PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yoki Mayoniko (ranked 2000 p4p, 241 weight class) and Riaq Rowanda (ranked 3828 p4p, 389 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mayoniko
vs
Rowanda

185 cm
30
185 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

170 cm
36
173 lbs
12 - 8 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yoki Mayoniko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Riaq Rowanda!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Rowanda lands.

It looks like Yoki Mayoniko has been cut.
Rowanda goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Mayoniko moves into range and clinches up with Rowanda.
Mayoniko blocks an elbow strike.
Mayoniko scores with a hook to the body.
Rowanda throws a punch but it's blocked by Mayoniko.
Rowanda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mayoniko is defending well for now.
Rowanda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Rowanda.
Mayoniko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mayoniko.
Rowanda lands a shoulder strike.
Mayoniko lands a left hand.
Rowanda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mayoniko avoids it.
Rowanda misses with the head strike.
Mayoniko working aggressively here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rowanda tries to throw a body punch but Mayoniko avoids it by throwing Rowanda back against the cage.
Rowanda digs a right hand into Mayoniko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mayoniko's gas tank.
Rowanda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mayoniko is defending well for now.
A short right from Mayoniko.
Mayoniko managing to block the knees to the body from Rowanda.
Mayoniko swings wildly with an uppercut but Rowanda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mayoniko prevents a body shot from Rowanda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowanda working aggressively here.
Mayoniko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rowanda backwards.
Rowanda takes a shot to the head.
Rowanda stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rowanda blocks an uppercut.
Mayoniko content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rowanda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rowanda has a couple of punches blocked by Mayoniko.
Rowanda can't find room to land a body shot as Mayoniko controls the action.
Mayoniko lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rowanda.
Rowanda swings wildly with an uppercut but Mayoniko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rowanda gets through Mayoniko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mayoniko avoids the elbow strike from Rowanda, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mayoniko.
Mayoniko blocking some punches.
Rowanda scores with a shot to the side of Mayoniko's head.
Good body shot from Mayoniko.
Mayoniko gets through Rowanda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mayoniko - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayoniko is working for takedown but Rowanda is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rowanda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mayoniko scores with a nice hook to the head.

Mayoniko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rowanda bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mayoniko's head.
Rowanda smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rowanda, right into the meat.

Mayoniko rushes Rowanda and presses him up against the cage.
Rowanda pushes off an throws an elbow but Mayoniko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rowanda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mayoniko trying to stall but Rowanda improves his position.
Mayoniko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mayoniko blocks an elbow strike from Rowanda.
Rowanda throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rowanda lands a body shot.

Mayoniko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rowanda throws a lazy uppercut
and Mayoniko counters with a nice uppercut.
Rowanda connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayoniko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mayoniko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rowanda throws a nice inside leg kick.

Mayoniko clinches with his opponent.
Mayoniko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mayoniko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mayoniko blocks a body shot from Rowanda.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rowanda.
Rowanda gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rowanda throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rowanda struggles to land a body shot inside as Mayoniko controls his hands.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rowanda as Mayoniko tries to tie him up.
Mayoniko effectively controlling the action here.
Rowanda lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rowanda has a couple of punches blocked by Mayoniko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rowanda creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Mayoniko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mayoniko closes the distance and clinches.
Rowanda lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mayoniko backwards.
Mayoniko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rowanda misses with a punch on the inside.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rowanda softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rowanda.
Mayoniko scores with a shot to the side of Rowanda's head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mayoniko tries to work over Rowanda's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mayoniko just leaning against Rowanda, taking a breather.
Rowanda struggles to land a body shot inside as Mayoniko controls his hands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mayoniko scores with a shoulder strike.
Mayoniko can't find room to land a body shot as Rowanda controls the action.
Rowanda lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mayoniko backwards.
Rowanda throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mayoniko working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riaq Rowanda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yoki Mayoniko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mayoniko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rowanda to score with a decent uppercut.

Mayoniko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Mayoniko.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mayoniko lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rowanda working aggressively here.

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

Mayoniko instigates a clinch.
Mayoniko blocking some punches.
Mayoniko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rowanda throws an elbow but misses.
Mayoniko lands with a short shot to the head.
Rowanda misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rowanda lands a right hand.
Mayoniko misses with the head strike.
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!
Mayoniko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rowanda misses with a punch on the inside.
Mayoniko lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rowanda swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayoniko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rowanda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rowanda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mayoniko is stalling here.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rowanda.
A short right from Mayoniko.
Mayoniko throws a head punch that misses.
Rowanda lands a nice uppercut.
Mayoniko takes an elbow to the temple.
Rowanda gets through Mayoniko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rowanda blocking some punches.
Rowanda misses with a body punch.

