PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Cowan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rex Carver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Cowan
vs
Carver

185 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jeff Cowan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rex Carver!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Cowan.
Cowan moves out of range as Carver strikes.
Cowan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Carver. Cowan does a little dance to reset his feet.

Carver gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cowan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carver looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cowan is one step ahead there.
Carver has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Cowan has passed into side control.
Cowan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carver keeps working.
Carver manages to get back to half guard.

Carver is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cowan pulls his head out easily.
Carver moves into full guard.

Carver is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cowan drops back looking for a leg! Carver is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carver manages to kick Cowan off! Cowan jumps back into Carver's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Carver works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cowan trying to control the position from guard on top but Carver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Carver had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cowan defends it easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cowan lands a couple of digs.
Carver working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cowan.
Carver keeping full guard, as Cowan tries to pass.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Carver tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cowan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Cowan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cowan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Carver utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cowan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cowan throws a big right hand that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cowan avoids the body shot from Carver.
Cowan throws a right hand that Carver ducks under and follows up with a left that Carver also avoids with ease.
Cowan is breathing heavily.

Cowan forces Carver back against the cage and clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cowan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Carver pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cowan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Carver can't find room to land a body shot as Cowan controls the action.
Cowan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Carver gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Cowan drags the fight down to the ground.
Cowan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Carver postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Carver with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cowan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carver working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Carver lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Carver landing with the ground and pound.
Carver lands a couple of digs.

Cowan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Carver defends it easily.
Carver landing with the ground and pound.
Carver landing with the ground and pound.
Carver scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cowan is trying to control the position but Carver postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cowan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Carver gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carver lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Cowan is looking for a triangle but Carver pushes his legs off easily.
Carver loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Cowan is looking for a triangle here but Carver uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Carver working the ground and pound from side control.
Cowan tries to bench press Carver off him but Carver keeps the position.

Carver tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cowan is working to avoid the ground and pound but Carver connects with a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rex Carver will probably get the nod.
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.

Carver scores with a punch to the head.
Cowan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Cowan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Carver on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cowan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Carver connects with a single shot there.
Carver misses with a hook.
Cowan moves in looking to clinch but Carver pushes him off.
Carver closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Cowan misses with a two punch combination.

Cowan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cowan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Carver is looking to improve his position but Cowan isn't that keen on the idea.
Carver is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cowan throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cowan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Carver regains half guard.
Cowan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Carver works his way to full guard. Good work.
Carver doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cowan wants to control from the top but Carver keeps moving.
Carver is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Carver missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Carver throwing shots but Cowan is blocking nicely.

Cowan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Cowan actively working from the bottom here.

Carver seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two 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.

Cowan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carver pulls his head out easily.

Cowan with the active half guard here but Carver passes nicely into side control.
Check out the look on Carver's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Cowan is looking to regain half guard here but Carver keeps moving and retains side control.

Carver tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Carver has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cowan sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cowan actively working from the bottom here.
Cowan tries to get to full guard but Carver has control of the leg.
Cowan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Carver is working away from the top position though.
Carver scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Carver not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Carver lands a nice short elbow.

Cowan looking for submissions off his back.

Cowan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carver pulls his head out easily.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cowan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Carver counter with a right hand.
Carver dips to his left and cracks Cowan with an uppercut!
A big left from Carver misses.
Cowan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Carver misses with a double jab

and Cowan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Cowan is looking for a kimura but Carver is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cowan to get the leverage.
Cowan trying to mount his opponent but Carver defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Carver manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cowan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cowan won't allow Carver to sweep him here.
Cowan trying to control but Carver is working from the bottom.

Carver is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carver controls Cowan momentarily but Cowan frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jeff Cowan will probably get the nod.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cowan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Carver counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cowan fails to land with a series of punches.
Carver connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Carver has a takedown stuffed.
Cowan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Carver moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Carver defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cowan.
Carver closes the distance but Cowan moves to the side

and Cowan moves into the clinch.
Carver jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cowan walks away with a smile on his face. Carver gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Carver dodges the punch combination from Cowan.
Carver takes a swing at Cowan's ribcage but misses.

Carver moves into range and clinches up with Cowan.
Cowan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Carver has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Carver misses with a body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cowan wants the takedown. Carver is fighting it off but Cowan persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Carver's guard against the cage.

Cowan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cowan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowan advances position into side control!
Carver gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Carver actively working from the bottom here.
Carver avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cowan.
Carver is not content to let Cowan control the position.
Carver is looking to control Cowan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Carver avoid being mounted?

Cowan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Carver doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cowan.
Cowan is trying to control the action in half guard but Carver is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Carver keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cowan scores with a jab to the body.
Carver throws a lazy right hand but Cowan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cowan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Carver looks to land a right hand but Cowan moved out of range.
A swing and a miss from Carver.
Jeff Cowan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carver will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jeff Cowan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rex Carver.
Carver dodges the punch combination from Cowan.
No joy there for Cowan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Carver throws a shot from downtown. Cowan moves away and avoids it.
Decent striking displayed by Cowan there.
Carver scores with a hook.
Cowan with a jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Carver.
Cowan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Carver uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cowan lands a two punch combo.
Cowan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Carver's head.
Carver shoots in and drives through. Cowan sprawls well.
Cowan misses with a series of wild punches.
Carver takes a swing at Cowan's ribcage but misses.
Carver 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.
Some wild striking there from Cowan.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Carver.
Cowan is looking to regain half guard here but Carver keeps moving and retains side control.
Cowan is trying to control Carver's posture but Carver avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Carver's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Cowan wants to control but Carver postures up.
Cowan is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Check out the look on Carver's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Carver creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cowan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A slow jab from Carver misses its intended target.
A punch combination from Cowan misses.
Cowan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Carver.
Cowan fails to land with a series of punches.
Carver fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cowan closes the distance and clinches up with Carver, looking for a takedown. Cowan pushes Carver against the cage but Carver circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Carver scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Carver digs a good hook to Cowan's body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Carver darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Carver dodges the punch combination from Cowan.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rex Carver.
I think Carver has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rex Carver!