PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Clemens (ranked 5331 p4p, 5629 weight class) and Tony McCowan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Clemens
vs
McCowan

178 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
165
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samuel Clemens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tony McCowan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clemens connects with an inside leg kick.
Clemens throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McCowan moves out of range as Clemens throws a body kick.
McCowan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A punch combination from McCowan misses.
Clemens feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A solid body kick from Clemens.
Clemens takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Clemens doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McCowan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Clemens manages to avoid it.
Clemens tried to counter with a leg kick but McCowan avoided it.
McCowan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Clemens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Clemens sets himself, and McCowan steps forward looking for the clinch! Clemens avoids it this time.
Clemens tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tony McCowan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCowan throws a body shot but no joy.
Clemens cracks the inside of McCowan's front leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCowan swings away with a body shot that misses
and Clemens counters with a thumping low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCowan. Clemens does a little dance to reset his feet.
McCowan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Clemens moves away.
McCowan takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Clemens.
McCowan is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Clemens rather than just go for the knockout.

Clemens tries to keep at a distance but McCowan has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right from McCowan.
McCowan lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Clemens or not.
McCowan tries to work over Clemens's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McCowan misses with some punches.
Clemens lands a right hand that snaps the head of McCowan backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Clemens lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Clemens throws a punch but it's blocked by McCowan.
McCowan struggles to land a body shot inside as Clemens controls his hands.
McCowan works on Clemens's body with a couple of short punches.
McCowan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Clemens throws a head punch that misses.

Clemens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

McCowan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Clemens, pushing him back against the cage.
McCowan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clemens blocks a body shot from McCowan.
McCowan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McCowan struggles to land a body shot inside as Clemens controls his hands.
McCowan prevents a body shot from Clemens.
McCowan struggles to land a body shot inside as Clemens controls his hands.
The referee is keeping an eye on McCowan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McCowan throws a punch but it's blocked by Clemens.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCowan struggles to land a body shot inside as Clemens controls his hands.
Clemens tries to break free but McCowan pushes him back against the cage.
Clemens misses with a hook to the ribs.
Clemens has McCowan pushed against the cage.
Clemens wants to get back to striking at distance but McCowan won't allow it.
McCowan cracks Clemens with a nice body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McCowan.
A nice right hand lands inside from McCowan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCowan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McCowan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Clemens misses with the head strike.
Clemens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McCowan has Clemens pressed against the cage.
McCowan can't find room to land a body shot as Clemens controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McCowan.
McCowan stalling in the clinch but Clemens improves position.
McCowan tries to throw a body punch but Clemens avoids it by throwing McCowan back against the cage.
Clemens throws a punch but it's blocked by McCowan.
McCowan tries to throw a body punch but Clemens avoids it by throwing McCowan back against the cage.
Clemens blocks an uppercut.
Clemens has had enough of the clinch but McCowan keeps him there for the moment.
Clemens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McCowan misses with a hook from the clinch.

