PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ellis Rowland (ranked 24773 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Murid (ranked 3636 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rowland
vs
Murid

192 cm
19
346 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

218 cm
25
297 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ellis Rowland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, El Murid!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rowland shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Murid is trying to get back to full guard.
Rowland wants to control but Murid is keeping him busy.
Murid has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA New York. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Murid is trying is best to control the position here.
Murid's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Murid tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowland trying to control the pace.
Rowland missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Murid keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murid looking for submissions off his back.
Rowland is thwarting Murid's attempts to control the position.
Murid is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rowland controlling the action here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Murid is looking to control Rowland's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Murid avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.

Rowland gets a double leg takedown into Murid's guard.
Rowland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Murid controls Rowland momentarily but Rowland frees himself.
Murid looking for a sweep. Not yet Murid, not yet.
Rowland postures up.
Murid has his hands on Rowland's head, controlling the position.

Murid looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Murid had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rowland defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murid has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rowland can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Murid working a defensive guard here.
Rowland throws a big elbow that misses.
Murid is pulling down on Rowland's head. It's preventing any offense from Rowland, at least for the moment.
Murid looking for a sweep. Not yet Murid, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Murid has his foot on Rowland's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rowland works his way back into a safe position though.
Murid is trying to control the position but Rowland postures up.

Murid isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rowland stacks Murid on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rowland!
Rowland working away.
Rowland looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Murid is avoiding damage well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rowland trying to control the position but Murid is working away.
Murid is trying to control Rowland's posture but Rowland avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ellis Rowland dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rowland throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rowland or perhaps it was just good defense by Murid, which made it look bad.
Murid changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Murid rushes Rowland and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rowland really is a fat lump.
Rowland is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Murid to keep the fight standing.
Murid blocks the elbow strike.

Murid has picked Rowland up - he's going for a ride! Murid dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Murid controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murid seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murid controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Murid is looking for a kimura but Rowland is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Murid to get the leverage.
Murid is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Murid is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Murid is looking for a kimura here.

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.
Well, if Murid is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rowland works his way to full guard. Good work.
Murid looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rowland keeping moving, preventing Murid from controlling successfully.
Ellis Rowland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murid's corner is telling him to maintain position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rowland controls Murid momentarily but Murid frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Murid closes the distance and clinches.

Murid is trying to trip Rowland. He has hold of a leg but Rowland is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Murid persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Murid sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murid looking to sit in guard and control but Rowland gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Murid pulls Rowland in to control the position.
Rowland keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Murid's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murid is trying to control the position but Rowland postures up.

Murid had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rowland defends it easily.
Murid seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

El Murid showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rowland misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rowland throws a series of punches but Murid avoids them all with ease.
Rowland sets himself, and Murid steps forward looking for the clinch! Rowland avoids it this time.
Nice sprawl there from Murid as Rowland shoots in.

Murid clinches up with Rowland and pushes him back against the cage.

Murid lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Murid content to control rather than advance.

Murid is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rowland sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murid trying to control the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murid winds up and cracks Rowland with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Murid is controlling the pace.

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.
More stalling from Murid.
Rowland is looking for a sweep. Murid is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murid wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rowland keeps working.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murid content to control rather than advance.

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

Murid closes the distance and pushes Rowland back into the cage.

Murid lands a takedown into guard.
Rowland keeping moving, preventing Murid from controlling successfully.
Murid is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Murid throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murid controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rowland has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Murid engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rowland looking for a sweep. Not yet Rowland, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ellis Rowland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Murid drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Murid comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Murid 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... El Murid!