PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Christoper Bowman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Sawyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bowman
vs
Sawyer

175 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

182 cm
24
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Christoper Bowman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Sawyer!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sawyer throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bowman tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sawyer is in Bowman's guard.

Sawyer is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bowman is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bowman has escaped and now he's on top!
Sawyer looking for a sweep. Not yet Sawyer, not yet.

Bowman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sawyer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bowman is in close to Sawyer's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Sawyer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bowman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bowman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sawyer doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Bowman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bowman 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowman won't allow Sawyer to get back to his feet.
Bowman trying to control the position from guard on top but Sawyer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bowman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Sawyer had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bowman defends it easily.
Bowman with a nice head shot there.
Sawyer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bowman throwing strikes but missing.
Bowman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bowman content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sawyer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bowman's guard.

Sawyer drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bowman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sawyer has Bowman in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bowman throws a big right hand that misses.
Sawyer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bowman trying to control but Sawyer is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bowman postures up and lands a big shot to Sawyer's brow.
Sawyer looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bowman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sawyer is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sawyer wriggles free and stands up.
Sawyer lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Christoper Bowman has been cut.
Sawyer tries to close the distance and clinch but Bowman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bowman tries to clinch up.

Sawyer has closed the distance and engaged Bowman in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowman is working for takedown but Sawyer is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sawyer can't break the clinch.
Sawyer keeps control of Bowman as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sawyer jumps into guard, dragging Bowman to the mat.

Bowman has gone for a leg lock! Sawyer slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bowman's guard.
Sawyer looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bowman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sawyer defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Sawyer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Christoper Bowman's cut.
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.

Sawyer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sawyer cracks Bowman with a right hand to the side of the head.

Bowman tries to sprawl but Sawyer drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sawyer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bowman won't allow Sawyer to pass to mount.

Sawyer is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Bowman still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Bowman has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

Bowman is trying to get an arm triangle but Sawyer is defending well.
James Sawyer has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawyer regains half guard.
Sawyer wants to get back to his feet.
Bowman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Sawyer looking for submissions off his back.
Bowman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sawyer with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sawyer is looking for a sweep. Bowman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sawyer trying to hold on to Bowman's head to control him but Bowman postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sawyer is breathing heavily.

Sawyer is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Bowman presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Bowman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sawyer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bowman tries to clinch up but Sawyer circles away and keeps his distance.
Bowman is looking to clinch but Sawyer is avoiding it.

Sawyer manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bowman on his heels. He'll look to pass Bowman's guard now, I'm sure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bowman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sawyer is aware though and is defending well.
Sawyer tries to free his leg and advance position but Bowman is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bowman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bowman keeping moving, preventing Sawyer from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sawyer content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by James Sawyer.
Sawyer tries to clinch but Bowman is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer is looking to clinch but Bowman is avoiding it.
Sawyer tries to clinch there but Bowman circles away.

Sawyer closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sawyer lands in his opponent's guard.
Bowman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sawyer trying to control but Bowman is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Sawyer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Christoper Bowman's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bowman fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sawyer scores with a takedown into Bowman's guard.
Sawyer postures up in Bowman's guard and throws a big left but Bowman blocks it.
Sawyer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sawyer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bowman is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sawyer trying to move into half guard but instead Bowman has managed to sweep!
Bowman trying to control the position from guard on top but Sawyer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sawyer is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bowman landing with the ground and pound.

Sawyer has his foot on Bowman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bowman works his way back into a safe position though.
Sawyer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sawyer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sawyer keeping moving, preventing Bowman from controlling successfully.
Sawyer controls Bowman momentarily but Bowman frees himself.
Bowman working some strikes from top position.
Bowman throwing strikes from guard but Sawyer blocks nicely.
Bowman distracts Sawyer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sawyer is keeping the position for now.
Sawyer controls Bowman momentarily but Bowman frees himself.

Sawyer working for a triangle but Bowman defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bowman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sawyer looking to control.
Bowman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bowman postures up in Sawyer's guard and throws a big left but Sawyer blocks it.
Bowman prevents Sawyer from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bowman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bowman throws a big right hand that misses.
Bowman won't allow Sawyer to get back to his feet.
Sawyer working a defensive guard but Bowman passes into half guard.
Ground and pound from Bowman.
Bowman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sawyer defending well though.
Bowman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sawyer wants to control but Bowman passes into side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bowman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Christoper Bowman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Sawyer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sawyer taking punishment in the form of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Christoper Bowman.
Well Sawyer 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Sawyer!