PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Timmy Rowe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rowe comes to the cage accompanied by Fight Music. The crowd seem to be enjoying Shepard's choice of entrance music: This Is Usually The Part Where People Scream. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rowe
vs
Shepard

172 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Timmy Rowe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Shepard!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Chad Campbell and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Rowe or perhaps it was just good defense by Shepard which made him look bad.
Shepard looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Rowe shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shepard is trying to defend but Rowe finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rowe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shepard's head.
Rowe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rowe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shepard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rowe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Rowe is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shepard defends it well.
Rowe working over Shepard with some ground and pound. Shepard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Shepard is refusing to be controlled, as Rowe sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rowe thows a huge punch but Shepard dodges it nicely.
Rowe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rowe throwing shots but Shepard is blocking nicely.
Rowe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shepard defending well though.
Rowe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shepard slaps away a takedown attempt from Rowe, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Rowe shoots in and bounces Shepard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rowe works over Shepard with some ground and pound from guard.
Rowe works over Shepard with some ground and pound from guard.
Rowe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rowe lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rowe lands a couple of digs.

Rowe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rowe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rowe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rowe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rowe scoring with some ground and pound.
Rowe trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rowe is in close to Shepard's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Rowe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rowe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rowe works over Shepard with some ground and pound from guard.
Rowe postures up.
Rowe passes into half guard.
Shepard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rowe.
Rowe lands strikes from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rowe connects with a nice short shot to Shepard's temple.
Shepard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Shepard has hold of Rowe's hands but Rowe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rowe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard tries to get to full guard but Rowe has control of the leg.
Rowe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rowe wants to take a breather but Shepard is having none of it.
Rowe seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rowe connects with a nice short shot to Shepard's temple.
Shepard on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Rowe there.
Rowe 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.
Rowe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rowe working the head and body with strikes.
Rowe with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timmy Rowe dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rowe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rowe working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Rowe swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Shepard is now in Rowe's guard. A big mistake from Rowe there, giving up the dominant position!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rowe is on top in guard.
Rowe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Rowe from controlling successfully.
Rowe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shepard is keeping the position for now.
Rowe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shepard's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rowe's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rowe chips away with some ground and pound.
Rowe landing with the ground and pound.
Rowe thows a big elbow that misses.
Rowe lands a couple of elbows.
Rowe distracts Shepard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rowe trying to control but Shepard is working from the bottom.
Shepard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rowe.
Rowe trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Shepard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rowe is looking to work some ground and pound but Shepard has wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rowe throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Shepard was covering up waiting for the punch and Rowe finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Shepard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rowe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shepard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rowe.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Rowe from controlling successfully.
Rowe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowe throws and elbow that misses. Shepard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rowe's guard. Nice move by Shepard!
Rowe looking to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rowe drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rowe grinds an elbow into Shepard's temple.

Rowe is working to tighten is grip on Shepard's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Shepard has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Rowe is really squeezing tight and eventually Shepard passes out! Rowe breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Timmy Rowe!