PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Riley Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bowman Rook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Lewis
vs
Rook

191 cm
30
189 lbs
14 - 13 - 1

180 cm
33
190 lbs
19 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Riley Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bowman Rook!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rook waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lewis.
Lewis misses with a double jab.
Lewis smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Rook drives through with a takedown into Lewis's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rook with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lewis keeping moving, preventing Rook from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rook accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rook loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rook stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lewis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rook pushes down on Lewis's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Lewis actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rook wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lewis keeps working.
Rook thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lewis's head.

Rook is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lewis defends it well.

Rook is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lewis is just riding it out for now. Rook eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rook seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lewis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Lewis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rook looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lewis with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

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

Lewis looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rook is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lewis is just riding it out for now. Rook eventually gives up the hold.
Rook is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Rook wants to control from the top but Lewis keeps moving.
Rook throws a big elbow that misses.
Rook trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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.

Lewis isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rook stacks Lewis 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 Rook!
Rook trying to control the position but Lewis is working away.
Rook is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lewis is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bowman Rook dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lewis misses with an uppercut.

Rook forces Lewis back against the cage and clinches.
Lewis misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lewis blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rook tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lewis's elbow.
Rook throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lewis blocks it with crossed arms.
Rook is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lewis is defending well for now.
Lewis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rook.
Rook is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lewis is defending well for now.
Lewis can't break the clinch.
Lewis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rook misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A body shot lands from Rook.
Rook slowing the pace effectively.
A short uppercut from Rook.
Lewis letting Rook take a breather here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis stalling in the clinch.

Lewis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rook throws a chopping leg kick but Lewis manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lewis throws a head kick but Rook moves out of range.
Lewis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lewis throws the kick towards the body but Rook avoids it.
Rook has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rook lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lewis moves forwards but Rook connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Lewis swinging wildly here.
Lewis sizes up Rook with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rook throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis throws a sloppy head kick and Rook moves out of range easily.
Rook misses with a looping left.
Rook lands a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lewis misses with a few strikes there.
Lewis scores with a head kick. Rook tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Lewis tries a head kick but it misses.
Lewis's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rook connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lewis scrambles back to his feet.
Rook tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lewis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rook swings for the body but Lewis moves out of range.
Lewis misses with a combination

and Rook counters with a takedown into side control.
Lewis taking a bit of punishment here - Rook scoring with strikes.
Rook is chipping away with strikes.
Rook trying to control the action but Lewis is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rook in side control lands a decent elbow.

Rook is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lewis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lewis gets back to half guard.
Rook sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lewis defending well though.
Rook thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rook is keen to just control but Lewis is a slippery customer.
Ground and pound from Rook.
Rook working Lewis over with strikes.

Lewis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rook is looking to take a break and control but Lewis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rook seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lewis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bowman Rook showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rook, right into the meat.
Lewis tries a head kick but it misses.
Rook tries to score with a low kick but Lewis moves his leg out of the way.
Lewis throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rook tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lewis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rook fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Lewis is out of range.
It looked like Lewis was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rook throws a half hearted mid kick.
Some wild striking there from Lewis.
Lewis walks into a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lewis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lewis throws a lazy head kick

so Rook counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rook working his ground and pound in the gym.
Rook landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lewis has an active guard here but Rook has managed to pass into half guard.
Rook passes to side control.

Rook looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rook wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lewis keeps working.
Rook lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Lewis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rook is trying to control. Lewis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lewis has hold of Rook's hands but Rook slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rook seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lewis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lewis is looking to improve his position.
Rook slows the pace down in half guard.
Lewis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rook scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rook is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lewis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rook.

Lewis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lewis looking for submissions off his back.
Rook throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rook throwing shots but Lewis is blocking nicely.

