PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vadim Konstantinov (ranked 3239 p4p, 3759 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.

Konstantinov
vs
Rowards

179 cm
26
192
3 - 2 - 0

195 cm
26
190
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vadim Konstantinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ellis Rowards!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Konstantinov misses with a lunging right hand
and Rowards counters with a one-two to the body.
Konstantinov tries to clinch up.
A punch combination from Rowards misses.
Konstantinov misses with a leg kick.
Rowards keeps the fight on the outside.
Konstantinov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rowards misses with a head kick.
Konstantinov wants to clinch up but Rowards keeps it at a distance.

Rowards shoots in and bounces Konstantinov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Konstantinov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Rowards manages to pass to side control.

Konstantinov looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rowards is working for a submission of some sort.
Konstantinov manages to get to full guard.

Rowards drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Konstantinov dives on top into guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Konstantinov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rowards swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Konstantinov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Konstantinov wants to control from the top but Rowards keeps moving.
Rowards really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Konstantinov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Konstantinov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Konstantinov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rowards keeping moving, preventing Konstantinov from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Konstantinov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Konstantinov wants to control from the top but Rowards keeps moving.
Rowards looking to hit a scissor sweep but Konstantinov is one step ahead there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rowards can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Konstantinov wants to control from the top but Rowards keeps moving.
Konstantinov advances to half guard.
Konstantinov is thwarting Rowards's attempts to control the position.
Konstantinov is looking to take a break and control but Rowards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Konstantinov tries to stand and escape but Rowards is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.

Rowards closes the distance and clinches.

Rowards lands a takedown into guard.
Rowards showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Konstantinov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rowards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rowards controlling from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Konstantinov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Konstantinov stuffs the takedown.
Konstantinov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rowards backs up against the cage.
Konstantinov works the jab nicely.
Rowards avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rowards wants to counter the offense by Konstantinov and move into the clinch position.
Rowards showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Konstantinov.
Konstantinov sets himself, and Rowards steps forward looking for the clinch! Konstantinov avoids it this time.
Konstantinov misses with a takedown attempt - Rowards sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Konstantinov drops Rowards with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Rowards looks back up at him and smiles so Konstantinov waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Rowards is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Konstantinov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rowards is still on wobbly legs! Can Konstantinov finish him?

Rowards shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Konstantinov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rowards seems to have recovered his senses.
Rowards lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
You can see the frustration on Konstantinov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konstantinov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Konstantinov throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Konstantinov tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Konstantinov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Konstantinov prevents Rowards from moving into mount.
Who's going to make the next move?

That's two 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.
Konstantinov struggling a bit here.
Konstantinov manages to get back to half guard.
Konstantinov wants to control but Rowards is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rowards is keen to just control but Konstantinov is a slippery customer.
Rowards controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Konstantinov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rowards but Rowards pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowards looks for the body kick but Konstantinov saw that one coming.
Konstantinov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Konstantinov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Rowards rushes Konstantinov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Konstantinov wants to get back to striking at distance but Rowards won't allow it.

Rowards has clasped his hands together around Konstantinov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Konstantinov is trying to buck Rowards off.
Rowards throws an elbow but Konstantinov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Konstantinov is looking for a sweep.
Konstantinov can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Konstantinov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Rowards stands up and beckons Konstantinov to his feet.
Konstantinov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Konstantinov closes the distance and pushes Rowards back into the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Konstantinov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Konstantinov tries to break the clinch but Rowards is controlling the position.
Rowards jumps guard but Konstantinov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Konstantinov jumps guard but Rowards stands there with Konstantinov around his waist. Konstantinov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vadim Konstantinov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Konstantinov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Konstantinov dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Konstantinov throws out a powerful jab.
A head kick misses from Konstantinov.
Konstantinov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Konstantinov lands with a nice combination. Rowards backs away looking to recover.
Konstantinov misses the shot to the body.
Konstantinov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rowards.
A head kick misses from Konstantinov.
Konstantinov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Konstantinov drops Rowards with a beautiful combination! Rowards stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Konstantinov is looking for the KO!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rowards throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Rowards shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Rowards gets to his feet - Konstantinov follows without any prompting.
Konstantinov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rowards can do to turn this around?
Konstantinov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Konstantinov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rowardss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowards drops his hands momentarily and Konstantinov needs no second invitation. He sets himself and throws a perfect high kick, that clips Rowards just on the top of the head. Rowards drops like a sack of potatoes to the canvas, out cold! Oooooooh yeah! Stick a fork in Rowards - he's done!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Vadim Konstantinov!
After winning the bout, Vadim Konstantinov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.