Clemens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clemens takes a body punch but keeps moving.
An inside leg kick from Clemens misses.
Clemens misses with a body kick.
Clemens tries a head kick but it misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Clemens.
Clemens slips a jab and a cross from McCowan.
Clemens throws a leg kick which misses McCowan's front leg but catches the back leg as McCowan tries to avoid it.
Clemens fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A good leg kick by Clemens.
McCowan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clemens throws a wild body kick that McCowan sees coming a mile off.
Clemens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A countering left hand to the body from McCowan misses.
That kick from Clemens tenderised McCowan's leg. McCowan is trying to keep his angry face on.
Clemens on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Clemens throws the kick towards the body but McCowan avoids it.
McCowan misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony McCowan will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McCowan lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Samuel Clemens has been cut.
Clemens tries to score with a low kick but McCowan moves his leg out of the way.
McCowan lands an overhand right.
McCowan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Clemens tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McCowan is able to avoid easily.
Clemens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Clemens slips under a jab from McCowan.
Clemens misses with a low kick.
McCowan shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Clemens eats them both and turns towards McCowan to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
McCowan scores with a shot to the body.
Clemens tries a head kick but it misses.
McCowan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Clemens moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCowan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Clemens stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McCowan's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A combination from McCowan does no damage.
McCowan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Clemens moves away.
McCowan misses with a shot to the body
and Clemens counters with a good, hard body kick but McCowan shrugs it off.
Tony McCowan seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clemens circles away from the clinch attempt
and Clemens counters with a low kick, right behind McCowan 's knee.
Clemens goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Clemens fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McCowan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
McCowan swinging wildly here.
Clemens wants to land a leg kick but McCowan is out of range.
McCowan avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Clemens slips a jab from McCowan.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Clemens throws a head kick that misses.
Clemens is looking to chop away at McCowan's legs.
McCowan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Clemens.
McCowan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
McCowan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Clemens makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clemens throws a leg kick that misses.
Clemens moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
McCowan throws a combination. Clemens tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
McCowan is breathing heavily.
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!
McCowan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McCowan blocks a leg kick.
Clemens throws a low kick but McCowan avoids it.
Clemens misses with a low kick.
McCowan misses with a straight right.
McCowan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clemens was well out of range. Poor timing from McCowan.
Clemens tried to counter with a leg kick but McCowan avoided it.
Clemens throws a front kick aimed at McCowan's knee but McCowan avoids it well.
Clemens looks to land a body kick but McCowan moved away.
Clemens throws a quick inside leg kick.
McCowan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Clemens manages to avoid it.
Clemens shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Clemens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McCowan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCowan has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Clemens.
Clemens ducks right into an uppercut from McCowan.
McCowan misses with a right hand
and Clemens counters with a good, hard body kick but McCowan shrugs it off.
McCowan misses with a body shot
and Clemens counters with a nice kick to the body.
McCowan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A head kick misses from Clemens.
Clemens throws a solid leg kick but McCowan takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Clemens.
Clemens fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McCowan is out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as McCowan blocks the leg kick.
McCowan misses with a hook to the body
and Clemens counters with a low kick, right behind McCowan 's knee.
A clash of legs there as McCowan blocks the low kick.
McCowan steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Clemens.
Clemens with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McCowan to score with a decent uppercut.
McCowan throws a nice looking combination but Clemens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Clemens throws a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCowan throws a body punch but Clemens moves out of range.
McCowan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Clemens manages to avoid it.
Clemens throws a front kick aimed at McCowan's knee but McCowan avoids it well.
Clemens sets himself, and McCowan steps forward looking for the clinch! Clemens avoids it this time.
McCowan misses with a combination
and Clemens counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
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!
McCowan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McCowan has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Clemens.
A solid body kick from Clemens.
McCowan avoids the head kick by Clemens.
Clemens throws a leg kick which misses McCowan's front leg but catches the back leg as McCowan tries to avoid it.
Clemens misses with a low kick.
Clemens throws a nice inside leg kick.
Clemens throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Clemens goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A clash of legs there as McCowan blocks the low kick.
McCowan is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
McCowan digs a good body shot into Clemens's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tony McCowan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Samuel Clemens'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. This is the final round!

McCowan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clemens with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Clemens motions for McCowan to come forward. Clemens throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Clemens slips a straight right by McCowan.
A slapping body kick lands there for Clemens.
Clemens misses with a kick to the body.
McCowan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Clemens has time to react.
Clemens throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
McCowan throws a right hand that misses
and Clemens counters with a thumping low kick.
McCowan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McCowan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Clemens.
Clemens looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clemens scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Clemens tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Clemens bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Clemens lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clemens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McCowan.
McCowan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Clemens attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
McCowan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Clemens can pounce on him.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCowan. Clemens does a little dance to reset his feet.
Clemens quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
McCowan checks the leg kick.
Clemens with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McCowan misses with an uppercut. Clemens saw that one coming.
Clemens circles away from the clinch attempt.
McCowan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Clemens looking to land some kicks to the body here.
McCowan digs a good hook to Clemens's body.
McCowan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Clemens misses with an attempted mid kick.
McCowan throws a body punch but Clemens moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from McCowan. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Clemens.
McCowan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Clemens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Clemens fakes a jab and throws a low kick but McCowan checks it well.
Clemens plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCowan misses the jab.
Clemens fakes a jab and throws a low kick but McCowan checks it well.
McCowan fails in his attempt to clinch.
McCowan falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Clemens bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
McCowan has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Clemens.
McCowan avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Clemens throws a sloppy head kick and McCowan moves out of range easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Clemens lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and McCowan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from McCowan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
McCowan tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCowan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Clemens.
McCowan throws a right and a left that Clemens avoids nicely.
Clemens turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Clemens pivots, looking for a leg kick but McCowan is out of range and Clemens settles back down.
McCowan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
McCowan moves out of range of the leg kick from Clemens.
The fighters circling - McCowan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tony McCowan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tony McCowan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCowan misses with a wild body shot.
McCowan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Clemens. Clemens obviously looking to wear him down.
Clemens is looking to chop away at McCowan's legs.
Clemens lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Samuel Clemens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCowan just misses with a punch to the body.
Clemens quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
A combination from McCowan does no damage.
Clemens tried to counter with a leg kick but McCowan avoided it.
McCowan blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCowan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Clemens slips under a jab.
McCowan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
McCowan scores with a hook to the body. Clemens takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
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!
Clemens displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McCowan throws out the jab.
Clemens is looking to counter with head kicks.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Clemens.
McCowan misses with a series of wild punches.
Clemens throws a head kick that misses.
McCowan throws a shot to the body.
Clemens thows a leg kick but McCowan checks it
and McCowan counters with a one-two to the body.
McCowan misses with a wild body shot.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Clemens.
McCowan checks a low kick from Clemens.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Clemens showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McCowan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony McCowan!