PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thabiso Rowan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davis Marcus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by "Princes of the Universe," by Queen. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rowan
vs
Marcus

180 cm
23
193 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
185 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

[JMFC] Blueprint Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thabiso Rowan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Davis Marcus!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rowan shoots in and bounces Marcus off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rowan works over Marcus with some ground and pound from guard.
Rowan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rowan trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rowan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rowan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rowan cracks Marcus with a solid left hand.
Rowan looking to sit in guard and control but Marcus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rowan striking off his back but it's not causing Marcus any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowan looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Marcus puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rowan tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Marcus has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Marcus prevents Rowan from getting the reversal.
Rowan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rowan is working to get back to half guard.
Rowan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rowan tries to get out of the position.
Rowan tries to hold on but Marcus postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Marcus prevents Rowan from getting the reversal.
Marcus dominating with strikes here.
Rowan is wriggling around trying to escape.
A nice elbow there by Marcus.
Rowan flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Rowan taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rowan takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rowan strikes from the bottom but Marcus uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Rowan can't do much from the bottom here.
Rowan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Marcus wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Marcus scores with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rowan is looking to reverse the position.

That's four 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.
Rowan is working hard here to advance position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marcus misses with the combination.
Rowan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marcus circles away.

Marcus instigates a clinch.
Rowan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marcus prevents it.
Marcus throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rowan blocks it with crossed arms.
Rowan tries to pull guard but Marcus won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thabiso Rowan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rowan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rowan tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rowan is breathing heavily.
Marcus creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rowan's defenses.

It looks like Thabiso Rowan has been cut.
Marcus throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rowan blocks it with crossed arms.
Rowan managing to block the knees to the body from Marcus.
Marcus lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Marcus landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marcus misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rowan.
Rowan can't get the takedown.
Marcus lands a nice knee to the body.
Marcus lands an elbow that stopped Rowan in his tracks for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davis Marcus dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thabiso Rowan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marcus tries to clinch but Rowan is having none of it.
Marcus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marcus misses with a straight left.
Marcus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rowan.
Marcus lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Rowan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Marcus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marcus is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rowan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marcus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marcus is looking to stand up but Rowan isn't so interested in that idea.
Marcus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowan trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rowan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rowan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rowan postures up in Marcus's guard and throws a big left but Marcus blocks it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rowan closes the distance and clinches.
Rowan wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thabiso Rowan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marcus lands an elbow that stopped Rowan in his tracks for a moment.
Rowan takes an elbow to the temple.
Rowan takes a knee right on the jaw!
Marcus landing knees to the head.
Marcus lands a knee to the body.
Marcus lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marcus prevents the takedown attempt.
Marcus tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Marcus.
Rowan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcus tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Marcus lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rowan backwards.
Marcus lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Marcus scores with a knee to the head.
Marcus tries a knee to the head but Rowan blocks it.
Rowan tries for a takedown. No joy.
Marcus lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Marcus misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rowan.
Marcus lands an elbow just above Rowan 's eye.
Rowan tries to pull guard but Marcus holds him up against the cage and eventually Rowan drops back down to his feet.
Marcus lands a nice knee to the body.
Marcus lands an elbow just above Rowan 's eye.
Marcus with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rowan tries for a takedown but Marcus manages to get underhooks.
Marcus pushes Rowan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rowan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marcus prevents it.
Marcus lands an elbow inside.
Marcus lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rowan backwards.
Rowan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Marcus pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Marcus trying to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Marcus.
Rowan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Marcus lands a knee to the head.
Marcus gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcus tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Marcus connects with a knee to the head.
Marcus lands a damaging elbow.
Marcus tries a knee to the head but Rowan blocks it.
Marcus scores with a nice hook to the head.

