PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Rowles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Dardar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dardar has chosen Trial by Fire as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Rowles
vs
Dardar

184 cm
23
216 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
205 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Crippler's Corner
Firebird Designs

Non-Stop Nutrition
Non-Stop Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Rowles!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jesse Dardar!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowles connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Dardar's hands.
Rowles staying out of range there.
Dardar doesn't manage to clinch there - Rowles circles away.
Rowles shoots in for a takedown but Dardar shows good takedown defense.
A combination from Dardar does no damage.
Dardar tries to clinch but Rowles moves out of range.
Rowles tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dardar was well out of range. Poor timing from Rowles.
Dardar doesn't manage to clinch there - Rowles circles away.
Dardar scores with a punch to the head.
Rowles throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Dardar pushes Rowles up against the cage in a clinch.
Rowles misses with a punch to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Rowles.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dardar.
Rowles misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dardar has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rowles is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Dardar breaks the clinch.
Dardar with a poor takedown
and Rowles counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Dardar throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rowles counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dardar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Paul Rowles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Dardar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dardar throws a sloppy head kick and Rowles moves out of range easily.
Rowles catches Dardar with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Dardar misses with a hook.
Dardar wants to clinch but Rowles slips to the side

and Rowles counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rowles is taking a breather. Dardar 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.
Rowles stops Dardar from getting back to his feet.
Dardar tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rowles has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dardar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rowles tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowles lands a big elbow.
Dardar tries to reverse the position but Rowles maintains control.
Dardar is in a horrible position here. Rowles smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Dardar really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Dardar tries to lock up and control but Rowles gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dardar is looking to get to half guard.
Dardar is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rowles trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rowles prevents Dardar from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dardar regains half guard.
Dardar gets full guard.
Rowles has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rowles trying to control but Dardar is working from the bottom.
Dardar trying to control the position.
Rowles preventing the sweep.

Rowles avoids the head kick by Dardar.
Donk. Dardar catches Rowles right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Paul Rowles has been cut.
Dardar misses with a double jab
and Rowles counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rowles scores with a shot to the body.
Rowles scores with a crisp jab that stopped Dardar in his tracks.
Dardar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dardar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rowles moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dardar wants to clinch but Rowles slips to the side
enabling Rowles to counter with a crisp jab.
Jesse Dardar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dardar circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rowles digs a good hook to Dardar's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dardar looks to land a combination but Rowles avoids it well.
Dardar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rowles lands a nice shot to the body.
Dardar is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowles lands a jab to Dardar's midsection.
A jab from Rowles finds it's way through Dardar's defenses.
Rowles thumps Dardar with a low kick.
Rowles with a poor takedown

and Dardar counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dardar can't get the takedown.
Rowles scores with a hook to the body.
Dardar is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rowles is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rowles lands a body shot.
Rowles goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dardar wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dardar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Paul Rowles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Dardar.
Dardar wants a takedown.
Dardar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dardar tries to work over Rowles's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dardar fails to pull guard.

Rowles has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Dardar is trying to keep an underhook but Rowles manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Dardar wants to get back to full guard but Rowles has mounted him!
Dardar takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rowles controlling from the full mount.
Dardar working to try and regain half guard.
Dardar throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rowles. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowles looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dardar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rowles dominating with strikes here.
Dardar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dardar tries to hold on but Rowles postures up.

That's four 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.
Dardar is desperately trying to improve his position but Rowles has a good base and remains in mount.
Rowles looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Dardar is looking to get to half guard.
Dardar slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dardar tries to get to full guard but Rowles has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Rowles dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paul Rowles's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rowles looks for a takedown but Dardar sprawls well.
Dardar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A clash of legs there as Dardar blocks the low kick.
Dardar tries to clinch up

and Rowles counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rowles throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rowles wants to control from the top but Dardar keeps moving.
Dardar throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Dardar throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dardar striking off his back but it's not causing Rowles any problems.
Rowles wants to control from the top but Dardar keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dardar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rowles stopping the sweep attempt from Dardar.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dardar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rowles fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rowles is looking to wear down Dardar with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Dardar misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dardar moves in looking to clinch but Rowles pushes him off.

That's two 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.
Dardar tries to clinch
and Rowles counters with a straight right hand.
Rowles circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rowles counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rowles.
Dardar cracks Rowles with a nice body shot.
Dardar tries a knee to the head but Rowles blocks it.
Rowles tries to stall but Dardar uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Dardar wants a takedown but no success here.

