PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Julien Denis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Row (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Row has chosen In the End - Linkin Park as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Denis
vs
Row

172 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

162 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julien Denis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Row!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Row swats away the attempt to clinch by Denis.
Denis throws a sloppy head kick and Row moves out of range easily.

Denis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Denis tries to circle away but Row has him pinned against the cage.
Row tries to pull guard but Denis won't allow it.
Row stalling.
Denis misses with the head strike.
Row tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Denis is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Row tries for a takedown but Denis manages to get underhooks.
Denis is trying to break the clinch but Row has him pressed against the cage.
Denis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Row walks away with a smile on his face. Denis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Denis rushes Row and presses him up against the cage.
Row throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A short right from Denis on the inside.
Denis tries to score a body lock takedown but Row shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Denis has Row pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Row manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julien Denis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Row tries to pull guard but Denis won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denis leaning against his opponent.
Denis is trying to break free.
Denis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Row smiles and moves away.
Denis blocks a head kick by Row.
Row looks gassed!
Row misses with a double jab.
Denis leaves Row with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Denis as Row shoots in.
Denis is looking to clinch but Row is avoiding it.
Denis throws a leg kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Denis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Row stuffs the takedown attempt from Denis. Denis gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Horrible takedown by Denis or perhaps it was just good defense by Row which made him look bad.

Denis shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Row is trying to defend but Denis finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Denis is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Denis stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Row to get to his feet.
Denis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Denis takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Row shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Row takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Row avoids the attempt from Denis to control.
Denis flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denis gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Denis wants to control but Row is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Denis wants to get back to his feet.
Denis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Row is working away from the top position though.
Row passes to side control.
Row trying to control the position but Denis is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Julien Denis will probably get the nod.
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.

Denis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Denis showed some decent athleticism there.
Denis wants to control but Row is keeping him busy.
Denis works his foot free and advances to mount.

Denis is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Denis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Row counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Denis's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Row is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Denis had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Row is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Denis Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Row's back instead.
Row is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Row is keeping busy.
Row 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.
Denis has good solid back control here.
Denis tries to get the hooks in deep but Row pushed the leg off.
Row breaks Denis's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Row is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Denis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Row!
Denis controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denis wants to control the pace but Row is squirming around nicely.
Row working to try and regain half guard.

That's four 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.
Denis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Row is looking to escape.
Denis with the ground and pound from mount.
Denis landing shots from mount.
Row is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Denis working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Denis controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Julien Denis will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Row keeps the fight on the outside.
Denis throws a sloppy head kick and Row moves out of range easily.
Denis swats away the attempt to clinch by Row.
Row fails to land the takedown.

Denis drives through with a takedown into guard.
Denis forces his way into half guard.
Denis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Row wants to get back to full guard.
Denis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Row is trying to maintain the position but Denis is very close to passing his half guard.
Denis uses his free foot to push down on Row's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Row.
Denis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Row is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Row is squirming around, avoiding Denis's attempts to control the action.
Denis content just to control the position here.
Row flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Row in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Row really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Denis looking to control but Row is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Row really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Denis fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Denis pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Denis looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Row is trying to stand.

Denis has hold of Row's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Row manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
A nice elbow there by Denis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Row is squirming around, avoiding Denis's attempts to control the action.
Row is in all sorts of trouble here.
Denis lands a heavy elbow.

Denis is working for a guillotine from mount but Row frees his head quite easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Row is trying to escape the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julien Denis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Denis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julien Denis!