PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jake Rowell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cyrus Grissom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Rowell
vs
Grissom

175 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Rowell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cyrus Grissom!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grissom drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rowell is trying to get back to his feet.
Rowell tries to improve position but can't.

Grissom stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Grissom changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rowell tries to avoid it but Grissom manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rowell to the ground. Rowell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Grissom throws a half hearted mid kick.
Grissom takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rowell punishes Grissom's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grissom moves into range and clinches up with Rowell.
Grissom has had enough of the clinch but Rowell keeps him there for the moment.
Grissom stops a takedown attempt from Rowell.

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

Grissom darts in and clinches Rowell up against the cage.
Grissom throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rowell blocks it with crossed arms.

Grissom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rowell misses with a double jab.

Grissom rushes Rowell and presses him up against the cage.
Grissom wants to stall.

Rowell manages to break the clinch.
Grissom misses with a hook

and Rowell counters with a shoot takedown. Grissom fights it but they end up in guard.

Grissom pushes Rowell off and scrambles back to his feet.
Grissom looks gassed!
Grissom takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Grissom throws a leg kick

and Rowell counters with a single leg into guard. Grissom didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rowell slips nicely into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowell trying to mount his opponent but Grissom defends it.
Rowell tries to stand but can't do so whilst Grissom controls his leg.
Rowell is looking to take a break and control but Grissom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rowell is looking to advance position but Grissom won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowell looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rowell throwing shots but Grissom is blocking nicely.
Rowell controlling the action here.

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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rowell is keen to just control but Grissom is a slippery customer.

Rowell decides to return to a standing position.
Grissom misses with a hook

and Rowell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rowell trying to control the position from guard on top but Grissom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice sprawl there from Grissom as Rowell shoots in.
Nice takedown defense from Grissom. No joy for Rowell on that attempt.
Rowell misses with a double jab.
Cyrus Grissom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rowell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick from Grissom lands but Rowell takes it in his stride.
Rowell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Grissom circles away from the clinch attempt
and Grissom counters with a nice uppercut.
Grissom takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rowell lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Grissom!
Rowell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rowell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rowell fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Rowell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grissom throws a lazy head kick

and Rowell holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Grissom leaning against his opponent.
Grissom is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grissom jumps guard but Rowell stands there with Grissom around his waist. Grissom gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Rowell - that landed with a thud.
Rowell tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rowell is pressed up against the cage. Grissom has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rowell down to the mat. Rowell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rowell pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Grissom takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Rowell closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Grissom to the mat! Grissom manages to get full guard.
Rowell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rowell slips nicely into half guard.
Rowell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grissom keeps working.
Still in half guard, Rowell seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grissom is looking to improve his position.
Rowell prevents Grissom from standing back up.
Rowell performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Grissom pushes Rowell off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grissom fails with the takedown.
Rowell moves forwards but Grissom connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Grissom throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Grissom uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rowell.
Jake Rowell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rowell lands a head kick. Grissom smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rowell throws a head kick but Grissom moves out of range.
Grissom swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rowell.

Grissom decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grissom prevents Rowell from improving his position.
Rowell is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rowell manages to get to full guard.
Rowell trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grissom tries to stand but Rowell is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cyrus Grissom will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rowell misses with a head kick.
Rowell shoots in and drives through. Grissom sprawls well.
Rowell misses with a straight right.

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

Grissom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Good shot there by Grissom.
Rowell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Grissom as he avoids it easily.
Rowell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Grissom tries to avoid it but Rowell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Grissom to the ground. Grissom escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Rowell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Grissom!
Rowell shoots for a double leg takedown but Grissom sprawls well. He's pushed Rowell's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Grissom has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Grissom fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Grissom moves into the clinch successfully.
Grissom tries to score a body lock takedown but Rowell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grissom tries to score a body lock takedown but Rowell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Grissom breaks from the clinch.
Rowell looks for a takedown but Grissom sprawls well.

Grissom rushes Rowell and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rowell breaks from the clinch.
Rowell tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Grissom tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rowell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Grissom throws a lazy head kick

and Rowell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rowell.
Grissom throws a knee to the head but misses.

Grissom breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rowell closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Grissom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Grissom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rowell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Grissom!
Rowell looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Rowell working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Grissom is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowell thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Grissom is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grissom is working to get back to half guard.
Rowell wants to control but instead Grissom manages to regain half guard.
Rowell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jake Rowell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rowell fails with the takedown
and Grissom counters with a head kick.
Grissom on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Grissom misses with a left hand

and Rowell counters with a takedown into side control.
Grissom pushes Rowell away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rowell gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rowell content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Rowell tries to move to mount but Grissom blocks the move with his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Rowell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rowell has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Rowell!