PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Pinheiro (ranked 2239 p4p, 3373 weight class) and Ellis Rowards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ellis Rowards will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Pinheiro
vs
Rowards

180 cm
26
198
4 - 1 - 1

195 cm
25
190
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Lucas Pinheiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ellis Rowards!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pinheiro scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pinheiro scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rowards doesn't seem bothered though.

Pinheiro forces Rowards back against the cage and clinches.
A body shot lands from Pinheiro.
Pinheiro cracks Rowards with a nice body shot.
Rowards tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pinheiro just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rowards stalling in the clinch but Pinheiro improves position.
Pinheiro lands a right hand.
Pinheiro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Rowards gets control of Pinheiro's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rowards will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rowards holds on and takes a little breather.

Rowards has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pinheiro can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pinheiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pinheiro is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rowards pulls Pinheiro in close to prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rowards is on top in guard.

Pinheiro might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Pinheiro looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rowards has picked Pinheiro up and slammed him! Pinheiro can't keep hold of the triangle and Rowards manages to pass to side control!
Rowards tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowards staying calm.
Rowards works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rowards grinds an elbow into Pinheiro's temple.
Pinheiro is trying to work for a sweep but Rowards has mounted him!
Rowards breaks from Pinheiro's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Rowards wants to finish this one by submission but Pinheiro is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rowards.
Pinheiro is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinheiro tries to lock up and control but Rowards gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Rowards with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Pinheiro has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Rowards avoids the attempt from Pinheiro to control.
Pinheiro holds on for dear life, controlling Rowards's posture momentarily.
Pinheiro is trying to reverse the position but instead Rowards has taken his back - oops!
Rowards has good solid back control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rowards looking for the choke from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pinheiro trying to get back to his feet but Rowards is in full control for now.
Rowards is landing with strikes from the back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pinheiro is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rowards.
Pinheiro trying to control the action but Rowards just sinks the hooks in.
Rowards is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ellis Rowards dominated that round.
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.

Rowards instigates a clinch.
Rowards displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pinheiro up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Pinheiro.
Pinheiro using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rowards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pinheiro avoiding damage as Rowards throws knees to the body.
Pinheiro is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pinheiro lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rowards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowards tries to pull guard but Pinheiro forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Pinheiro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pinheiro lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Pinheiro manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowards gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rowards throws a series of punches but Pinheiro avoids them all with ease.
Rowards is breathing heavily.
No joy there for Rowards, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pinheiro scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rowards misses with a takedown attempt
and Pinheiro counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Pinheiro is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Rowards is rocked!

Pinheiro cracks Rowards with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Pinheiro has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Rowards to stand back up!
Rowards is still on wobbly legs! Can Pinheiro finish him?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pinheiro Throws a clean left jab. Pinheiro Twirls his body and connects with a Spinning Back Fist that connects flush with Rowards's chin! Rowards crumbles to the ground and Pinheiro follows up with some unanswered strikes. It's all over!! Nice standup skills displayed by Pinheiro!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Lucas Pinheiro!