PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Bowles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blackie Lawler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blackie Lawler has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ryan Bowles's chin.

Bowles
vs
Lawler

178 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Bowles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blackie Lawler!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Lawler misses the target.
Bowles throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bowles swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lawler keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bowles cracks the inside of Lawler's front leg.
Lawler looks to score with a jab to the body but Bowles is just out of range.
Lawler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Bowles feints and as Lawler raises his hands in defense, Bowles changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bowles wants to control from the top but Lawler keeps moving.
Bowles preventing the sweep.
Lawler is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bowles wants to control from the top but Lawler keeps moving.
Bowles lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowles trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lawler is trying to control the position but Bowles postures up.
Lawler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bowles is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bowles. Lawler shrugs it off though.
Bowles misses with a few strikes there.
Bowles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lawler closes the distance and clinches up with Bowles, looking for a takedown. Lawler pushes Bowles against the cage but Bowles circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bowles throws a head kick that misses.
A punch combination from Lawler misses.
Lawler throws a leg kick
and Bowles counters with a one-two to the body.
Lawler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lawler looks gassed!
Bowles shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lawler as he avoids it easily.
Blackie Lawler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowles stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lawler.
Lawler throws a one two combo.
Lawler lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lawler.
Lawler sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Bowles closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lawler throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Lawler stops Bowles from passing to mount.
Bowles trying to control the position but Lawler is working away.
Lawler tries to improve position but can't.
Bowles trying to control the action but Lawler is working from the bottom.
Lawler is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowles is looking to take a break and control but Lawler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bowles really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lawler misses with a double jab
and Bowles counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Lawler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ryan Bowles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blackie Lawler.

Bowles shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Bowles wants to control the pace but Lawler is squirming around nicely.
Lawler can't escape the position.
Bowles cracks Lawler with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
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.
Bowles putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Bowles trying to control but Lawler is having none of it.
Bowles lands a big shot there that rocks Lawler but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bowles can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lawler is looking to escape.
Lawler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bowles. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lawler is trying desperately to improve position.
Bowles tries to control but Lawler wriggling away.

Bowles working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Bowles dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lawler scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bowles fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lawler attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lawler has a takedown stuffed.

Bowles closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bowles lands in his opponent's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lawler can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lawler keeping moving, preventing Bowles from controlling successfully.
Lawler trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lawler keeping moving, preventing Bowles from controlling successfully.
Lawler keeping full guard, as Bowles tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bowles working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bowles trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bowles trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lawler stalks Bowles and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bowles's face. Bowles staggers backwards, shaken.
Lawler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bowles takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lawler looks to land a combination. Bowles sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Lawler moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lawler looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bowles throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowles walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lawler checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Bowles drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Lawler swats away the attempt to clinch by Bowles.
Danga de danga de dang - Lawler scores with a four punch combination!
Bowles misses with the combination.
Lawler throws a right and a left that both miss.

Bowles fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lawler sprawls well initially but Bowles persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Lawler looks like he's trying to stand up.
Lawler slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bowles slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler is trying to control the position but Bowles postures up.
Bowles lands a couple of digs.
Lawler is looking to sweep but instead, Bowles has passed into half guard.
Bowles trying to control the pace.
Bowles's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bowles wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lawler keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bowles prevents Lawler from improving his position.
Bowles is keen to just control but Lawler is a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lawler will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ryan Bowles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blackie Lawler.
Bowles walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bowles fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ryan Bowles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bowles shoots in for a takedown but Lawler shows good takedown defense.
Bowles shoots for a double leg takedown but Lawler sprawls well. He's pushed Bowles's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lawler misses with a takedown attempt - Bowles sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Bowles dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bowles shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lawler as he avoids it easily.
Lawler scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Lawler lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bowles shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lawler as he jumps to the side.
Lawler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lawler throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bowles counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lawler won't be happy with that.
Lawler is trying to get back to half guard.
Lawler is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bowles off and has taken his back!
Lawler doesn't have the hooks in and Bowles manages to turn into his guard.
Lawler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bowles gets to his feet - Lawler follows without any prompting.
Lawler fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bowles manages to avoid it.
Bowles throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lawler's waist but Lawler gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bowles off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Bowles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lawler throws a low kick, looking for Bowles's leg but Bowles calmly moves out of range.
Lawler throws a right hand that Bowles ducks under and follows up with a left that Bowles also avoids with ease.
Lawler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lawler rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bowles moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bowles misses with a wild combination.
Bowles fails with an attempt to clinch.

Lawler rushes Bowles and presses him up against the cage.

Bowles breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawler swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bowles counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Lawler!
Bowles postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Lawler looks a forlorn figure.
Bowles controlling his opponent.
Lawler is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bowles scoring with strikes but Lawler is staying in there.
Lawler really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowles wants to control the pace but Lawler is squirming around nicely.
Bowles prevents Lawler from getting the reversal.
Bowles looking to control but Lawler is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lawler working to try and regain half guard.
Bowles controlling from mount.

Bowles working for a guillotine from mount but Lawler is in no mood to give up.
Bowles avoids the attempt from Lawler to control.

That's four 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.
Lawler is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lawler is squirming around, avoiding Bowles's attempts to control the action.
Bowles prevents Lawler from getting the reversal.
Lawler tries to hold on but Bowles postures up.
Bowles can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lawler is looking to escape.
Lawler is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Bowles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bowles, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Bowles!