PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stone Kirby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Bowie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kirby's entrance music is eye of the tiger. A fine choice. Stone Kirby had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kirby
vs
Bowie

188 cm
25
217 lbs
11 - 1 - 1

195 cm
25
210 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Blood Bank ($10)
Syndicate Nutrition

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 11 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Stone Kirby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raphael Bowie!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirby uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bowie.
Kirby on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kirby pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Donk. Bowie catches Kirby right on the button with a cross.
Kirby takes one to the chin there.
Kirby throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bowie jabs Kirby to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kirby looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bowie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kirby sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kirby dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bowie. That did some damage!
Kirby scores with a kick to the midsection.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bowie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bowie defending well as Kirby loads up on a big left hand.
Bowie blocks the body kick.
Kirby misses with a head kick.
Raphael Bowie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kirby throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A swing and a miss from Kirby.
Bowie sizes up Kirby with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kirby tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kirby instigates a clinch.
Kirby comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Bowie has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kirby regains guard immediately.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bowie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kirby is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kirby utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bowie is working Kirby over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bowie throws a big elbow that misses.
Bowie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bowie is looking to advance position but Kirby has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kirby looking to control but Bowie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bowie sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Bowie looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bowie is looking to control Kirby's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bowie avoid being mounted?
It looks like Kirby is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowie trying to hold on to Kirby's head to control him but Kirby postures up.
Bowie wants to get back to full guard.
Kirby knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bowie on the ground.
Bowie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kirby's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kirby's back!
Kirby has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Bowie.
Bowie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Bowie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirby tries to roll but Bowie sticks to his back.
Kirby manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Kirby.
Bowie is looking to work some ground and pound but Kirby has wrist control.

Bowie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kirby manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bowie has Kirby in his guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bowie throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kirby uses it to pass to side control.
Bowie is looking to reverse the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kirby taking a break here but Bowie is having none of it and regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Bowie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kirby pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Bowie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kirby's guard.
Bowie throws a big elbow that misses.
Bowie trying to control but Kirby is working from the bottom.
Bowie throwing strikes from guard but Kirby blocks nicely.
Bowie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kirby looking for a sweep. Not yet Kirby, not yet.
Bowie throws a big right hand that misses.
Bowie throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby keeping moving, preventing Bowie from controlling successfully.
Bowie is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Bowie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bowie postures up and lands a big shot to Kirby's brow.
Kirby looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bowie is one step ahead there.
Bowie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bowie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bowie postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowie wants to control from the top but Kirby keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kirby holds on and takes a little breather.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bowie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kirby works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bowie works over Kirby with some ground and pound from guard.
Bowie passes Kirby's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kirby is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bowie scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bowie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bowie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ground and pound from Bowie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bowie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Bowie is looking for a kimura but Kirby is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bowie to get the leverage.
Kirby trying to hold on to Bowie's head to control him but Bowie postures up.
Bowie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bowie wants to pass to mount but Kirby is defending the position.

Bowie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kirby sees it coming and defends easily.
Kirby is not content to let Bowie control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirby is looking for a sweep. Bowie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bowie wants to pass the guard but Kirby is defending well.
Bowie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kirby controlling the position for now.
Bowie is keen to just control but Kirby is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirby trying to control here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bowie with the ground and pound but Kirby uses the opportunity to regain 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.
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. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Bowie or perhaps it was just good defense by Kirby which made him look bad.
Kirby throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kirby throws a leg kick which misses Bowie's front leg but catches the back leg as Bowie tries to avoid it.
Bowie scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bowie scores with a hook to the body. Kirby takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kirby fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kirby lands a nice looking body shot.
Kirby is looking to land body kicks.
Bowie on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Bowie punishes Kirby's body with a nice straight punch.
Kirby misses with a body shot.
Kirby misses with a body kick.
Bowie has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bowie misses with a hook. Kirby ducked under it nicely.
Kirby throws a solid leg kick but Bowie takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kirby.
Kirby will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kirby enables Bowie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kirby manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowie preventing the sweep.
Kirby not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bowie working some strikes from top position.
Bowie throws an elbow that misses. Kirby uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bowie's guard. Nice move by Kirby!
Bowie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kirby manages to get himself to full guard.
Bowie throws an elbow that misses. Kirby uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bowie's guard. Nice move by Kirby!
Bowie tries to strike from the bottom.

Kirby avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Bowie has his foot on Kirby's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kirby works his way back into a safe position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bowie punching from the bottom - just letting Kirby know he's still in a fight.

Bowie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bowie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Bowie has his foot on Kirby's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kirby works his way back into a safe position though.

Kirby stands and steps away. Bowie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kirby bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Bowie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bowie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bowie landing shots from mount.
Stone Kirby has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raphael Bowie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowie tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bowie avoids the attempt from Kirby to control.
Bowie throws some wild stikes that Kirby manages to avoid easily.
Bowie lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kirby flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Kirby is desperately trying to improve his position but Bowie has a good base and remains in mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bowie controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael Bowie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bowie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin 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.