Phil Rowe
The Fresh Prince
USA
No-shows Vegas loss
Rowe lost to Seok Hyeon Ko via unanimous decision (26-30, 27-30, 27-30) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It's difficult to envision a fight that went the distance in which Rowe could have looked any worse. Over the course of the 15-minute bout, he was credited with four significant strikes landed. That is not a misprint. He spent north of 13 minutes being controlled on the mat and generated zero offense. Rowe looked awful as well his last time out in June before finding a second wind in the dying minutes and knocking out Ange Loosa. He could very easily be riding a four-fight losing streak at the moment. Instead, he's at 1-3 and his roster spot would still appear to be in jeopardy considering he turned 35 years old this past July.
It's difficult to envision a fight that went the distance in which Rowe could have looked any worse. Over the course of the 15-minute bout, he was credited with four significant strikes landed. That is not a misprint. He spent north of 13 minutes being controlled on the mat and generated zero offense. Rowe looked awful as well his last time out in June before finding a second wind in the dying minutes and knocking out Ange Loosa. He could very easily be riding a four-fight losing streak at the moment. Instead, he's at 1-3 and his roster spot would still appear to be in jeopardy considering he turned 35 years old this past July.
Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
More Fantasy News
Booked vs. Seok Hyeon Ko
Rowe will take on Seok Hyeon Ko in a welterweight bout at UFC Vegas 110 on Nov. 1, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Rowe won his last UFC bout against Ange Loosa, taking him out with punches in the third round. That brought his record within the promotion to 4-3, and he'll look for win No. 5 against an opponent in Ko who just had an impressive UFC debut, besting Oban Elliot via unanimous decision.
Rowe won his last UFC bout against Ange Loosa, taking him out with punches in the third round. That brought his record within the promotion to 4-3, and he'll look for win No. 5 against an opponent in Ko who just had an impressive UFC debut, besting Oban Elliot via unanimous decision.
Massive comeback win in Atlanta
Rowe defeated Ange Loosa via TKO (punches) at 4:03 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Atlanta.
ANALYSIS
Rowe underwhelmed the vast majority of this fight, but he found the response he needed down a pair of rounds and staring defeat in the face. Phil was non-competitive in Round 1, allowing a takedown and spending nearly four minutes on his back. He was better in Round 2, but was knocked down at the end of the frame. Things didn't look much better early on Round 3, but Loosa seemed to tire out of nowhere, and that allowed Rowe to unload with unanswered shots along the fence. Loosa ate a bunch, but finally crumbled. Set to turn 35 years of age in mid-July, the defeat snapped a two-fight losing streak for Rowe and probably saved his job in the process.
Rowe underwhelmed the vast majority of this fight, but he found the response he needed down a pair of rounds and staring defeat in the face. Phil was non-competitive in Round 1, allowing a takedown and spending nearly four minutes on his back. He was better in Round 2, but was knocked down at the end of the frame. Things didn't look much better early on Round 3, but Loosa seemed to tire out of nowhere, and that allowed Rowe to unload with unanswered shots along the fence. Loosa ate a bunch, but finally crumbled. Set to turn 35 years of age in mid-July, the defeat snapped a two-fight losing streak for Rowe and probably saved his job in the process.
Booked versus Loosa
Rowe will face Ange Loosa at UFC Atlanta on June 14, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Rowe is set to take on Loosa in three weeks, his first fight in over a year. He has lost each of his last two fights -- to Jake Matthews and Neil Magny -- and has not won since he defeated Niko Price in December of 2022. He has a five-inch height advantage and a seven-inch reach advantage over Loosa.
Rowe is set to take on Loosa in three weeks, his first fight in over a year. He has lost each of his last two fights -- to Jake Matthews and Neil Magny -- and has not won since he defeated Niko Price in December of 2022. He has a five-inch height advantage and a seven-inch reach advantage over Loosa.
Gets outworked in loss
Rowe lost to Jake Matthews via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 27-30) at UFC 302 on Saturday in Newark.
ANALYSIS
Rowe began the fight well, using his range to sting Matthews with hard right hands. Things changed when "The Celtic Kid" got aggressive, however, as the much longer fighter didn't seem to know what to do when his opponent collapsed the pocket. This is encapsulated by the end of Round 3, in which Rowe went for a sloppy takedown and ultimately got stuck on his back as the seconds ticked away. Rowe is a slick striker who can wrestle a bit, but he will run into serious problems if he can't handle an opponent who is willing to pressure. He falls to 10-5 in professional MMA due to the loss.
Rowe began the fight well, using his range to sting Matthews with hard right hands. Things changed when "The Celtic Kid" got aggressive, however, as the much longer fighter didn't seem to know what to do when his opponent collapsed the pocket. This is encapsulated by the end of Round 3, in which Rowe went for a sloppy takedown and ultimately got stuck on his back as the seconds ticked away. Rowe is a slick striker who can wrestle a bit, but he will run into serious problems if he can't handle an opponent who is willing to pressure. He falls to 10-5 in professional MMA due to the loss.
To fight Jake Matthews
Rowe will face Jake Matthews at UFC 302 on June 1, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Now 34 years old, Rowe holds a 3-2 record in the UFC and most recently lost to Neil Magny via split decision. As for Matthews, he's also coming off a loss in a bout against Michael Morales.
Now 34 years old, Rowe holds a 3-2 record in the UFC and most recently lost to Neil Magny via split decision. As for Matthews, he's also coming off a loss in a bout against Michael Morales.