Dardar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rowles ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dardar moves away.
Jesse Dardar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rowles keeps the fight on the outside.
Dardar looks to throw the jab but Rowles is out of range.
Rowles circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rowles connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowles ducks under a wild hook from Dardar.
Dardar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice sprawl there from Rowles as Dardar shoots in.
Paul Rowles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Dardar.
Dardar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rowles swats away the attempt to clinch by Dardar.
Dardar wants to clinch but Rowles slips to the side
and Rowles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dardar ducks under a wild hook from Rowles.
Rowles connects with a solid leg kick.
Dardar tries to clinch up but Rowles circles away and keeps his distance.
Dardar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rowles.
Rowles fails with the takedown.

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.
A swing and a miss from Dardar.
Dardar tries to clinch but Rowles moves away
and Rowles counters with a right hand to the body.
Rowles misses with a hook.
Rowles closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dardar circles away.
Dardar falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rowles counters with a left to the body.
Dardar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dardar closes the distance but Rowles moves to the side

and Rowles decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dardar's guard.
Dardar keeping moving, preventing Rowles from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Rowles clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Rowles's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dardar tries to clinch up
and Rowles counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Paul Rowles is winning the standup battle so far.
Rowles takes one on the button.

Dardar rushes Rowles and presses him up against the cage.
Dardar is trying to break free.
Dardar tries to land a knee to the head but Rowles blocks with his arms.

Dardar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dardar throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rowles on the side of the head.
Dardar misses with a combination
and Rowles counters with a nice body kick.
Rowles misses with a few strikes there.
Dardar throws a series of punches but Rowles moves out of range.
Rowles thows a body shot but no joy.

Rowles clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dardar landing some nice looking knees to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Dardar tries for a takedown but Rowles manages to get underhooks.
Rowles works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Dardar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rowles misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dardar.
Rowles shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dardar as he avoids it easily.
Dardar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dardar with a hook.
Dardar might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Dardar tries to clinch up
enabling Rowles to counter with a crisp jab.
No joy there for Dardar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dardar doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rowles counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dardar tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rowles counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rowles.
Dardar 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.

Dardar has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rowles is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Dardar.
Dardar struggling a bit here.
Rowles moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dardar is looking for a sweep.
Rowles just content to control the position.
Rowles wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dardar keeps working.
Dardar is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rowles off and has taken his back!
Dardar is trying to control but Rowles is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dardar trying to control but Rowles is having none of it.
Dardar sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Dardar moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rowles has worked his arm free - good work by Rowles!
Dardar creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rowles sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rowles is trying to control Dardar's posture but Dardar avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Paul Rowles will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paul Rowles's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rowles uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dardar.
The fighters circle momentarily. Dardar darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Dardar tries a head kick but it misses.
Dardar closes the distance but Rowles moves to the side
and Rowles counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dardar tries for a takedown but Rowles sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dardar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dardar scores with a head kick.
Rowles avoids the head kick by Dardar.
Dardar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dardar misses with a combination
and Rowles counters with a nice body shot.
Dardar is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Rowles forces Dardar back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowles lands a shot to the body.
Rowles can't find room to land a body shot as Dardar controls the action.
Dardar tries to break the clinch but Rowles is controlling the position.
Dardar throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Dardar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rowles is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dardar throws a punch but it's blocked by Rowles.
Rowles stalling.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Dardar as Rowles tries to tie him up.
Dardar misses with an elbow over the top.
Dardar throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rowless head.
Rowles is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dardar is keeping busy.
Rowles holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Dardar tries to pull guard but Rowles holds him up against the cage and eventually Dardar drops back down to his feet.
Dardar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Dardar makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Jesse Dardar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Dardar has a couple of punches blocked by Rowles.
Dardar changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rowles fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Paul Rowles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Dardar.
A left and a right from Dardar both land. Nice combination.
Dardar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rowles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dardar tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rowles counters with a nice body kick.
Rowles throws a jab but it's blocked by Dardar.
Rowles lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dardar at a distance.
Rowles lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rowles lands a really nice looking cross but Dardar seems unphased.
Dardar looks to clinch
and Rowles counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rowles misses with a body shot.
Dardar tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rowles counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowles throws a low kick but it's checked well by Dardar.
Dardar waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Rowles.
Dardar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rowles throws a shot to the body.
Dardar misses with a takedown attempt
and Rowles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rowles fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Dardar falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rowles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dardar moves away from the strike by Rowles.
Nice jab there from Rowles.
Dardar closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rowles counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Dardar misses.
Dardar wants to clinch
and Rowles makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rowles connects with a solid leg kick.
Paul Rowles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rowles throws a right and a left that Dardar avoids nicely.
Rowles misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dardar throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rowles counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rowles controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rowles trying to control the position from guard on top but Dardar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dardar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rowles doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rowles manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Rowles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rowles has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 49:46
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 50:45
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Rowles!
Paul Rowles is the new light heavyweight champion!