PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Duane Rowe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dieter Franzen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rowe
vs
Franzen

176 cm
19
151 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

178 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Duane Rowe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dieter Franzen!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franzen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rowe shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Franzen defends it nicely.
Rowe shoots for a double leg takedown but Franzen sprawls well. He's pushed Rowe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Franzen fails to land with a series of punches.
Rowe jabs Franzen right on the nose. Franzen blinks but takes it well.
A left lands for Rowe.
Rowe with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Franzen to score with a decent uppercut.
Franzen shoots in for a takedown but Rowe shows good takedown defense.
Franzen darts in looking for a takedown but Rowe gets double underhooks and turns Franzen into the cage.
Franzen tries to pull guard but Rowe holds him up against the cage and eventually Franzen drops back down to his feet.
Duane Rowe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dieter Franzen.
Franzen tries to pull guard but Rowe won't allow it.
Franzen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rowe avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franzen breaks from the clinch.
Franzen looks for a takedown but Rowe sprawls well.

Franzen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rowe, pushing him back against the cage.

Franzen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

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

Franzen is trying to get an arm triangle but Rowe is defending well.
Franzen looks winded!
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
The strikes coming from Franzen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowe is not content to let Franzen control the position.
Rowe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Franzen has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rowe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Franzen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rowe somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Franzen misses with a wild combination.
Franzen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rowe checks a low kick from Franzen.
Franzen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rowe sprawls well. Rowe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Franzen gets slowly back to his feet.

Franzen clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Rowe.
Franzen jumps guard but Rowe stands there with Franzen around his waist. Franzen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Franzen keeps control of Rowe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rowe is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Rowe ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rowe no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Rowe is looking for a triangle but Franzen pushes his legs off easily.
Franzen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Franzen trying to control but Rowe is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rowe is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dieter Franzen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Franzen keeps the fight on the outside.

Franzen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rowe was covering up waiting for the punch and Franzen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Franzen preventing the sweep.

Franzen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Franzen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rowe circles away.
Rowe with a poor takedown
and Franzen counters with a low kick, right behind Rowe 's knee.
Franzen avoids the head kick by Rowe.
Rowe lands with a shot to the body.
Franzen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rowe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Franzen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rowe's waist but Rowe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Franzen off to one side.
Rowe throws a head kick that misses
and Franzen counters with a head kick.
Franzen keeps the fight on the outside.
Rowe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Franzen tries to close the distance and clinch but Rowe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Franzen or perhaps it was just good defense by Rowe which made him look bad.
Duane Rowe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dieter Franzen.
Franzen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rowe clinches up against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Rowe.
Rowe is trying to break the clinch but Franzen has him pressed against the cage.

Rowe successfully pulls guard.
Rowe working a defensive guard here.
Franzen wants to control from the top but Rowe keeps moving.

Rowe pushes Franzen off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franzen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rowe is looking to clinch.
Duane Rowe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franzen slaps away a takedown attempt from Rowe, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rowe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rowe throws a leg kick
and Franzen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rowe throws a sloppy head kick and Franzen moves out of range easily.
Franzen misses with a takedown attempt - Rowe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Franzen shoots in looking for a takedown but Rowe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Franzen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Franzen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rowe shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Franzen eats them both and turns towards Rowe to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Rowe has a takedown stuffed.
Franzen misses with a jab, cross combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rowe lands with a straight right. Franzen didn't see that one coming.
Franzen fails with a takedown attempt.
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 Duane Rowe will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rowe goes for a double leg but Franzen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Franzen continues to drive forward.

Franzen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franzen misses with a takedown attempt - Rowe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rowe takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rowe swinging wildly here.
Rowe misses with an attempted mid kick.
Franzen fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franzen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rowe counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franzen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rowe manages to avoid it.
Rowe dives in for a single leg takedown but Franzen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Rowe pulls Franzen into guard.
Franzen wants to pass the guard but Rowe is keeping the position.
Rowe keeping moving, preventing Franzen from controlling successfully.
Franzen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rowe wants to sweep here but Franzen controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franzen being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franzen throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franzen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rowe counters with a left and a right that stings Franzen.
Franzen tries to clinch there but Rowe circles away.
Rowe tries to clinch but Franzen moves out of range.
Franzen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Franzen wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duane Rowe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franzen throws a sloppy head kick and Rowe moves out of range easily.

Franzen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rowe on his heels. He'll look to pass Rowe's guard now, I'm sure.
Franzen trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franzen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Rowe pushes Franzen off and gets back to his feet.
Franzen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rowe.

Franzen clinches up with Rowe and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franzen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Franzen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Franzen is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Franzen wants the takedown. Rowe is fighting it off but Franzen persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rowe's guard against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rowe is on top in guard.
Franzen controls Rowe momentarily but Rowe frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rowe passes Franzen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dieter Franzen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Franzen 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dieter Franzen!