PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lance Cotton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Mark Owens enters the cage!

Cotton
vs
Owens

171 cm
22
279 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lance Cotton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Owens!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Skip Squint and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cotton thows a leg kick but Owens checks it
and Owens counters with a nice uppercut.
Cotton lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Owens decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cotton is trying to control but can't.
Cotton is concentrating on defense, preventing Owens from advancing position.
Owens is pressing down on Cotton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cotton is holding on for now.
Owens is trying to control. Cotton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cotton is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owens thows a huge punch but Cotton dodges it nicely.
Owens sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cotton defending well though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Owens in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotton desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Cotton is trying to stand.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cotton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Owens looking to pass the guard.
Cotton controls Owens momentarily but Owens frees himself.

Owens thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cotton tries to clinch but Owens is having none of it.

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.

Owens looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cotton has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Cotton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Owens drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cotton dives on top into guard.

Owens has a closed guard, preventing Cotton from standing up.

Owens is looking for a triangle but Cotton pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cotton wants to stand but Owens is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cotton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cotton is looking to work some ground and pound but Owens has wrist control.

Cotton gets to his feet. Owens looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Owens throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cotton tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Owens is in Cotton's guard.
Owens trying to control but Cotton is working from the bottom.
Owens sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cotton is adopting a defensive guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Owens has gone for a leg lock! Cotton slips out almost immediately though and dives into Owens's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Owens dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Owens gets the takedown into side control.
Owens happy to just control the position for now.

Owens tries for a kimura but Cotton is defending well.
Owens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cotton can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotton is looking for a sweep.
Cotton manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotton is looking to control Owens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cotton avoid being mounted?
Owens is pressing down on Cotton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cotton is holding on for now.
Cotton wants to get back to his feet.
Owens is trying to control the action in half guard but Cotton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Owens passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cotton!
Owens avoids the attempt from Cotton to control.
Owens tries to control but Cotton wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Owens jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Cotton is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Cotton and Owens has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Owens is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cotton knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cotton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Owens looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cotton scores with a few weak punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotton trying to hold on to Owens's head to control him but Owens postures up.
Owens trying to pass the guard but Cotton defending well.
Owens is looking to stall here but Cotton recovers full guard.
Cotton is trying to control the position but Owens postures up.

Owens is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cotton is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cotton has escaped and now he's on top!

Mark Owens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cotton working some strikes from top position.
Owens is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owens bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cotton's guard.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cotton holds on and takes a little breather.
Cotton controls Owens momentarily but Owens frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cotton has his hands on Owens's head, controlling the position.
Cotton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Owens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Owens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cotton's guard.
Owens slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cotton is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Owens working away.
Owens laying and praying for a moment but Cotton takes advantage and regains half guard.
Cotton wants to control but Owens is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotton regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Owens. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Cotton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Owens is controlling him.
Owens wants to control from the top but Cotton keeps moving.
Owens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cotton is keeping the position for now.
Owens looking to sit in guard and control but Cotton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Owens looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cotton puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Owens is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Cotton jumps into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cotton tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Owens tries to bench press Cotton off him but Cotton keeps the position.
Owens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cotton is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Owens is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Cotton is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Owens knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cotton swings around for an armbar but Owens sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cotton's guard.
Cotton is adopting a defensive guard.
Cotton 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.
Owens being controlled here momentarily.

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.
Cotton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cotton keeping moving, preventing Owens from controlling successfully.
Owens controlling from the top position.
Cotton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mark Owens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Owens closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cotton did well to prevent Owens getting side control.
Lance Cotton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Owens seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Owens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Owens has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Owens!
Mark Owens seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.