PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erick Rowan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Youseff Shafiq (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shafiq has chosen Booty Butt Cheeks as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rowan
vs
Shafiq

170 cm
25
167 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
165 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Erick Rowan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Youseff Shafiq!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shafiq fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rowan avoids it really well and circles away.
Shafiq has his takedown stuffed

and Rowan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shafiq won't be happy with that.
Shafiq looks to move to half guard but instead Rowan has passed into mount! Damn!
Rowan lands a couple of good shots and Shafiq has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Rowan is looking for the choke from the back position but Shafiq is controlling his hands well.
Rowan is trying to stick to Shafiq's back but Shafiq is turning into Rowan. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rowan's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Shafiq.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rowan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Shafiq is trying desperately to improve position.
Rowan has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Shafiq's face.
Shafiq wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Shafiq is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Rowan is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowan connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Shafiq to escape the position.
Rowan keeps control of the position as Shafiq tries to break free.

Rowan has got one arm under Shafiq's chin. This could be trouble... Shafiq trying to control the other hand but Rowan gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Shafiq has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Erick Rowan!