PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chief Curry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Owens has chosen Thunderstruck by AC/DC as his entrance music. Chief Curry had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 172.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Curry
vs
Owens

169 cm
23
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chief Curry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joseph Owens!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Steve Erwin and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Owens tries a head kick but it misses.
Curry looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Owens shoots in but Curry avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Curry throws a sloppy head kick

and Owens holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Curry tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Owens smiles and moves away.
Owens avoids the head kick by Curry.

Owens closes the distance and pushes Curry back into the cage.

Owens gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Curry regains guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Curry can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Owens controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Owens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Owens stops Curry from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens is stalling in the full guard.
Owens throws a strike but Curry rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Curry has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Owens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Owens is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Owens is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Owens advances to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Owens in particular looking to stall.
Curry looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Owens with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Curry keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Curry keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Owens is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Curry sees it coming and defends easily.
Owens uses his free foot to push down on Curry's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Curry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owens landing strikes, looking to finish!

Curry defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Owens.
Owens takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Owens landing strikes from the mount and Curry is in trouble!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owens controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Owens dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Owens has managed to clinch.

Owens manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Owens.

Owens closes the distance and pushes Curry back into the cage.
Curry connects with a nasty looking knee right to Owens's face.
Owens looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owens connects with a nasty looking knee right to Curry's face.
Curry misses with a punch to the body.

Owens manages to pull guard.
Owens throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Owens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens working a defensive guard here.

Owens has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Curry off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Owens fails with the takedown
and Curry makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Owens fails with the takedown
and Curry cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Chief Curry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Owens.
Curry throws a head kick but Owens moves out of range.
Owens tries to counter with a clinch but Curry shakes him off and moves away.
Owens throws a head kick that Curry semi-blocks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curry throws a sloppy head kick and Owens moves out of range easily.

Owens takes the fight into the clinch.

Owens manages to pull guard.
Owens is pulling down on Curry's head. It's preventing any offense from Curry, at least for the moment.

Curry stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Owens avoids the body shot from Curry.

Owens closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curry has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Curry drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Owens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Owens - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Owens gets control of Curry's arms and successfully pulls guard. Owens will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Curry being controlled here momentarily.
Owens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.

Owens working for a triangle but Curry defends it easily.
Owens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Curry stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owens wants to clinch up but Curry keeps it at a distance.

Owens moves into the clinch.
Curry changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Owens fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Owens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Owens fakes the leg kick and cracks Curry in the body.

Owens moves into the clinch.
Owens effectively controlling the action here.
Curry goes for a takedown in the clinch but Owens prevents it.
Owens drops down looking for an ankle pick but Curry pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Owens moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens is struggling to control the position.
A right hook to the body lands for Curry.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Owens has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Curry uses from the top position.
Owens looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Curry wants to get up but he can't break Owens's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Owens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Owens looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Owens wants to sweep but no luck.
Curry tries to stand but Owens is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Curry sprawls well. Curry wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Owens gets slowly back to his feet.
Owens with a poor takedown
and Curry counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Chief Curry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Owens.
Curry lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A jab from Curry does it's job there.
Curry scores with a decent looking hook.
Curry swinging wildly here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Owens jumps guard and drags Curry to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Owens is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Owens looking for a sweep. Not yet Owens, not yet.

Owens scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Owens closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Owens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Owens 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Owens!
A pretty intense looking Joseph Owens took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.