PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thad Mangrove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jcb Bowens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bowens has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Jcb Bowens told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Mangrove
vs
Bowens

188 cm
21
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

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 Las Vegas, Thad Mangrove!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jcb Bowens!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mangrove shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bowens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bowens looks gassed!
A head kick misses from Mangrove.
Mangrove shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bowens defends it nicely.
Mangrove is looking to clinch.
Bowens avoids a punch combination nicely.

Mangrove closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bowens's guard.
Bowens keeping moving, preventing Mangrove from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thad Mangrove wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bowens avoids the head kick by Mangrove.
Mangrove fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mangrove looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bowens is fending him off so far but Mangrove persists. Nope, Bowens circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thad Mangrove. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mangrove tries to clinch up but Bowens circles away and keeps his distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bowens.

Mangrove drives through and clinches with Bowens against the cage.

Bowens breaks the clinch.
A combination from Bowens does no damage.
Mangrove looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mangrove misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove fails with a takedown attempt.
Mangrove throws a series of punches but Bowens moves out of range.
Mangrove fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bowens stuffs the takedown attempt from Mangrove. Mangrove gets slowly back to his feet.

Mangrove closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bowens did well to prevent Mangrove getting side control.

Mangrove escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mangrove moves into range and clinches up with Bowens.
Mangrove is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Bowens works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Mangrove preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mangrove looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bowens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mangrove. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mangrove wants to get back to his feet but Bowens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mangrove keeping moving, preventing Bowens from controlling successfully.
Mangrove will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bowens must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bowens!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poor strikes thrown by Mangrove there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mangrove unloads with some shots from mount but Bowens bucks and avoids them well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bowens can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bowens holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mangrove tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mangrove is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thad Mangrove dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mangrove misses with a takedown attempt - Bowens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mangrove tries to clinch but Bowens moves out of range.
Mangrove misses with a few strikes there.
Bowens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mangrove throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bowens's waist but Bowens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mangrove off to one side.
Mangrove tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mangrove throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bowens.
Bowens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bowens wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thad Mangrove. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bowens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bowens has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangrove fails in his attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mangrove.
Mangrove moves in looking to clinch but Bowens pushes him off.
Mangrove tries to close the distance and clinch but Bowens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mangrove is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bowens sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Bowens drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mangrove manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Mangrove is trying to control the action in half guard but Bowens is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove is just content to waste time from the top position. Bowens takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Bowens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bowens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mangrove works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mangrove looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bowens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove wants to take a breather but Bowens is having none of it.
Mangrove works his way into side control.
Mangrove 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.
Mangrove postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Mangrove stands up and beckons Bowens to his feet.

Bowens gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowens keeping moving, preventing Mangrove from controlling successfully.
Mangrove engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Thad Mangrove.
Mangrove swings away with a body shot that misses

and Bowens holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bowens is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mangrove is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thad Mangrove dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mangrove wants to clinch.

Mangrove gets tackled into the cage by Bowens. Bowens maintains the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Mangrove's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mangrove has a couple of punches blocked by Bowens.
Mangrove changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bowens fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mangrove.

Mangrove clinches with his opponent.
Bowens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mangrove has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bowens avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bowens is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mangrove can't fight it off and eventually Bowens manages to take the fight to the floor. Mangrove looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Bowens is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Mangrove has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Bowens is looking to defend but Mangrove has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Bowens! Mangrove pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Bowens taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Thad Mangrove!