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Armstrong misses with a body punch.
Fowler blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Armstrong lands with a left to the head.
Fowler looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Armstrong swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Fowler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fowler throws a head punch that misses.
Armstrong tries to throw a body punch but Fowler avoids it by throwing Armstrong back against the cage.

Fowler manages to break the clinch.

Armstrong gets a clinch.
Armstrong misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fowler misses with the head strike.
Fowler struggles to land a body shot inside as Armstrong controls his hands.
Fowler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Armstrong missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong dodges an elbow strike from Fowler.
A short left from Armstrong.
Lucas Armstrong seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Armstrong tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fowler lands a left hand.
Fowler is trying to break the clinch but Armstrong has him pressed against the cage.
Fowler looking to throw knees to the head but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Fowler blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Fowler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Armstrong clinches up against the cage.
Armstrong keeps control of Fowler as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fowler looking to throw knees to the head but Armstrong is blocking nicely.

Fowler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fowler defending well as Armstrong loads up on a big left hand.
Fowler fails with the takedown.
Armstrong throws a push kick but Fowler slaps the foot to one side.
Fowler seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Armstrong closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Fowler breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong moves into the clinch.
Fowler avoiding damage as Armstrong throws knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fowler can't break the clinch.

Fowler breaks the clinch.
Fowler checks the leg kick.
Rory Fowler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Armstrong closes the distance and clinches.
Armstrong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fowler misses with a body punch.

Fowler breaks the clinch.
Armstrong throws a head kick that misses.
Fowler shoots in but no luck this time.

Armstrong closes the distance and clinches.
Armstrong keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fowler's efforts to push away.
Fowler managing to block the knees to the body from Armstrong.
Armstrong can't find room to land a body shot as Fowler controls the action.
Fowler is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Armstrong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lucas Armstrong's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Armstrong closes the distance and pushes Fowler back into the cage.
Fowler trying to land knees to the body.
Fowler looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fowler can't find room to land a body shot as Armstrong controls the action.
Fowler is trying to break the clinch but Armstrong is controlling him.
Fowler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Armstrong lands an elbow inside.
Fowler trying to land knees to the body.
Armstrong misses with a body punch.
Fowler tries to throw a body punch but Armstrong avoids it by throwing Fowler back against the cage.
Armstrong blocks a body shot from Fowler.
Armstrong has a couple of punches blocked by Fowler.
Still in the clinch, Armstrong scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fowler avoiding damage as Armstrong throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong misses with a punch to the body.

Fowler breaks the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fowler.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Fowler closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fowler misses with the head strike.
Armstrong misses with a body punch.
Armstrong tries a body shot but Fowler blocks it.
Fowler lands with a short shot to the head.
Good body shot from Armstrong.

Fowler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Fowler rushes Armstrong and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Fowler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fowler shoots for a takedown but Armstrong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Armstrong throws a fast counter high kick but Fowler manages to duck under it in time.
Fowler throws a head kick but Armstrong moves out of range.
Fowler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Armstrong but Armstrong pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Armstrong wants to counter with a clinch but Fowler pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Fowler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Armstrong rushes Fowler and presses him up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Armstrong.
Fowler wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Armstrong fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fowler managing to block the knees to the body from Armstrong.
Armstrong throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fowlers head.
Armstrong tries a body shot but Fowler blocks it.
Armstrong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Fowler just misses with a elbow thrown towards Armstrong's brow.
Armstrong throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Armstrong with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fowler swings wildly with an uppercut but Armstrong uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fowler managing to block the knees to the body from Armstrong.
Armstrong trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Armstrong.

Fowler breaks the clinch.
Fowler misses with a two punch combination.

Fowler forces Armstrong back against the cage and clinches.
Armstrong works on Fowler's body with a couple of short punches.
Armstrong tries to throw a body punch but Fowler avoids it by throwing Armstrong back against the cage.
Armstrong lands a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong lands a left hand.
Fowler is trying to force a seperation but Armstrong has the dominant position.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fowler has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Fowler tries to break the clinch but Armstrong is controlling the position.
Armstrong tries to throw a body punch but Fowler avoids it by throwing Armstrong back against the cage.
Fowler looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Armstrong tries to land knees in the clinch but Fowler avoids the damage to the body.
Armstrong missing with knees to the body.
Fowler misses with a short punch on the inside.
Armstrong misses with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Armstrong.

Fowler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fowler on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Fowler has taken the fight to the clinch.
Armstrong blocks the elbow strike.
Fowler tries to work over Armstrong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fowler doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fowler tries to throw a body punch but Armstrong avoids it by throwing Fowler back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fowler is trying to break free.
Armstrong cracks Fowler with a nice body shot.
Armstrong landing knees to the body.
Armstrong misses with a body punch.
Armstrong lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fowler.
Armstrong lands an elbow inside that Fowler shrugs off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Armstrong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Armstrong just misses with a elbow thrown towards Fowler's brow.
Fowler avoids a wild elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong swings wildly with an uppercut but Fowler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Armstrong prevents Fowler from breaking the clinch.
Armstrong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fowler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Armstrong has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fowler.
Armstrong struggles to land a body shot inside as Fowler controls his hands.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Fowler.
Rory Fowler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Armstrong misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fowler tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucas Armstrong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Armstrong winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucas Armstrong!