PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Method Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Bowie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man comes to the cage accompanied by Method Man - Bring The Pain. Bowie has chosen 300 Violin Orchestra - Jorge Quintero as his entrance music. Method Man has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Man
vs
Bowie

191 cm
27
214 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

195 cm
31
210 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem

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 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Method Man!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raphael Bowie!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Donatello Bradman and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Man wants to clinch

and Bowie counters with a single leg into guard. Man didn't expect that.
Man working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bowie.
Bowie throws an elbow that misses. Man uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bowie's guard. Nice move by Man!
Bowie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Bowie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bowie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Man postures up and lands a big shot to Bowie's brow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bowie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Man throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Man got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bowie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Man has managed to get both his arms back between Bowie's legs - danger averted.
Man looking to pass the guard.
Man controls from within his opponent's guard.

Bowie has his foot on Man's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Man works his way back into a safe position though.
Man 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 throws a big right hand that misses.

Bowie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bowie looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowie wants to control from the top but Man keeps moving.
Man controls Bowie momentarily but Bowie frees himself.
Bowie stopping the sweep attempt from Man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowie postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bowie throws a strike but Man rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bowie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Man.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bowie is on top in guard.
Bowie passes Man's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Bowie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Man is just riding it out for now. Bowie eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Bowie is looking for submissions but instead, Man has regained full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bowie with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Man lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Raphael Bowie has been cut.
Man looks for the body kick but Bowie saw that one coming.
Man looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Man is looking to score with low kicks.
Bowie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Man thuds his shin into the meat of Bowie's side.
Man jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Man tries to clinch but Bowie is having none of it.

Man has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bowie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowie goes for a takedown attempt but Man pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Man tries a low kick but Bowie avoids it.
Man throws the kick towards the body but Bowie avoids it.
Man throws a hook but Bowie blocks it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Man.
Man tests Bowie's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Man misses with a double jab.
Man throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Method Man is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Man misses with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bowie keeps the fight on the outside.
Bowie checks a leg kick.
Man looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Man moves into the clinch successfully.
Man lands a nice uppercut.
Man lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bowie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Man gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Method Man has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raphael Bowie.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bowie tries for a takedown but Man manages to get underhooks.
Bowie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Man avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bowie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Man holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Bowie is trying to drag Man to the mat but Man just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man prevents the takedown attempt.
Man lands a body punch.
Bowie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bowie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Man avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Man throws a punch but it's blocked by Bowie.
A nice left hand lands by Man.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Man.
Bowie has Man pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Man manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bowie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Bowie pulls guard.
Man preventing the sweep.
Man trying to control but Bowie is working from the bottom.
Man sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bowie's guard.
Man sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bowie is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Well, if Man is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Bowie gets full guard.
Man content to stall in guard here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Man pushing down on Bowie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Man is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Method Man dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Raphael Bowie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bowie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Man throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Bowie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Man won't be happy with that.
Man can't do much from the bottom here.
Bowie sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Man is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Bowie tries to advance to mount but Man denies him.

Bowie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Man struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Man is working hard here to advance position.
Man gets back to half guard.

Bowie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Man defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bowie is trying to work for a kimura but Man is defending well.

Man looking for submissions off his back.
Bowie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bowie wants to work for an arm triangle but Man is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bowie is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Man wants to control but Bowie is keeping busy.

Bowie is looking for a kimura but Man is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bowie to get the leverage.

Bowie is trying for a kimura here. Man looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Bowie wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Raphael Bowie!
An out of breath Raphael Bowie thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
The defeated Method Man had this to say: 'Patty cake patty cake hey the method man Don't eat Skippy, Jif or Peter Pan Peanut butter, cuz I'm not butter In fact I snap back like a rubber band!'.