PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris McCowan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Bellow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McCowan
vs
Bellow

188 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chris McCowan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Carl Bellow!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCowan is looking to clinch but Bellow is avoiding it.
Bellow shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McCowan defends it nicely.

McCowan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McCowan prevents Bellow from getting back to his feet.
McCowan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bellow working a defensive guard here.
McCowan postures up in Bellow's guard and throws a big left but Bellow blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bellow is trying to keep McCowan in close.
McCowan prevents Bellow from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

McCowan gets the takedown into side control.
McCowan tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
McCowan lands a decent elbow from side control.
McCowan taking a breather here.
McCowan scoring with punches and elbows.
McCowan throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
McCowan taking a break here but Bellow is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCowan postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Bellow to stand up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bellow avoids the head kick by McCowan.
Bellow tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bellow looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bellow throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McCowan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bellow sprawls well. Bellow wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McCowan gets slowly back to his feet.
McCowan stuffs the takedown attempt from Bellow. Bellow gets slowly back to his feet.
Bellow looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bellow looks for a takedown but McCowan sprawls well.
Chris McCowan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Bellow.

McCowan closes the distance and clinches.
McCowan tries for a takedown. No joy.

McCowan manages to break the clinch.

McCowan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bellow did well to prevent McCowan getting side control.
Bellow is staying active underneath McCowan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

McCowan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bellow is looking for a sweep. McCowan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCowan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
McCowan tries to stand but can't do so whilst Bellow controls his leg.
McCowan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
McCowan stops Bellow from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McCowan decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris McCowan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Bellow as McCowan shoots in.
McCowan tries to land a body kick
and Bellow counters with a body kick that stops McCowan in his tracks momentarily.
Horrible takedown by McCowan or perhaps it was just good defense by Bellow which made him look bad.
No luck for Bellow with that takedown attempt.
Bellow doesn't manage to clinch there - McCowan circles away.
Bellow throws a right and a left that McCowan avoids nicely.
Bellow throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McCowan's waist but McCowan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bellow off to one side.
McCowan thows a leg kick but Bellow checks it
and Bellow counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

McCowan closes the distance and pushes Bellow back into the cage.
Bellow is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCowan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bellow tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. McCowan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Chris McCowan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McCowan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bellow did well to prevent McCowan getting side control.
Bellow tries to roll over but McCowan keeps him under control.
Bellow wants to control but McCowan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McCowan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Chris McCowan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chris McCowan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
McCowan misses with a takedown attempt - Bellow sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris McCowan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McCowan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bellow is pressing down on McCowan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCowan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
McCowan throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCowan passes Bellow's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
McCowan blocks the strikes from Bellow.
Nice strikes from McCowan there.
McCowan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bellow is trying to control but McCowan passes into side control!

McCowan decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bellow tries to clinch but McCowan is having none of it.
Bellow circles away from the clinch attempt.
Horrible takedown by McCowan or perhaps it was just good defense by Bellow which made him look bad.
McCowan tries to bum rush Bellow with a series of wild strikes but Bellow uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bellow lands a jab to McCowan's midsection.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bellow shoots in but McCowan avoids the takedown attempt easily.

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

Chris McCowan dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McCowan fails to land the takedown.

Bellow gets caught flat footed, as McCowan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McCowan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bellow is trying to control the position but McCowan postures up.
McCowan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

McCowan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bellow looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bellow looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bellow!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCowan avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Bellow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCowan regains half guard there - taking advantage of Bellow's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Bellow passes the guard and advances to mount!
McCowan wants to control but Bellow is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCowan blocking the ground and pound.
Bellow wants to control the pace but McCowan is squirming around nicely.
McCowan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McCowan tries to get out of the position.
McCowan wants to hold on but Bellow pushes him away.
Bellow tries to control but McCowan wriggling away.
McCowan tries to reverse the position but Bellow maintains control.
Bellow can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McCowan is looking to escape.
McCowan is looking to improve his position but Bellow isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCowan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
McCowan is looking for a sweep. Bellow is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McCowan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bellow trying to control but McCowan is working from the bottom.
McCowan throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bellow has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McCowan is proving hard to escape from.
Bellow wants to pass the guard but McCowan is keeping the position.
Bellow wants to control from the top but McCowan keeps moving.

McCowan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bellow can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCowan is trying to keep Bellow in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris McCowan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McCowan 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris McCowan!