PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Lashley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roddy Bowes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lashley
vs
Bowes

190 cm
21
255 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

195 cm
22
270 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bobby Lashley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roddy Bowes!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Bowes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lashley circles away from the clinch attempt.

Lashley shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lashley was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bowes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lashley cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bowes takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Bowes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lashley scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bowes?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bowes is looking to get to half guard.
Lashley landing punches.
Bowes in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Lashley controlling from mount.
Lashley has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lashley looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Lashley takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lashley tries to control but Bowes wriggling away.
Bowes in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Lashley looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bowes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bowes tries to lock up and control but Lashley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lashley with a couple of short strikes.
Lashley landing strikes from the mount.
Lashley can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bowes is looking to escape.
Lashley landing punches.
Lashley tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bowes sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Bowes is looking for a sweep. Lashley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bowes is looking to control Lashley's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bowes avoid being mounted?
Bowes looks gassed!
Bowes won't allow Lashley to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lashley controlling the action here.

Lashley decides to stand and escape the position.
Lashley takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Lashley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Bowes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bowes throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Bowes 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lashley's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lashley passes into half guard.
Bowes is trying to control but can't.

Bowes actively working from the bottom here.
Bowes is looking to improve his position.
Lashley not doing much here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lashley slips a nice elbow through Bowes's hands, connecting with Bowes's forehead.
Bowes won't allow Lashley to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Lashley dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bowes checks a leg kick nicely.
Lashley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bowes's waist but Bowes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lashley off to one side.
Bowes tries to clinch but Lashley is having none of it.
Lashley looks to land a combination but Bowes avoids it well.
Lashley changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bowes tries to avoid it but Lashley manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bowes to the ground. Bowes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bowes throws a head kick but Lashley moves out of range.
Lashley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Lashley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lashley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bowes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lashley shoots in and drives through. Bowes sprawls well.

Bowes moves into the clinch successfully.
Bowes lands a shot to the body.
Bowes lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bowes lands a knee to the body.
Bowes lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Bobby Lashley has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bowes lands a knee to the head.
Bowes creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lashley's defenses.
Lashley takes a knee right on the jaw!
Lashley takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lashley's face.
Bowes with a knee to the head.
Bowes tries to land knees in the clinch but Lashley avoids the damage to the body.
Lashley avoiding damage as Bowes throws knees to the body.
Lashley blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lashley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bowes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lashley lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bowes tries to land a knee to the head but Lashley blocks with his arms.
Lashley tries to score a body lock takedown but Bowes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bowes creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lashley's defenses.
Knees to the body from Bowes.
Lashley tries to pull guard but Bowes holds him up against the cage and eventually Lashley drops back down to his feet.
Bowes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lashley's face.
A knee to the head by Bowes.
Lashley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bowes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bowes misses with a knee to the head.
Lashley tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bowes lands a knee to the body.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Lashley here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Lashley drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bowes pulls his leg out and moves away.
Roddy Bowes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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.
Lashley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Bowes clinches up against the cage.
Lashley misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bowes.
Bowes creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bowes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lashleys head.
Lashley tries for a takedown but Bowes manages to get underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bowes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bowes with a knee to the head.
Lashley blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bowes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bowes prevents the takedown attempt.
Bowes lands an elbow inside.
Bowes trying to land knees to the body.
Bowes misses with a knee to the head.
Bowes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lashley tries to pull guard but Bowes won't allow it.
Bowes throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lashley drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bowes lands an elbow that stopped Lashley in his tracks for a moment.
Bowes lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Bowes just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lashley's brow.
Lashley misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bowes tries a knee to the head but Lashley blocks it.
Lashley tries for a takedown but Bowes manages to get underhooks.
Bowes landing knees to the head.
Lashley tries to pull guard but Bowes won't allow it.
Lashley takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bowes scores with a knee to the head.
Lashley has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bowes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bowes landing knees to the head.
Bowes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lashley blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Bowes.
Bowes lands an elbow that stopped Lashley in his tracks for a moment.
Lashley drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bowes pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bowes tries to close the distance and clinch but Lashley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

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.
Lashley looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bowes is fending him off so far but Lashley persists. Nope, Bowes circles away and we're back to standing.
Lashley takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Bowes has managed to clinch.
Bowes prevents the takedown attempt.
Bowes lands an elbow just above Lashley 's eye.
Bowes scores with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Bowes.
Bowes gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lashley avoiding damage as Bowes throws knees to the body.
Bowes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lashley has Bowes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bowes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bowes landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bowes landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bowes gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bowes.
Bowes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roddy Bowes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bobby Lashley's cut.
That's time! Lashley's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lashley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Bobby Lashley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lashley content just to control the position here.
Bowes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lashley unloading with bombs!
Bowes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lashley sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bowes takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowes is squirming around, avoiding Lashley's attempts to control the action.
Lashley landing punches.
Lashley trying to control but Bowes is having none of it.
Bowes is trying desperately to improve position.
Lashley sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bowes tries to hold on but Lashley pushes him away.
Bowes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lashley kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two 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.
Bowes throwing hammer fists to the chest of Lashley. What's that going to do exactly?
Lashley controlling the position easily from mount.
Lashley looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Lashley controlling from the full mount.
Lashley lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowes wants to control but Lashley is having none of it.
Lashley lands with some strikes.
Bowes wants to control but Lashley is having none of it.
Lashley prevents Bowes from getting the reversal.
Bowes is squirming around, avoiding Lashley's attempts to control the action.
Lashley controlling his opponent.
Bowes is working to get back to half guard.

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.
BOOM! Lashley connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Lashley controlling the pace for now.
Bowes is trying to stand up.
Bowes is desperately trying to improve his position but Lashley has a good base and remains in mount.
Lashley content just to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice elbow there by Lashley.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Lashley showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lashley 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Lashley!