PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Paterson (ranked 4473 p4p, 4361 weight class) and Brendan Rowen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Paterson
vs
Rowen

179 cm
18
163
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
164
4 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Caleb Paterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brendan Rowen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paterson throws a sloppy head kick and Rowen moves out of range easily.
Rowen cracks Paterson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Paterson tries to clinch up but Rowen circles away and keeps his distance.
Paterson feints and then cracks Rowen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rowen down.
Rowen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rowen loads up on a big right hand but Paterson slips the punch.
Rowen throws a hook but Paterson avoids it easily.
Paterson misses with an attempted mid kick.

Paterson gets the takedown into side control.
Rowen struggling a bit here.
Rowen tries to bench press Paterson off him but Paterson keeps the position.
Rowen trying to remain calm as Paterson controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paterson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rowen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Paterson desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Paterson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rowen on the ground.
Rowen prevents Paterson from improving his position.
Rowen is keen to just control but Paterson is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paterson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rowen wants to take a breather but Paterson is having none of it.

Rowen is looking for a kimura but Paterson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rowen to get the leverage.
Rowen is looking to take a break and control but Paterson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paterson trying to hold on to Rowen's head to control him but Rowen postures up.
Paterson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rowen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paterson keeping hold of Rowen's head, controlling as best he can.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rowen working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Rowen controlling the action here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Paterson tries for a takedown but Rowen circles away easily
and Rowen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A slow jab from Rowen misses its intended target.
Paterson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It seemed like Rowen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rowen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Paterson on the side of the head.
Rowen misses with a looping right.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Paterson.
Paterson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rowen pinned against the cage. Rowen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
It seemed like Rowen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caleb Paterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paterson closes the distance but Rowen moves to the side
and Rowen counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paterson needs to keep his hands up - Rowen had a free shot at his head there.
Paterson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Rowen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rowen misses with a takedown attempt - Paterson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rowen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rowen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rowen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Paterson throws a sloppy head kick and Rowen moves out of range easily.
Paterson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It seemed like Rowen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Paterson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rowen circles away quickly and effectively.
Paterson sets himself, and Rowen steps forward looking for the clinch! Paterson avoids it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paterson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rowen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rowen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Rowen misses the target.
Paterson fails with an attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rowen! But no joy.
The crowd cheers as Rowen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Paterson doesn't seem phased though.
Paterson throws a head kick but Rowen moves out of range.

Paterson takes the fight into the clinch.
Paterson stops a takedown attempt from Rowen.
Paterson wants a takedown.
Paterson jumps guard but Rowen stands there with Paterson around his waist. Paterson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caleb Paterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Paterson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paterson moves away from the strike by Rowen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paterson looks for a takedown but Rowen sprawls well.
Paterson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Paterson.
Nice sprawl there from Paterson as Rowen shoots in.
Rowen looks to land a right hand but Paterson moved out of range.
Paterson slips a straight right by Rowen.
Caleb Paterson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Paterson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rowen sprawls well initially but Paterson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rowen is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Paterson connects with a nice short shot to Rowen's temple.
Paterson is thwarting Rowen's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paterson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Paterson working Rowen over with strikes.
Rowen is looking to control Paterson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rowen avoid being mounted?
Caleb Paterson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rowen gets full guard.
Paterson controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.

Rowen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Paterson tries to free his leg and advance position but Rowen is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paterson won't allow Rowen to sweep him here.
Paterson tries to free his leg and advance position but Rowen is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brendan Rowen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rowen jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Paterson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rowen is trying to defend but Paterson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rowen wants to control but Paterson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Paterson prevents Rowen from improving his position.
Paterson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rowen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rowen taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paterson lands a nice shot to the head.
Paterson content just to control the position here.
BOOM! Paterson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rowen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Paterson dominating with strikes here.

Rowen is rocked!

It looks like Brendan Rowen has been cut.

Paterson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rowen is now in Paterson's guard. A big mistake from Paterson there, giving up the dominant position!
Rowen won't allow Paterson to sweep him here.
Paterson has a closed guard, preventing Rowen from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paterson keeping full guard, as Rowen tries to pass.
Paterson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Paterson tries to strike from the bottom.
Rowen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Paterson is adopting a defensive guard.
Rowen preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paterson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Paterson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rowen gets full guard.
Paterson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rowen controls Paterson momentarily but Paterson frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paterson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rowen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Paterson looking to sit in guard and control but Rowen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Paterson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paterson wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caleb Paterson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rowen 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brendan Rowen!