Rowan gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Marcus regains guard.
Marcus wants to stand up but Rowan is controlling him.
Rowan trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcus utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rowan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rowan throws a strike but Marcus rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rowan is on top in guard.
Marcus keeping full guard, as Rowan tries to pass.
Rowan thows a big elbow that misses.
Rowan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rowan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davis Marcus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thabiso Rowan's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Marcus throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Rowan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Marcus is trying to stand up here but Rowan is controlling him well.
Rowan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Marcus wants to get back to full guard.
Marcus keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rowan lands strikes from half guard.
Rowan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marcus's head.
Rowan stops Marcus from getting back to his feet.
Rowan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowan with the ground and pound but Marcus uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rowan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marcus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rowan is working Marcus over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Marcus has momentary wrist control but Rowan slips an elbow through the middle.
Marcus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rowan is one step ahead there.
Rowan is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rowan is looking to advance position but Marcus has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Marcus decides to return to a standing position.
Marcus misses the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marcus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice defenses there by Rowan.
Rowan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marcus circles away.
Marcus stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rowan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Marcus keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rowan with shots to the head and body - Marcus looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rowan lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowan raining down shots from the mount!
Rowan punching from mount but Marcus doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Rowan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Marcus is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rowan dominating with strikes here.
Marcus is trying to stand up.
Marcus is desperately trying to improve his position but Rowan has a good base and remains in mount.
Rowan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Marcus that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rowan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rowan lands a nice shot to the head.
Rowan working Marcus over with strikes here.
Rowan landing strikes from the mount and Marcus is in trouble!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rowan with shots to the head and body - Marcus looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
BOOM! Rowan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rowan scoring with strikes but Marcus is staying in there.
Rowan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thabiso Rowan clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Thabiso Rowan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marcus misses with the combination.
Jab from Marcus.
Marcus throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rowan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Marcus tests Rowan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Marcus lands with a straight right. Rowan didn't see that one coming.

Rowan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rowan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rowan cracks Marcus with a solid left hand.
Rowan wants to control from the top but Marcus keeps moving.
Rowan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rowan throws a strike but Marcus rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowan throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Marcus passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Rowan wants to control but Marcus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rowan trying to get back to full guard but Marcus takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Rowan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

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.
Marcus prevents Rowan from improving his position.
Marcus wants to stand up but Rowan has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Rowan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marcus is working away from the top position though.
Rowan is trying to get back to full guard.
Rowan throws a strike from the bottom but Marcus passes into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowan wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Marcus slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Rowan.
Marcus prevents Rowan from getting the reversal.
Marcus landing strikes from the mount.
Rowan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Marcus blocks Rowan's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rowan gets back to half guard.
Rowan trying to control here.
Rowan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Marcus decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Marcus doesn't manage to clinch there - Rowan circles away.
Marcus scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Marcus darts in and clinches Rowan up against the cage.
Marcus crunches a lovely knee into Rowan's ribcage.
Rowan wants a takedown but no success here.
Marcus with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davis Marcus dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Thabiso Rowan's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Marcus drives through and clinches with Rowan against the cage.
Marcus landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Marcus prevents a takedown attempt there.
Marcus misses with a knee to the head.
Rowan takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rowan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marcus prevents it.
Marcus comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Marcus tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rowan tries to stall but Marcus uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Marcus lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Marcus lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rowan takes a shot to the head.
Marcus with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees to the body from Marcus.
Marcus trying to land knees to the body.
Marcus looking to throw knees to the head but Rowan is blocking nicely.
Marcus swings wildly with an uppercut but Rowan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good body shot from Marcus.

Rowan has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Marcus regains guard immediately.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Rowan looking to sit in guard and control but Marcus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus forces his way into half guard.
Rowan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rowan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Marcus's guard.
Marcus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowan wants to control from the top but Marcus keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rowan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rowan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Davis Marcus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rowan throws and elbow that misses. Marcus uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rowan's guard. Nice move by Marcus!
Rowan has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Marcus has passed into side control.
Rowan regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowan trying to control here.
Rowan wants to improve his position but Marcus is controlling well.
Marcus passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marcus can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rowan is looking to escape.
Marcus avoids the attempt from Rowan to control.
Rowan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rowan gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Davis Marcus.
I think Marcus 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 46:49
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 46:49
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Davis Marcus!
Davis Marcus is the new middleweight champion!