PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Bisping (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Cowbell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Michael Bisping has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Michael Bisping seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Bisping
vs
Cowbell

187 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
188 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Bisping!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Simon Cowbell!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cowbell swats away the attempt to clinch by Bisping.
Cowbell looks to land a right hand but Bisping moved out of range.
Bisping ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cowbell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Simon Cowbell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cowbell throws a lazy right hand but Bisping sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cowbell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bisping tries to avoid it but Cowbell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bisping to the ground. Bisping escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bisping avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowbell throws an overhand right that lands on Bisping's shoulder, as Bisping tries to avoid the shot.
Bisping fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cowbell manages to avoid it.
Cowbell misses with a body punch
and Bisping connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bisping throws a series of punches but Cowbell avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowbell misses with a body punch

and Bisping counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Cowbell wants to sweep here but Bisping controlling him for the moment.
Bisping trying to control the position from guard on top but Cowbell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bisping preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cowbell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Bisping got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cowbell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bisping has managed to get both his arms back between Cowbell's legs - danger averted.
Bisping trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cowbell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bisping pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cowbell is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A punch combination from Bisping misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cowbell is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bisping.

Bisping fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cowbell sprawls well initially but Bisping persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bisping connects with a nice short shot to Cowbell's temple.
Bisping not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cowbell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bisping moves into full mount! Cowbell won't be happy about that!
Cowbell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cowbell looks gassed!
Bisping pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Bisping avoids the attempt from Cowbell to control.
Bisping raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bisping goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Cowbell turns into him and now he's in Bisping's guard.
Bisping is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cowbell stops Bisping from standing up.
Bisping looking to control.
Bisping looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bisping striking off his back but it's not causing Cowbell any problems.
Bisping looking for a sweep. Not yet Bisping, not yet.
Cowbell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bisping utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cowbell misses with a shot to the body

and Bisping counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bisping stopping the sweep attempt from Cowbell.
Bisping working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cowbell keeping moving, preventing Bisping from controlling successfully.
Bisping works over Cowbell with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cowbell throws a hook to the side of Bisping's head but Bisping sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bisping throws a series of punches but Cowbell moves out of range.
Cowbell misses with a hook. Bisping ducked under it nicely.
Cowbell throws a hook but Bisping blocks it.
Cowbell takes a kick to the side of the head.
No joy there for Bisping, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowbell shoots and misses
and Bisping counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cowbell thinking.
Cowbell throws a big shot that misses.
Bisping misses with a takedown

and Cowbell counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cowbell is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowbell is thwarting Bisping's attempts to control the position.
Cowbell is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cowbell throwing shots but Bisping is blocking nicely.
Bisping is trying to control but can't.
Bisping is doing well to control the position and prevent Cowbell from advancing to side control.
Bisping avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cowbell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cowbell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bisping's head.
Cowbell thows a huge punch but Bisping dodges it nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bisping lands with a shot to the body.
Cowbell takes a swing at Bisping's ribcage but misses.
Bisping throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cowbell's waist but Cowbell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bisping off to one side.
A shot to the body from Cowbell misses
and Bisping counters with a left to the body.
Bisping goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cowbell slips a jab and a cross from Bisping.
Cowbell throws the left hand but Bisping avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowbell throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bisping sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bisping will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cowbell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bisping counters with a head kick. That will keep Cowbell thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Bisping is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cowbell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Bisping. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bisping throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bisping lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bisping.
Bisping throws a series of punches but Cowbell avoids them all with ease.
The fighters circling - Cowbell throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

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.
Bisping fails to land the takedown.
Bisping stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bisping wants it to stay on the feet.
Cowbell swings for the body but Bisping moves out of range.
Cowbell throws a shot from downtown. Bisping moves away and avoids it.
Bisping throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cowbell.
Cowbell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Bisping as Cowbell shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Simon Cowbell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bisping throws a series of strikes that have Cowbell backpedaling.
Cowbell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bisping manages to avoid it.
Bisping shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cowbell as he avoids it easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bisping.
Cowbell misses the jab.
Cowbell with a poor takedown

and Bisping decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cowbell's guard.
Bisping controlling from the top position.
Bisping thows a big elbow that misses.
Bisping throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bisping pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cowbell is keeping the position for now.
Cowbell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bisping won't allow Cowbell to sweep him here.
Bisping throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cowbell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bisping chips away with some ground and pound.
Bisping won't allow Cowbell to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cowbell misses with a hook.
Bisping tries to bum rush Cowbell with a series of wild strikes but Cowbell uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bisping tries a head kick but it misses.

Bisping feints and as Cowbell raises his hands in defense, Bisping changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cowbell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bisping is working Cowbell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Michael Bisping overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cowbell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bisping accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bisping chips away with some ground and pound.
Bisping scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bisping's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bisping trying to control but Cowbell is working from the bottom.
Bisping lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bisping looking to sit in guard and control but Cowbell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bisping wants to sweep but no luck.
Bisping wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowbell throwing strikes from guard but Bisping blocks nicely.
Cowbell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cowbell scoring with some ground and pound.
Bisping utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bisping working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bisping is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cowbell is controlling him.
Cowbell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Bisping manages to escape and get back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bisping.
Cowbell looks to land a left hand but Bisping moved out of range nicely.
Bisping lands a nice looking body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Bisping showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bisping 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Bisping!