PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Casey Bowman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bowman comes to the cage accompanied by Dropkick Murphys - Warriors Code. Penn has chosen Everything in its right place as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Bowman
vs
Penn

180 cm
30
202 lbs
15 - 15 - 0

181 cm
28
185 lbs
13 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Pure Nutrition

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 15 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Casey Bowman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, James Penn!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bowman takes one to the side of the head.
Bowman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Penn.
Bowman seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Penn throws a sloppy head kick and Bowman moves out of range easily.
Bowman was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Penn shoots in for a double leg but Bowman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
It looked like Bowman was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Penn misses with a straight right.
Bowman blocks a head kick by Penn.
Bowman misses with a double jab.
Penn lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Casey Bowman has been cut.
Bowman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bowman moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bowman shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Penn napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Penn parries the strikes from Bowman easily there. Bowman is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Penn to escape.
Bowman creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Penn sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bowman wants to control but Penn is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is trying to get back to half guard.
Sloppy strikes there by Bowman.
Penn tries to bench press Bowman off him but Bowman keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Penn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Penn dodges the ground and pound from Bowman.

Bowman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Penn has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Penn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Penn is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bowman throws an elbow but Penn slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bowman stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Nice straight punches there by Penn. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Penn.
Penn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bowman was well out of range. Poor timing from Penn.
Bowman scores with a sloppy right hand. Penn should have avoided that one.

Penn fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bowman sprawls well initially but Penn persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Bowman manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Penn pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bowman swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A combination from Penn does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowman plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Bowman throws a head kick that half lands.
Penn tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bowman swivels and escapes.
Penn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bowman appears to be looking for a big counter.
Penn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Bowman fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Penn to the ground. Bowman is now in Penn's guard.
Penn is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowman stopping the sweep attempt from Penn.
Bowman content to stall in guard here.
Bowman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.

Penn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bowman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've been hearing that Bowman has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Bowman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bowman throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casey Bowman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Casey Bowman's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Penn throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bowman's head.

Bowman shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Penn napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Bowman goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Penn rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bowman's guard! Nice work there by Penn!
Penn trying to control but Bowman is working from the bottom.

Penn has gone for a leg lock! Bowman slips out almost immediately though and dives into Penn's guard.

Penn keeping moving, preventing Bowman from controlling successfully.
Bowman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Penn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bowman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Bowman from controlling successfully.
Penn is trying to control the position but Bowman postures up.
Bowman working some strikes from top position.
Penn working a defensive guard here.
Bowman wants to pass the guard but Penn is keeping the position.
Penn wants to sweep but no luck.
Bowman works over Penn with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bowman wants to get up but he can't break Penn's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Penn holds on and takes a little breather.
Penn trying to control the position.
Penn has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Penn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

My spies in ICON TOP TEAM inform me that Penn has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Penn trying to pass the guard but Bowman defending well.
Bowman is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn works his way into full mount!
Penn dominating with strikes here.
Bowman slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Penn is pressing down on Bowman's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bowman is holding on for now.
Bowman moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn scoring with punches to the head and body.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Bowman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penn passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bowman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Penn can do to turn this around?

Penn tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Penn has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Penn tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Penn has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Penn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Casey Bowman's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Penn throws a head kick but Bowman moves out of range.
Penn shoots in but Bowman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Penn throws a head kick but Bowman moves out of range.
Bowman seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A left and a right from Bowman both land. Nice combination.
Penn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bowman scores with a head kick.

Bowman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Penn's guard.
Penn seems keen to control Bowman's posture.
Penn controls Bowman momentarily but Bowman frees himself.
Bowman trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bowman wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Bowman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Penn has his hands on Bowman's head, controlling the position.
Penn 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.
Penn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bowman wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.

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.

Penn escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bowman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bowman won't allow Penn to sweep him here.
Bowman being controlled here momentarily.
Bowman wants to stand and escape but instead Penn has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Penn wants to control from the top but Bowman keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to free his leg and advance position but Bowman is retaining full guard.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Bowman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bowman pulls Penn in close to his closed guard and prevents Penn from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bowman keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bowman manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bowman wants to pass the guard but Penn is keeping the position.
Bowman wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Bowman chips away with some ground and pound.
Penn wants to sweep but no luck.
Penn keeping full guard, as Bowman tries to pass.
Bowman stopping the sweep attempt from Penn.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bowman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Penn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Penn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Casey Bowman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bowman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Casey Bowman!
During a confident post fight interview, Casey Bowman thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.