PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Bowhime (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Daina (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.

Bowhime
vs
Daina

185 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Bowhime!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Daina!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bowhime closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bowhime lands in his opponent's guard.
Bowhime wants to stand but Daina is controlling his posture from full guard.
Daina is trying to control the position but Bowhime postures up.
Daina pulls Bowhime in close to prevent any damage.

Bowhime decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Daina, up you get!
Bowhime is looking to clinch.
Daina circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bowhime is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Daina will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daina closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bowhime circles away.
Daina misses with a takedown attempt

and Bowhime holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
John Bowhime has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Daina.
Daina fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Daina manages to pull guard.
Daina keeping full guard, as Bowhime tries to pass.
Daina lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bowhime!
Bowhime tries to hold on but Daina postures up.
Bowhime tries to reverse the position but Daina maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daina tries to control but Bowhime wriggling away.

Daina is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bowhime has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Daina looks gassed!
Bowhime is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bowhime slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bowhime is looking to improve his position.
Daina is looking to take a break and control but Bowhime is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowhime has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Daina is working away from the top position though.
Bowhime looks like he's trying to stand up.
Daina missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bowhime slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Daina throwing strikes from guard but Bowhime blocks nicely.
Bowhime trying to keep a closed guard but Daina is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bowhime tries to clinch but Daina moves out of range.
Bowhime wants to clinch.

Daina closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bowhime lands a nice knee to the body.
Daina drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bowhime gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bowhime prevents a takedown attempt there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Daina jumps guard but Bowhime stands there with Daina around his waist. Daina gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Daina tries to pull guard but Bowhime won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bowhime dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Daina with a poor takedown

and Bowhime counters with a single leg into guard. Daina didn't expect that.
Daina is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bowhime preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daina pulls Bowhime in close to his closed guard and prevents Bowhime from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bowhime preventing the sweep.
Bowhime seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bowhime wants to pass the guard but Daina is keeping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daina keeping moving, preventing Bowhime from controlling successfully.
Bowhime looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Daina closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Bowhime wants the takedown. Daina is fighting it off but Bowhime persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Daina's guard against the cage.
Bowhime stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Daina swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bowhime wants to control from the top but Daina keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowhime throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Daina works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Daina wants to sweep but no luck.
Daina managing to control the position.
Bowhime wants to control from the top but Daina keeps moving.
Bowhime has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bowhime tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Daina counters with a single leg into guard. Bowhime didn't expect that.
Bowhime controls Daina momentarily but Daina frees himself.
Bowhime looking to control but Daina passes into half guard.
Daina is taking a breather. Bowhime says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Bowhime tries to get to full guard but Daina has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daina trying to control the action but Bowhime is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Daina perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bowhime tries to get to full guard but Daina has control of the leg.
Bowhime trying to hold on to Daina's head to control him but Daina postures up.
Daina trying to control the action but Bowhime is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Bowhime will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Daina with a poor takedown

and Bowhime moves into the clinch.

Bowhime decides to pull guard.
Bowhime is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bowhime holds on and takes a little breather.
Daina trying to control the position from guard on top but Bowhime is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bowhime working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Daina doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Daina manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowhime is trying to control the position but Daina postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Daina passes Bowhime's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bowhime tries to roll over but Daina keeps him under control.
Bowhime is not content to let Daina control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Daina misses with a takedown attempt

and Bowhime counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bowhime is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bowhime has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Daina avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Daina as Bowhime tries to tie him up.
Daina tries for a takedown but Bowhime manages to get underhooks.
John Bowhime has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Daina.
Bowhime stops a takedown attempt from Daina.

Bowhime has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Daina clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Daina prevents Bowhime from getting a body triangle.
Daina trying to control the hands but Bowhime won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowhime is hanging on to Daina's back as he tries to escape.
Bowhime slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Daina looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Daina tries to roll but Bowhime sticks to his back.
Will Bowhime go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Daina trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
John Bowhime is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
You can see the frustration on Daina's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Bowhime controlling from the back.
Daina tries to escape but Bowhime has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Bowhime is not going to allow Daina to sit and survive in this position.
Daina looking very determined here, making life difficult for Bowhime.
John Daina has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Daina can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Bowhime showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bowhime has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Bowhime!