PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dom Fartch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Bowie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fartch
vs
Bowie

200 cm
26
220 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

195 cm
22
210 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

PWNAGE™ (WOT)
Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dom Fartch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raphael Bowie!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fartch throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Fartch on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bowie. Bowie obviously looking to wear him down.

Bowie fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fartch, pushing him back against the cage.
Bowie lands an uppercut.
Bowie stops a takedown attempt from Fartch.
Bowie lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Dom Fartch has been cut.
Bowie landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bowie scores with a shot to the side of Fartch's head.
Bowie lands with a short shot to the head.
Fartch can't break the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Bowie.

Fartch breaks the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bowie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bowie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fartch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Fartch is looking for a triangle here but Bowie uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Bowie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowie in side control, throwing shots but Fartch defends.
Fartch on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Bowie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fartch knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Bowie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Fartch takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowie working the body and head with strikes.
Bowie wants to control but Fartch is keeping him busy.
Fartch is looking for a sweep.
Fartch is working hard here to advance position.
Bowie lands a nice forearm strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fartch is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bowie cracks Fartch with a big right hand but Fartch just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Bowie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fartch has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Fartch gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bowie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fartch defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fartch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fartch slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Bowie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Fartch is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Fartch has escaped and now he's on top!
Fartch throws an elbow that misses. Bowie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fartch's guard. Nice move by Bowie!
Fartch being controlled here, momentarily.
Fartch avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bowie trying to control but Fartch is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bowie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Fartch is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bowie, into his guard.
Fartch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bowie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Bowie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bowie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fartch scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fartch has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fartch looking to sit in guard and control but Bowie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bowie postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Bowie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dom Fartch's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bowie fails with the takedown.
Fartch has a takedown stuffed.
Fartch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice sprawl there from Bowie as Fartch shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dom Fartch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fartch takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Fartch fails to land the takedown.

Bowie fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Fartch to the ground. Bowie is now in Fartch's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fartch trying to control the position.
Bowie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bowie wants to get up but he can't break Fartch's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Raphael Bowie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fartch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bowie is one step ahead there.
Fartch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bowie wants to control from the top but Fartch keeps moving.
Bowie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bowie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fartch is keeping the position for now.
Bowie lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowie throwing strikes but missing.
Bowie trying to control the position from guard on top but Fartch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bowie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Fartch throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bowie escapes and throws Fartch's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Bowie creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Fartch sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Bowie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bowie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Fartch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bowie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Fartch has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bowie but great work by Fartch.
Bowie is looking for a sweep.
Bowie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Fartch is trying to control. Bowie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bowie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fartch trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bowie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fartch's guard.

Bowie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Fartch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bowie defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowie is working Fartch over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bowie working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Fartch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bowie is pushing down on Fartch's leg trying to pass to half guard. Fartch is fighting to maintain full guard but Bowie has managed to sneak the leg through.

Fartch is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bowie pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bowie is working for a kimura but Fartch is defending it quite comfortably.
Fartch is refusing to be controlled, as Bowie sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Bowie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dom Fartch's cut.
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!

Bowie throws a looping overhand right but Fartch ducks down to avoid it.

Bowie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bowie wants to take a breather but Fartch is having none of it.
Bowie works his way into side control.
Bowie advances to mount.
Bowie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Fartch regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowie is thwarting Fartch's attempts to control the position.

Bowie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Bowie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fartch has managed to free his arm - good work.

Bowie seems to be looking for submissions.
Bowie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fartch knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowie is trying to control. Fartch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fartch tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bowie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fartch keeps working.
Fartch is looking to escape.
Fartch wants to control but Bowie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bowie is keen to just control but Fartch is a slippery customer.
Bowie is thwarting Fartch's attempts to control the position.

Bowie is working for a kimura but Fartch is defending it quite comfortably.
Fartch trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fartch is positioning himself well to prevent Bowie advancing to mount.
Fartch trying to control from the bottom.

Dom Fartch has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Bowie thows a body shot but no joy.
Bowie swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Fartch.
A jab from Bowie misses.
Raphael Bowie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fartch shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bowie defends it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fartch ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bowie ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Fartch walks into a straight right hand from Bowie.
Dom Fartch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bowie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fartch gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bowie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bowie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fartch tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bowie smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dom Fartch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bowie lands a lovely overhand right.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael Bowie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bowie has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphael Bowie!
Our winner, Raphael Bowie, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.