PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ellis Rowards (ranked 4125 p4p, 5883 weight class) and Donny Jay (ranked 514 p4p, 611 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rowards
vs
Jay

195 cm
27
190
4 - 7 - 0

189 cm
20
196
3 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ellis Rowards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donny Jay!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jay smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Jay ducks under a wild hook from Rowards.
Rowards doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rowards takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rowards misses with a few strikes there.
It seemed like Jay was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Jay clinches.

Jay breaks from the clinch.
Jay bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Jay drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jay missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jay slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rowards is looking to control Jay's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rowards avoid being mounted?
Jay missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jay seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rowards does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jay not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jay wants to take a breather but Rowards is having none of it.
Nice strikes from Jay there.
Jay is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rowards tries to get to full guard but Jay has control of the leg.

Jay is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rowards has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rowards on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rowards tries to get out of the position.
Jay throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jay lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Jay throwing shots but Rowards is blocking nicely.
Rowards trying to control here.

Jay is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rowards is just riding it out for now. Jay eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rowards trying to control but Jay postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jay seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rowards does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Jay 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.
Jay wants to stand but Rowards has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jay working Rowards over with strikes.
Jay landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rowards is staying active underneath Jay, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rowards wants to control but Jay is keeping busy.
Jay scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rowards won't allow Jay to pass to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Donny Jay dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rowards moves out of range of the body kick.
It looked like Rowards wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A telegraphed right hand from Jay misses the target.
Jay tries to clinch up
enabling Rowards to counter with a crisp jab.

Jay darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rowards gets full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowards looking for a sweep. Not yet Rowards, not yet.
Jay wants to control from the top but Rowards keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowards preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Jay drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rowards looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rowards looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rowards!

Rowards trying to control the action but Jay is working from the bottom.
Jay is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rowards tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Jay's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jay tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Rowards presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Jay is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rowards avoids the attempt from Jay to control.
Rowards looking to control but Jay is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowards lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Jay tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rowards in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rowards avoids the attempt from Jay to control.
Donny Jay has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rowards controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jay is trying desperately to improve position.
Rowards looking to control but Jay is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jay working to try and regain half guard.
Jay has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rowards controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rowards pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ellis Rowards dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Jay dips to his left and cracks Rowards with an uppercut!
We've been told by Rowards's head coaches at Cozad MMA New York that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Jay takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rowards shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A little jabbing left from Jay on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Jay darts in trying to clinch
letting Rowards counter with a right hand.

Rowards closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rowards lands in his opponent's guard.
Rowards has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rowards is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jay trying to keep a closed guard but Rowards is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowards content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rowards is stalling in the full guard.

Jay pushes Rowards off and gets back to his feet.

Rowards clinches with his opponent.

Rowards breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rowards avoids the head kick by Jay.
Rowards wants to clinch up but Jay keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rowards gets caught flat footed, as Jay shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rowards wants to get back to his feet but Jay passes into half guard.

Jay thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jay wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rowards keeps working.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Jay is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rowards has managed to free his arm - good work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jay lands a nice short elbow.

Jay is trying to work for a kimura but Rowards is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jay is thwarting Rowards's attempts to control the position.
Jay throwing shots but Rowards is blocking nicely.
Jay has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rowards keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Jay is looking for a kimura here.
Jay is looking to take a break and control but Rowards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rowards is trying to maintain the position but Jay is very close to passing his half guard.
Jay scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ground and pound from Jay.
Jay sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rowards defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rowards is trying to maintain the position but Jay is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donny Jay comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jay has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donny Jay!