PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Josh Cowen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apache Tagalog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Apache Tagalog will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cowen
vs
Tagalog

180 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Cowen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Apache Tagalog!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Columbo Gatti and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tagalog tries to clinch up.
Tagalog tries to close the distance and clinch but Cowen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tagalog tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cowen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tagalog looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tagalog wants to clinch up but Cowen keeps it at a distance.
Cowen keeps the fight on the outside.
Tagalog is looking to clinch but Cowen is avoiding it.
Cowen keeps the fight on the outside.
Tagalog moves in looking to clinch but Cowen pushes him off.

Cowen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tagalog avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cowen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cowen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tagalog doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cowen.
Cowen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tagalog keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cowen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tagalog knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tagalog wants to control but Cowen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cowen slips a nice elbow through Tagalog's hands, connecting with Tagalog's forehead.
Cowen is pressing down on Tagalog's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tagalog is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cowen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tagalog tries to get to full guard but Cowen has control of the leg.
Cowen is trying to control the action in half guard but Tagalog is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cowen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tagalog regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cowen.
Tagalog working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cowen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowen connects with a couple of short punches.
Cowen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tagalog is keeping the position for now.
Cowen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cowen throws and elbow that misses. Tagalog uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cowen's guard. Nice move by Tagalog!
Tagalog is looking to stand up but Cowen won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cowen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Tagalog trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cowen's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Cowen dominated that round.
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.

Cowen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tagalog!
Cowen punching from mount but Tagalog doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Cowen controlling from mount.
Cowen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Tagalog tries to hold on but Cowen pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cowen with a couple of short strikes.
Cowen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tagalog tries to hold on but Cowen pushes him away.
Cowen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Tagalog holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cowen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cowen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cowen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Tagalog is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's two 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.
Tagalog manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Tagalog, under a barage of strikes from Cowen.
Cowen with the ground and pound but Tagalog uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Tagalog keeping moving, preventing Cowen from controlling successfully.
Tagalog working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cowen.
Cowen wants to control from the top but Tagalog keeps moving.

Cowen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tagalog is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tagalog has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tagalog stands up from guard. Let's bang!

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.
Tagalog is looking to clinch but Cowen is avoiding it.
Cowen keeps the fight on the outside.

Cowen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tagalog regains half guard, as Cowen was trying to land strikes.
Cowen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tagalog manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cowen trying to control the position from guard on top but Tagalog is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cowen thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Cowen dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cowen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tagalog tries to clinch up.
Tagalog tries to clinch up.
Tagalog wants to clinch up but Cowen keeps it at a distance.
Tagalog misses with a takedown attempt

and Cowen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tagalog's guard now.
Cowen works over Tagalog with some ground and pound from guard.
Cowen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tagalog works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tagalog working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cowen.
Cowen trying to control but Tagalog is working from the bottom.
Josh Cowen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tagalog keeping full guard, as Cowen tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowen preventing the sweep.
Cowen wants to stand but Tagalog is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cowen looking to sit in guard and control but Tagalog gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tagalog wanted to stand there but Cowen had control of the position.

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.

Cowen kicks Tagalog off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tagalog closes the distance looking to clinch

and Cowen counters with a shoot takedown. Tagalog fights it but they end up in guard.
Cowen wants to get up but he can't break Tagalog's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cowen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tagalog looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cowen is one step ahead there.
Cowen trying to control but Tagalog is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cowen with a nice head shot there.
Cowen looking to sit in guard and control but Tagalog gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tagalog wanted to stand there but Cowen had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Cowen clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cowen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tagalog pushes Cowen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cowen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Tagalog defending against the ground and pound.
Cowen with the ground and pound but Tagalog regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Cowen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tagalog defending well though.
Cowen thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tagalog to regain full guard.
Cowen throws a strike but Tagalog rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tagalog got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cowen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tagalog has managed to get both his arms back between Cowen's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cowen has a closed guard, preventing Tagalog from standing up.
Cowen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowen pulls Tagalog in close to his closed guard and prevents Tagalog from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tagalog preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.
Tagalog wants to get up but he can't break Cowen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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

and Cowen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cowen.
Tagalog wants to get back to his feet but Cowen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cowen wants to control from the top but Tagalog keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cowen throwing strikes from guard but Tagalog blocks nicely.
Cowen connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Cowen had his way with Apache Tagalog in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tagalog tries to clinch up

and Cowen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cowen is looking to stall here but Tagalog recovers full guard.
Cowen trying to control the position from guard on top but Tagalog is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cowen is looking to work some ground and pound but Tagalog has wrist control.
Cowen scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowen trying to control but Tagalog is working from the bottom.
Cowen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cowen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cowen passes into half guard.
Cowen is just content to waste time from the top position. Tagalog takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cowen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cowen won't allow Tagalog to get back to his feet.
Cowen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tagalog wants to stand and escape but Cowen is having none of it.

Cowen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tagalog dives on top into guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Tagalog preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tagalog wanted to stand there but Cowen had control of the position.
Cowen pulls Tagalog in close to prevent any damage.
Apache Tagalog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cowen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cowen tries to get out of the position.

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.
Tagalog wants to get up but he can't break Cowen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Cowen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cowen 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 50:45
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 50:45
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Cowen!
Josh Cowen is the new lightweight champion!