PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dante Fowler (ranked 5399 p4p, 5283 weight class) and Luke Cromwell (ranked 569 p4p, 562 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fowler
vs
Cromwell

193 cm
25
198
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
195
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dante Fowler!
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, Luke Cromwell!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cromwell cracks Fowler with a good jab.
Fowler wants to clinch but Cromwell slips to the side
and Cromwell counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cromwell connects with a nice looking jab.
Fowler takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Fowler fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cromwell throws a right hand that misses
and Fowler counters with a right hand to the body.

Fowler gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cromwell being controlled against the cage.
Fowler lands a nice shot to the body.
Fowler prevents Cromwell from breaking the clinch.
Fowler trying to stall but Cromwell improves his position.
Fowler tries to throw a body punch but Cromwell avoids it by throwing Fowler back against the cage.
Fowler lands on the inside with an uppercut.
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!
Fowler tries to work over Cromwell's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cromwell as Fowler tries to tie him up.
Fowler tries to work over Cromwell's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fowler lands an uppercut.
Fowler throws a head punch that misses.

Fowler decides to pull guard.
Cromwell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cromwell looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Cromwell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cromwell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fowler is trying to keep Cromwell in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cromwell stands up and waves to Fowler to follow him.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Fowler checks a leg kick.
Cromwell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fowler moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cromwell moves away from the strike by Fowler.

Fowler has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fowler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cromwell gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fowler lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fowler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fowler looking to stall.
Cromwell is trying to break the clinch but Fowler is controlling him.
Fowler tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fowler misses with a hook to the ribs.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fowler lands a right hand.
Fowler misses with the head strike.

Cromwell breaks from the clinch.
Fowler takes one to the side of the head.
Fowler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cromwell throws out a counter right but Fowler avoids it with no problem.
Cromwell getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Fowler wants to clinch.
Fowler scores with a one two! Cromwell had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fowler steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cromwell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Cromwell.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Fowler.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cromwell swinging wildly here.
Fowler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fowler misses with a straight left.
Cromwell blocks a jab.
Fowler looks to throw the jab but Cromwell is out of range.
Dante Fowler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fowler drops his hands momentarily and Cromwell takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Fowler thuds his right hand into Cromwell's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fowler misses with a wild combination.
Cromwell replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Fowler blocks it well.
Fowler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cromwell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cromwell takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A big left from Fowler misses.
Cromwell might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cromwell takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fowler moves out of range of the strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Fowler dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cromwell tests Fowler's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cromwell misses with a series of wild punches.
Fowler ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cromwell misses with a straight left.
Luke Cromwell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cromwell lands a nice shot to the body.
Fowler throws a lazy right hand but Cromwell sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cromwell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cromwell bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Fowler's head.
Fowler tries to clinch up but Cromwell circles away and keeps his distance.
Fowler dips to his left and cracks Cromwell with an uppercut!
Nice uppercut there from Fowler.
Cromwell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fowler bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fowler moves out of range of the strikes.
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!
Fowler swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fowler avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cromwell swats away the attempt to clinch by Fowler.
Cromwell misses with the combination.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Luke Cromwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cromwell looks to land a combination but Fowler avoids it well.
Fowler lunges at Cromwell with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cromwell's hand.
Cromwell lands a nice looking body shot.
Cromwell slips a straight right by Fowler.
Cromwell uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fowler has time to react.
Fowler bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Fowler lands a slapping body shot.
Cromwell steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fowler.
Fowler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cromwell! But no joy.
Fowler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cromwell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cromwell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fowler throws a right hand that Cromwell ducks under and follows up with a left that Cromwell also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fowler tries to clinch up but Cromwell circles away and keeps his distance.
Cromwell keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cromwell stuns Fowler with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fowler takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cromwell cracks a nice hook into Fowler's ribs.
Fowler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Cromwell was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cromwell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fowler.
A big left from Cromwell misses.
Fowler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cromwell throws a body punch but Fowler moves out of range.
Fowler takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Fowler connects with the punch.
Fowler lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Fowler.
Cromwell throws a nice looking combination but Fowler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cromwell ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cromwell swats away the attempt to clinch by Fowler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fowler cracks Cromwell with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Fowler pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cromwell back to the cage. Fowler follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Fowler connects with a nice looking jab.
Cromwell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cromwell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fowler.
Nice cross by Cromwell.
Donk. Cromwell catches Fowler right on the button with a cross.
Cromwell needs to keep his hands up - Fowler had a free shot at his head there.
Cromwell misses with a two punch combination.
Cromwell throws a series of punches but Fowler moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fight stays on the outside here - Fowler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cromwell is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Fowler with a body shot.
Cromwell misses the shot to the body.
A clash of legs there as Fowler blocks the low kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Fowler misses its target.
Cromwell lands a nice hook to Fowler's body. Fowler takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cromwell with a nice cross.
Cromwell throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fowler sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Fowler misses its intended target.
A lazy left from Cromwell finds it's target.
Cromwell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cromwell cracks Fowler with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cromwell scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Fowler is looking to clinch but Cromwell is avoiding it.
Cromwell connects with a nice looking jab.
Fowler avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fowler throws a hook to the side of Cromwell's head but Cromwell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A swing and a miss from Fowler.
The crowd cheers as Cromwell lands an impressive looking overhand right. Fowler doesn't seem phased though.
Fowler tries to clinch up but Cromwell circles away and keeps his distance.
Cromwell moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Cromwell 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Fowler. Those never looked like landing.
Fowler looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A jab from Fowler misses.
Cromwell throws out a counter right but Fowler avoids it with no problem.
A lazy left from Cromwell finds it's target.
Fowler wants to clinch up but Cromwell keeps it at a distance.
Cromwell thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fowler is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Cromwell throws a hook but Fowler avoids it easily.
Fowler displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cromwell throws out the jab.
Fowler tries to close the distance and clinch but Cromwell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd cheers as Fowler lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cromwell doesn't seem phased though.
Fowler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cromwell lands a jab to Fowler's midsection.
Fowler tries to clinch but Cromwell moves out of range.
It seemed like Cromwell was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cromwell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Cromwell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cromwell takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cromwell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fowler slips under a jab from Cromwell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cromwell motions for Fowler to come forward. Cromwell throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Fowler forces Cromwell back against the cage and clinches.
Fowler digs a right hand underneath Cromwell's ribcage. Cromwell let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Fowler has a couple of punches blocked by Cromwell.
Fowler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fowler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fowler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fowler tries to stall but Cromwell uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cromwell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fowler has him pressed against the cage.
Fowler struggles to land a body shot inside as Cromwell controls his hands.
Cromwell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fowler stalling the fight.
Cromwell is trying to break the clinch but Fowler has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fowler is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cromwell is keeping busy.
Fowler is trying to maintain a safe position but Cromwell gets an underhook and turns Fowler into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Fowler fails to land.
Fowler trying to control the position but instead, Cromwell has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fowler into the cage.
Fowler working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Fowler drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fowler is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cromwell passes Fowler's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Fowler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cromwell seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Fowler wants to improve his position but Cromwell is controlling well.
Fowler is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Cromwell jumps into side control!
Cromwell working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cromwell controlling the position from side mount.
Fowler is trying to improve his position.
Fowler is trying to work for a sweep but Cromwell has mounted him!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fowler tries to lock up and control but Cromwell gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Fowler is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dante Fowler.
I think Fowler has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dante Fowler!