PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Rowles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Richards
vs
Rowles

190 cm
22
210 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
216 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Team S.W.A.T.
MMA's Best Nutrition

MMA's Best Nutrition

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Rowles!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowles tries to bum rush Richards with a series of wild strikes but Richards uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Richards swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rowles throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Richards sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Richards feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Rowles sprawling to the canvas! Rowles rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Richards finish him?!

Rowles is rocked!

It looks like Paul Rowles has been cut.
Rowles dodges the punch combination from Richards.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rowles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richards checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Richards fails with the takedown.
Rowles cracks Richards with an open hand slap.
Richards fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards swinging wilding here.
Rowles defending well as Richards loads up on a big left hand.
Richards is looking to clinch.
Rowles fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Richards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rowles loads up on a big right hand but Richards slips the punch.
Richards falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rowles counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rowles lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Richards as Rowles shoots in.
Richards throws a looping overhand right but Rowles ducks down to avoid it.
Rowles throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Richards lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Richards.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rowles, right into the meat.
Rowles misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rowles moves out of range as Richards strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rowles looks to land a right hand but Richards moved out of range.
Richards misses with a double jab
and Rowles counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Paul Rowles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Richards misses.
Rowles will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rowles lands a nice leg kick that just misses Richards's sensitive parts.
Rowles cracks a nice hook into Richards's ribs.
Richards is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowles missing with a left hand there. Richards was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rowles ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Richards moves away.
Rowles misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Richards.
Rowles looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Richards misses with a jab, cross combination.
Richards closes the distance and clinches up with Rowles, looking for a takedown. Richards pushes Rowles against the cage but Rowles circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rowles misses with a body punch

so Richards counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Richards would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Richards being controlled here momentarily.
Rowles wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Richards dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Rowles's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rowles shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rowles showed some decent athleticism there.
Rowles keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rowles's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Rowles seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Richards does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Richards pushes Rowles off looking to stand but Rowles dives back in and keeps control.
Rowles is taking a breather. Richards says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Richards pushes Rowles off looking to stand but Rowles dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rowles scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowles seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Richards is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Rowles wants to pass to mount but Richards is defending the position.

Rowles is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Richards doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rowles.
Rowles prevents Richards from improving his position.
Richards wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rowles performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rowles prevents Richards from standing back up.
Rowles stalling.
Rowles is looking to advance position but Richards won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rowles thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice body punch from Rowles.
Rowles scores with a leg kick.
Rowles misses with a wild combination.
Rowles misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Richards blocks a jab.
Rowles throws a good cross that connects.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowles looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Richards looks to land a left hand but Rowles moved out of range nicely.
Rowles throws a nice outside leg kick.
A right-left combo lands from Rowles.
Richards ducks under a wild hook from Rowles.
Rowles throws out a loose jab but Richards uses good head movement to avoid it.
Richards misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rowles comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rowles swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Rowles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paul Rowles's cut.
That's time! Richards's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Richards throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rowles sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Paul Rowles seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Richards changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rowles tries to avoid it but Richards manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rowles to the ground. Rowles escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rowles is looking to slow Richards down with leg kicks.
Richards throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rowles counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Richards!
Rowles is landing with some decent strikes but Richards is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rowles postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Richards looks a forlorn figure.
Rowles takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rowles postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Richards looks a forlorn figure.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowles scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Richards?
Rowles content just to control the position here.
Rowles fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rowles is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rowles punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowles controlling from mount.
Paul Rowles has got the better of the ground game so far.
Richards is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Rowles looking to control and managing it successfully.
Richards tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rowles wants to control the pace but Richards is squirming around nicely.
Rowles controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowles raining down shots from the mount!
Richards tries to hold on but Rowles pushes him away.
Rowles can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Richards is looking to escape.

Despite being in the dominant position, Paul Rowles just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rowles goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Rowles changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Richards looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowles working the head and body with strikes.
Richards is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rowles throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Richards is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rowles is controlling him well.

Rowles tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rowles has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Richards wants to get back to his feet but Rowles drags him back down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Rowles comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rowles 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 George Francis scores the fight for Paul Rowles!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Paul Rowles!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Paul Rowles!

Paul Rowles wins by unanimous decision!