PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Josh Cowen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apache Tagalog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Apache Tagalog will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cowen
vs
Tagalog

180 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

177 cm
26
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Cowen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Apache Tagalog!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Eddie Farnsworth and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tagalog gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cowen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Cowen gets the takedown into side control.
Tagalog is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Cowen prevents Tagalog from escaping the position.
Cowen grinds an elbow into Tagalog's temple.
You can see the frustration on Tagalog's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tagalog is working to avoid the ground and pound but Cowen connects with a decent elbow.
Tagalog on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tagalog is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cowen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Tagalog pushes Cowen off looking to stand but Cowen dives back in and keeps control.
Tagalog looks gassed!
Cowen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cowen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tagalog is trying to get back to full guard.
Cowen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tagalog moves into full guard.
Cowen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cowen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cowen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cowen working some strikes from top position.
Tagalog is trying to control the position but Cowen postures up.
Cowen works over Tagalog with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cowen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tagalog is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tagalog looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cowen is one step ahead there.
Cowen lands a couple of elbows.
Cowen postures up.
Cowen stands up over Tagalog, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cowen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tagalog's guard.
Tagalog looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cowen is one step ahead there.
Cowen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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.
Tagalog is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cowen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cowen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cowen stopping the sweep attempt from Tagalog.
Tagalog utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cowen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tagalog working a defensive guard here.
Cowen is in close to Tagalog's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tagalog is looking to stand up but Cowen isn't so interested in that idea.
Cowen controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowen is in close to Tagalog's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cowen throwing strikes but missing.
Cowen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tagalog working a defensive guard here.
Cowen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cowen scoring with punches to the head and body.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cowen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tagalog controls Cowen momentarily but Cowen frees himself.
Tagalog utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cowen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cowen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tagalog swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cowen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tagalog is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cowen is controlling him.
Tagalog looking to control.
Cowen is looking to work some ground and pound but Tagalog has wrist control.
Tagalog controls Cowen momentarily but Cowen frees himself.
Cowen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cowen throwing strikes from guard but Tagalog blocks nicely.
Cowen thows a big elbow that misses.
Tagalog is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cowen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tagalog working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Apache Tagalog.

Cowen rushes Tagalog and presses him up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Cowen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cowen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Josh Cowen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cowen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tagalog is trying to defend but Cowen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Tagalog trying to control from the bottom.
Cowen prevents Tagalog from improving his position.
Tagalog trying to control but Cowen postures up.
Cowen slips a nice elbow through Tagalog's hands, connecting with Tagalog's forehead.
Cowen is taking a breather. Tagalog 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.
Cowen winds up and cracks Tagalog with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cowen wants to control but Tagalog is keeping him busy.
Tagalog trying to control here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Tagalog is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Apache Tagalog.

Cowen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tagalog was covering up waiting for the punch and Cowen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tagalog trying to keep a closed guard but Cowen is proving a slippery customer.
Tagalog is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cowen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Tagalog lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cowen!
Cowen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cowen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cowen trying to control the position but Tagalog is working away.
Tagalog prevents Cowen from improving position.
Cowen trying to control the action but Tagalog is working from the bottom.
Cowen working the body and head with strikes.
Tagalog tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cowen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tagalog is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cowen off and has taken his back!
Tagalog seems like he's trying to stand.
Cowen turns into Tagalog and is now in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tagalog keeping moving, preventing Cowen from controlling successfully.
Tagalog looking to control.
Tagalog wants to sweep here but Cowen controlling him for the moment.
Cowen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tagalog is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cowen is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Josh Cowen just wasn't active enough.

Cowen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cowen showed some decent athleticism there.
Tagalog trying to hold on to Cowen's head to control him but Cowen postures up.
Tagalog is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cowen scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tagalog won't allow Cowen to pass to mount.
Tagalog tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Cowen has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
BOOM! Cowen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tagalog tries to lock up and control but Cowen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Cowen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Tagalog sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cowen winds up and cracks Tagalog with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cowen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tagalog does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tagalog manages to get to full guard.
Tagalog is trying to keep Cowen in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Cowen dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tagalog tries to clinch but Cowen moves out of range.
Tagalog misses with a head kick.

Cowen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tagalog is trying to defend but Cowen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Tagalog makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tagalog.
Cowen landing some decent shots from guard.
Cowen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tagalog's head.
Cowen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cowen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tagalog 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.
Tagalog controls Cowen momentarily but Cowen frees himself.
Cowen preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowen distracts Tagalog with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tagalog trying to control the position.
Cowen won't allow Tagalog to sweep him here.
Cowen passes Tagalog's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Cowen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tagalog sees it coming and defends easily.
Cowen tries to pass to full mount but Tagalog defends it.
Tagalog wants to improve his position but Cowen is controlling well.
Tagalog is looking to control Cowen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tagalog avoid being mounted?
Nice strikes from Cowen there.
Cowen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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.
Tagalog trying to control here.
Josh Cowen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cowen lands a nice short elbow.
Cowen thows a huge punch but Tagalog dodges it nicely.
Tagalog is trying to get back to full guard.
Cowen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cowen passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cowen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tagalog looks a forlorn figure.
Tagalog is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tagalog tries to hold on but Cowen pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tagalog in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Tagalog tries to hold on but Cowen postures up.
BOOM! Cowen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cowen controlling his opponent.
Cowen avoids the attempt from Tagalog to control.
Tagalog tries to reverse the position but Cowen maintains control.
BOOM! Cowen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cowen landing shots from mount.
Tagalog is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Cowen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cowen avoids the attempt from Tagalog to control.
Tagalog might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cowen kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Cowen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tagalog can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Cowen landing shots from mount.
Apache Tagalog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cowen lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Tagalog tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tagalog tries to lock up and control but Cowen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cowen landing strikes from the mount and Tagalog is in trouble!
Cowen landing shots from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cowen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Tagalog wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Cowen.
Cowen avoids the attempt from Tagalog to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Cowen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cowen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Cowen!