PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Riaq Rowanda (ranked 3669 p4p, 338 weight class) and Tribbiani Joey (ranked 1604 p4p, 165 weight class). Riaq Rowanda had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 157.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rowanda
vs
Joey

170 cm
33
173 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

173 cm
27
167 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Riaq Rowanda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tribbiani Joey!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowanda cracks the inside of Joey's front leg.
Rowanda misses with a low kick.
Rowanda's jab looks to have found its range, popping Joey under the eye.
Joey tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Joey throws a shot from downtown. Rowanda moves away and avoids it.
Rowanda definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Joey with a nice cross.
Rowanda scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Joey looks for a takedown but Rowanda sprawls well.
Rowanda throws a sloppy body shot

and Joey counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rowanda pulls Joey in close to prevent any damage.
Joey controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
It looks like Joey might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joey is continuing to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowanda 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.
Joey controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rowanda looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Rowanda is looking to slow Joey down with leg kicks.
Joey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riaq Rowanda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Joey walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rowanda.
Rowanda tries to score with a low kick but Joey moves his leg out of the way.
Rowanda throws a leg kick but Joey checks it.
Joey tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Joey pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rowanda throws a body shot but no joy.
Joey drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rowanda defends it well.
Rowanda misses with a body kick.
Tribbiani Joey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rowanda avoids the body shot from Joey.
Rowanda misses with a right hand

and Joey counters with a shoot takedown. Rowanda fights it but they end up in guard.
Joey wants to pass the guard but Rowanda is keeping the position.
Joey is looking to work some ground and pound but Rowanda has wrist control.
Joey is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joey looking to pass the guard.
Joey is stalling in the full guard.
Rowanda working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joey.
Joey is pushing down on Rowanda's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rowanda is fighting to maintain full guard but Joey has managed to sneak the leg through.
Joey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rowanda keeps working.
Rowanda is concentrating on defense, preventing Joey from advancing position.

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.
Rowanda is looking for a sweep. Joey is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Joey is looking to advance position but Rowanda won't allow it.
Joey not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rowanda controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Joey misses with a wild combination.
Joey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rowanda.
Joey tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Joey ducks under a wild hook from Rowanda.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rowanda chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Joey blocks a jab.
Rowanda throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Joey has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Joey there as he acknowledges the shot.
Joey scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rowanda in his tracks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rowanda scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rowanda scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Joey throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rowanda throwing a counter right hand but Joey manages to avoid it.
Rowanda needs to keep his hands up - Joey had a free shot at his head there.
Joey scores with a three punch combo!
Rowanda takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rowanda enables Joey to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rowanda manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joey is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Joey throws a big right hand that misses.
Joey slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowanda is adopting a defensive guard.
Joey preventing the sweep.
Joey content to stall in guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Joey has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Joey pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rowanda is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rowanda is looking to clinch.
Joey tries to counter by closing the distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Joey.
Rowanda is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Joey are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Rowanda is looking to reverse the position.
Rowanda is working hard here to advance position.
Rowanda sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Joey trying to control the pace.
Rowanda is trying to maintain the position but Joey is very close to passing his half guard.
Rowanda holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joey trying to control the pace.
Rowanda controlling the position for now.
Rowanda manages to get to full guard.
Joey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rowanda is controlling Joey's posture.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rowanda keeping moving, preventing Joey from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rowanda lands with a cross.

Joey scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Joey staying calm.
Rowanda is trying to get back to half guard.
Joey throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joey fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Joey grinds an elbow into Rowanda's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tribbiani Joey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Joey throws a series of strikes that have Rowanda backpedaling.
Rowanda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joey was well out of range. Poor timing from Rowanda.
Rowanda scores with a kick to the body.
Tribbiani Joey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Joey throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Joey throws a head kick but Rowanda moves out of range.
Rowanda throws a quick inside leg kick.
A right-left combo lands from Joey.
That kick from Rowanda tenderised Joey's leg. Joey is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rowanda does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Rowanda clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Joey.
A head punch on the inside from Joey fails to land.
Joey throws a knee to the head but misses.
Joey blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rowanda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rowanda.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rowanda throws an elbow but misses.
The referee calls for Joey to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowanda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rowanda prevents a body shot from Joey.
Joey blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Joey tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rowanda's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Rowanda fails to land.
Joey managing to block the knees to the body from Rowanda.
Joey makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Joey lands a nice uppercut.
Rowanda takes an elbow to the forehead.
Joey struggles to land a body shot inside as Rowanda controls his hands.
Rowanda has a couple of punches blocked by Joey.
Joey blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rowanda.
Rowanda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Joey lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rowanda.
Joey lands a shot to the body.
Riaq Rowanda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joey slowing the pace effectively.
Rowanda lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joey blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rowanda misses with some punches.
Joey's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Joey tries a body shot but Rowanda blocks it.
Riaq Rowanda has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rowanda lands a nice knee to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rowanda as Joey tries to tie him up.
Rowanda throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rowanda lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Joey or not.
A short right from Rowanda on the inside.
Joey controlling the action here for a moment.
Rowanda working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Joey holding his opponent close, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rowanda throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowanda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joey's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rowanda.
Joey is trying to stall.
Joey is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rowanda tries to work over Joey's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rowanda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rowanda lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Joey has a couple of punches blocked by Rowanda.
Joey tries to work over Rowanda's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rowanda misses with some punches.
Joey is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rowanda has a couple of punches blocked by Joey.
Joey taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joey blocking some punches.
Joey displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rowanda up against the cage.
Joey trying to land knees to the body.
Rowanda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Joey.
Knees in the clinch landing for Joey.
Joey working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rowanda lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Joey tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rowanda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rowanda tries to throw a body punch but Joey avoids it by throwing Rowanda back against the cage.
Rowanda working Joey over with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rowanda throws a head punch that misses.
Joey blocks an elbow strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rowanda.
Rowanda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riaq Rowanda showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Joey has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tribbiani Joey!
An out of breath Tribbiani Joey thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.