PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dean Bailey Jr (ranked 5717 p4p, 5376 weight class) and Ellis Rowards (ranked 608 p4p, 589 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bailey Jr
vs
Rowards

177 cm
25
191
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
27
190
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Core Combat

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Dean Bailey Jr !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ellis Rowards!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bailey Jr will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Bailey Jr throws a leg kick

and Rowards counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Rowards stands up from Bailey Jr 's guard - Rowards perhaps looking for a knockout.
Bailey Jr walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rowards checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Bailey Jr moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Bailey Jr gets tackled into the cage by Rowards. Rowards maintains the clinch.
Bailey Jr wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bailey Jr is trying to force a seperation but Rowards has the dominant position.

Rowards jumps guard.
Rowards is looking to stand back up but Bailey Jr counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Rowards.
Bailey Jr prevents Rowards from improving his position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bailey Jr performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bailey Jr stands up from half guard.

Bailey Jr gets caught flat footed, as Rowards shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bailey Jr 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.

Rowards lands with a punch from half guard.
Rowards content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bailey Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Rowards is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bailey Jr has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rowards moves into full mount! Bailey Jr won't be happy about that!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rowards takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rowards is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bailey Jr is surviving well by controlling Rowards's body position as best he can.
Rowards lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bailey Jr wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Bailey Jr is breathing heavily.
Rowards with shots to the head and body - Bailey Jr looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rowards controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rowards is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Bailey Jr to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Bailey Jr shrugs it off.
Rowards lands a big shot there that rocks Bailey Jr but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bailey Jr knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rowards on the ground.
Bailey Jr taking shots to the head.
Rowards lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rowards with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rowards with the ground and pound from mount.

Rowards looking to secure an arm triangle but Bailey Jr defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ellis Rowards dominated that round.
That's time! Bailey Jr 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rowards takes the fight into the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Bailey Jr has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Rowards pulls guard.
Bailey Jr wanted to stand there but Rowards had control of the position.
Bailey Jr wants to control from the top but Rowards keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rowards is on top in guard.

Rowards is pushing down on Bailey Jr 's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bailey Jr is fighting to maintain full guard but Rowards has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowards wants to control but Bailey Jr is keeping him busy.
Rowards is looking to advance position but Bailey Jr won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rowards with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bailey Jr might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rowards missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rowards trying to control the pace.
Rowards moves nicely into side control.

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.

Rowards working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
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.
Rowards works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rowards passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bailey Jr !

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowards controlling the pace for now.
Rowards landing shots from mount.
Rowards looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rowards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rowards is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Rowards with that takedown attempt.

Rowards closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bailey Jr tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Rowards has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Rowards looking to secure an arm triangle but Bailey Jr defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rowards is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bailey Jr is surviving well by controlling Rowards's body position as best he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ellis Rowards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rowards tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bailey Jr sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rowards somewhat.
Bailey Jr changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Rowards looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rowards slips nicely into half guard.

Rowards is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowards sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowards working the head and body with strikes.
Ellis Rowards has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rowards is taking a breather. Bailey Jr says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Let's hope that Rowards has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

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.
Rowards is continuing to stall.
Dean Bailey Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ground and pound from Rowards.
Rowards is taking a breather. Bailey Jr says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bailey Jr on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bailey Jr tries to get out of the position.
Rowards slips a nice elbow through Bailey Jr 's hands, connecting with Bailey Jr 's forehead.
Nice strikes from Rowards there.

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.
Nice strikes from Rowards there.
Rowards drops an elbow to the side of Bailey Jr 's head.

Rowards decides to stand and escape the position.
Rowards scores with a kick to the midsection.
Dean Bailey Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rowards will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rowards shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bailey Jr defends it nicely.
Dean Bailey Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ellis Rowards.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rowards waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bailey Jr .
Rowards shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bailey Jr sprawls well. Bailey Jr wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rowards gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ellis Rowards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rowards winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ellis Rowards!