PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Carl Lindell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Bowens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Lindell
vs
Bowens

185 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
21
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Lindell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Bowens!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bowens looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Lindell!

Bowens looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
A nice elbow there by Bowens.
Lindell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bowens looking to finish Lindell with some ground and pound. This is bad for Lindell!
Lindell wants to try and get back to his feet.
Bowens postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Lindell looks a forlorn figure.
Lindell slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Lindell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bowens seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bowens wants to control but Lindell is keeping him busy.
Bowens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bowens thows a huge punch but Lindell dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowens frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Lindell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lindell taking shots to the head.

Lindell is rocked!

Bowens working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Oh Lindell is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bowens raining down hammerfists from mount.
Bowens trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lindell seems to have got his legs back now.
Lindell is trying to escape the mount.
Bowens with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowens wants to control the pace but Lindell is squirming around nicely.
Lindell tries to hold on but Bowens postures up.
Lindell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lindell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bowens lands with some strikes.
Lindell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bowens lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Bowens avoids the attempt from Lindell to control.
Bowens punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindell really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lindell in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Bowens looking to control but Lindell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lindell is trying desperately to improve position.
Bowens working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Bowens tries to control but Lindell wriggling away.
Bowens blocks Lindell's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Bowens landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindell tries to lock up and control but Bowens gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bowens with the ground and pound from mount.
Lindell keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bowens trying to control but he's not successful this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bowens lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bowens sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lindell is looking to improve his position but Bowens isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bowens can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lindell is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Bowens dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lindell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bowens.

Bowens is trying to get an arm triangle but Lindell is defending well.
Lindell is looking for a sweep.
Bowens working away.
Lindell looks to move to half guard but instead Bowens has passed into mount! Damn!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindell is working to get back to half guard.
Bowens looking to control but Lindell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lindell is trying desperately to improve position.
Bowens content just to control the position here.
Bowens avoids the attempt from Lindell to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowens punishing his opponent with strikes.
James Bowens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lindell sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Bowens trying to pass the guard but Lindell defending well.

Bowens is looking for a kimura here.
Lindell is not content to let Bowens control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindell taking some punishment here, with Bowens in his half guard.

Bowens is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lindell is trying to control but can't.
Lindell pushes Bowens off looking to stand but Bowens dives back in and keeps control.
Bowens is controlling the pace.
Bowens wants to take a breather but Lindell is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowens blocks the strikes from Lindell.
Bowens wants to control but Lindell is keeping him busy.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Bowens was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bowens tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lindell swivels and escapes.
Bowens looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bowens is breathing heavily.
Lindell tries to clinch but Bowens moves out of range.
Lindell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bowens.
Carl Lindell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Bowens.
Lindell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bowens defends it nicely.

Bowens scores a takedown into full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bowens tries to control but Lindell wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Bowens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lindell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bowens.

Bowens is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lindell has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bowens is looking to take a break and control but Lindell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Bowens is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lindell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lindell manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindell is looking to improve his position.
Lindell manages to get to full guard.
Bowens tries to free his leg and advance position but Lindell is retaining full guard.

Bowens drops back looking for a leg! Lindell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lindell manages to kick Bowens off! Bowens jumps back into Lindell's guard.
Bowens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lindell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bowens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowens distracts Lindell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lindell striking off his back but it's not causing Bowens any problems.
Lindell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lindell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lindell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bowens not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lindell wants to sweep here but Bowens controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindell is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Carl Lindell wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bowens has a takedown stuffed.
Bowens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice takedown defense from Bowens. No joy for Lindell on that attempt.
Bowens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lindell's waist but Lindell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bowens off to one side.
Carl Lindell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Bowens.
Lindell lands a head kick. Bowens smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Lindell tries to clinch up but Bowens circles away and keeps his distance.

Lindell moves into range and clinches up with Bowens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bowens jumps guard.
Lindell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bowens keeping moving, preventing Lindell from controlling successfully.
Lindell looking to sit in guard and control but Bowens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lindell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bowens trying to control but Lindell is working from the bottom.
Carl Lindell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Bowens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lindell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bowens doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bowens manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Bowens.
I've got Bowens 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Bowens!
James Bowens was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.