Lewis looking for submissions off his back.
Rook wants to take a breather but Lewis is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rook throws a wild body kick that Lewis sees coming a mile off.
Lewis thinks about countering with a head kick.
Rook lands with a thumping leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lewis walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rook throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lewis counters with a big head kick but Rook shrugs it off.
Lewis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rook with the counter takedown but Lewis avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Lewis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bowman Rook really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A leg kick checked by Lewis.
Rook blocks the body kick.
Good shot there by Rook.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rook - that will leave a mark!
Lewis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rook.
Rook tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rook lands a glancing blow to the side of Lewis's head.
Lewis looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Lewis tries a head kick but it misses.
Lewis sets himself, and Rook steps forward looking for the clinch! Lewis avoids it this time.
Rook swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lewis counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice straight punches there by Rook. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rook.
An inside leg kick from Rook misses.
Lewis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lewis misses with a low kick.
Rook throws an overhand right that lands on Lewis's shoulder, as Lewis tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis tries a head kick but it misses.
Rook dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lewis. That did some damage!
A nice leg kick lands there from Rook.
Lewis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rook tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rook staying out of range there.
Rook pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Riley Lewis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lewis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rook drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lewis defends it well.
A combination from Lewis does no damage.
Riley Lewis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rook tries to clinch there but Lewis circles away.
Rook tries to close the distance and clinch but Lewis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rook misses the shot to the body.

Rook drives through and clinches with Lewis against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rook tries to work over Lewis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lewis misses with the head strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rook tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Lewis breaks the clinch.
Rook ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lewis moves away.
Lewis is looking to score with low kicks.
Rook is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Riley Lewis is winning the standup battle so far.
Lewis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rook throws a sloppy head kick and Lewis moves out of range easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lewis on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Lewis wants to land a leg kick but Rook is out of range.
Lewis keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rook checks it well.
Lewis avoids the head kick by Rook.
Lewis throws out a loose jab but Rook uses good head movement to avoid it.
A solid body kick from Rook.
Lewis tries a head kick but it misses.
Lewis moves forwards but Rook connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rook scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rook dodges the punch combination from Lewis.
Lewis moves out of range as Rook strikes.
Lewis throws a big counter combination but Rook scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Lewis throws a head kick that misses.
Lewis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis throws a sloppy head kick and Rook moves out of range easily.
Lewis slips a straight right by Rook.
Rook tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lewis is looking for a counter combo.
Lewis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rook throws a push kick but Lewis slaps the foot to one side.
Lewis takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A clash of legs there as Rook blocks the low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lewis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rook misses with an uppercut. Lewis saw that one coming.
Lewis displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rook tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lewis was well out of range. Poor timing from Rook.
Rook tries a head kick but it misses.
Rook fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lewis looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Bowman Rook will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rook connects with a leg kick. Lewis looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Rook gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lewis misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rook misses with a knee strike.
Lewis misses with a punch on the inside.
Rook tries a body shot but Lewis blocks it.
Lewis is looking to control Rook's arms but Rook gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lewis has his back to the cage.
Lewis scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rook missing with knees to the body.
Rook creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A head punch on the inside from Lewis fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lewis breaks from the clinch.
Lewis throws a head kick that misses

and Rook counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lewis!

Rook tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rook has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rook trying to control the action but Lewis is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rook's best efforts.

Lewis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rook pulls his head out easily.
Rook is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rook scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rook is trying to control the action in half guard but Lewis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Riley Lewis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Lewis tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Lewis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rook has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rook looking to finish Lewis with some ground and pound. This is bad for Lewis!

Lewis defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rook.
Lewis is wriggling around trying to escape.

Rook working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rook landing punches.
Rook landing strikes from the mount and Lewis is in trouble!
Rook raining down hammerfists from mount.
Bowman Rook has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rook working Lewis over with strikes here.

Rook swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Lewis is now in Rook's guard. A big mistake from Rook there, giving up the dominant position!

Lewis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Rook looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lewis throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lewis pushes down on Rook's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rook is looking to control Lewis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rook avoid being mounted?

Rook is defending against the submission attempts here by Lewis.

Lewis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bowman Rook comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rook 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Bowman Rook!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Bowman Rook!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Bowman Rook!

Bowman Rook wins by unanimous decision!
Bowman Rook made sure to mention his sponsor, Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry) in his post fight interview.