Mayoniko manages to break the clinch.

Mayoniko closes the distance and clinches.
Mayoniko pushes Rowanda back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rowanda stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Mayoniko blocks an uppercut.
Rowanda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mayoniko.
A head punch on the inside from Mayoniko fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Rowanda fails to land.
Rowanda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rowanda misses with a punch on the inside.
Rowanda tries to throw a body punch but Mayoniko avoids it by throwing Rowanda back against the cage.
A short right from Mayoniko on the inside.
Riaq Rowanda seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rowanda lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rowanda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mayoniko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rowanda backwards.
Rowanda lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rowanda lands a right hand.
Rowanda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mayoniko cracks Rowanda with a nice body shot.
Rowanda letting Mayoniko take a breather here.
Mayoniko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rowanda comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mayoniko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mayoniko blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mayoniko throws a punch but it's blocked by Rowanda.
Mayoniko jumps guard but Rowanda turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rowanda misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rowanda looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mayoniko.
Rowanda misses with some punches.
Mayoniko misses with the head strike.
Mayoniko misses with the head strike.
Rowanda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mayoniko's elbow.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rowanda blocking some punches.
Rowanda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mayoniko pushes Rowanda back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rowanda has a couple of punches blocked by Mayoniko.
Rowanda misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayoniko blocks an uppercut.
Mayoniko misses with a punch on the inside.
Rowanda lands an elbow that stopped Mayoniko in his tracks for a moment.
Mayoniko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rowanda lands a nice uppercut.
Rowanda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mayoniko scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mayoniko scores with a shot to the side of Rowanda's head.
Rowanda takes a shot to the head.
Mayoniko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mayoniko.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mayoniko.
Rowanda working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mayoniko blocks a body shot from Rowanda.
Rowanda doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mayoniko blocks an elbow strike from Rowanda.
Rowanda misses with an elbow over the top.
Rowanda looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rowanda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mayoniko misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Riaq Rowanda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Yoki Mayoniko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mayoniko moves into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Mayoniko.
Mayoniko misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rowanda.
Rowanda lands an elbow that stopped Mayoniko in his tracks for a moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rowanda can't find room to land a body shot as Mayoniko controls the action.
Rowanda doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rowanda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rowanda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rowanda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rowanda throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mayoniko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rowanda backwards.
Mayoniko lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

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

Mayoniko pushes Rowanda up against the cage in a clinch.
Rowanda misses with the head strike.
Mayoniko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mayoniko scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowanda working aggressively here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rowanda.
Mayoniko scores with a shot to the side of Rowanda's head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rowanda.
Still in the clinch, Mayoniko scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mayoniko gets through Rowanda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mayoniko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rowanda backwards.
Rowanda lands a right hand.
Rowanda blocks a body shot from Mayoniko.
Mayoniko misses with a body punch.
Rowanda lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rowanda comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rowanda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rowanda looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mayoniko lands a right hand.
Rowanda lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mayoniko just leaning against Rowanda, taking a breather.
Mayoniko stalling in the clinch but Rowanda improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Mayoniko scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mayoniko.
Mayoniko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rowandas head.
Rowanda tries a body shot but Mayoniko blocks it.
Rowanda throws a punch but it's blocked by Mayoniko.
Mayoniko tries a body shot but Rowanda blocks it.
Rowanda working aggressively here.
Mayoniko blocking some punches.
Mayoniko is trying to maintain a safe position but Rowanda gets an underhook and turns Mayoniko into the cage.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mayoniko lands with a short shot to the head.
Mayoniko lands a right hand.
Mayoniko scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mayoniko blocking some punches.
Mayoniko blocks an elbow strike from Rowanda.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rowanda throws an elbow but misses.
Still in the clinch, Mayoniko scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mayoniko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mayoniko trying to stall but Rowanda improves his position.
Mayoniko lands a shoulder strike.
Yoki Mayoniko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rowanda throws a punch but it's blocked by Mayoniko.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mayoniko.
Mayoniko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mayoniko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mayoniko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mayoniko tries to score a body lock takedown but Rowanda shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mayoniko scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rowanda throws a head punch that misses.
Riaq Rowanda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rowanda blocking some punches.
Rowanda blocking some punches.
Mayoniko will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rowanda up against the cage.

Mayoniko breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mayoniko clinches up against the cage.
Mayoniko tries to throw a body punch but Rowanda avoids it by throwing Mayoniko back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Mayoniko.
Mayoniko misses with the head strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mayoniko.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mayoniko.
Mayoniko misses with the head strike.
Mayoniko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mayoniko.
Mayoniko misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoki Mayoniko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rowanda has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!