PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Bowers (ranked 930 p4p, 1219 weight class) and William OConnor (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.

Bowers
vs
OConnor

188 cm
25
206
8 - 1 - 0

183 cm
34
190
11 - 23 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Nevermore Clothing Co

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ryan Bowers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 23 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, William OConnor!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bowers throws a lazy right hand but OConnor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bowers throws a lazy uppercut

and OConnor counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bowers won't be happy with that.
OConnor trying to control the position but Bowers is working away.
Bowers is pushing OConnor's head away, looking to escape. OConnor manages to hold on to the position though.
Bowers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for OConnor on the ground.
OConnor working the head with strikes.

OConnor decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Bowers throws a poor cross that misses
and OConnor counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bowers misses with a hook. OConnor ducked under it nicely.
OConnor is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bowers throws a lazy uppercut

and OConnor counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bowers is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

OConnor wants to work for an arm triangle but Bowers is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bowers is trying to stand back up but OConnor is controlling him

OConnor is working for a kimura but Bowers is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnor stops Bowers from getting back to his feet.

OConnor seems to be looking for submissions.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with OConnor in particular looking to stall.
OConnor tries to pass to full mount but Bowers defends it.
Bowers pushes OConnor off but OConnor dives into side control.
Bowers pushes OConnor away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, OConnor gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
An elbow from OConnor crashes against the mat.
Bowers wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
OConnor wants to control but Bowers is keeping him busy.
OConnor misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OConnor is chipping away with strikes.
OConnor works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Bowers is pushing OConnor's head away, looking to escape. OConnor manages to hold on to the position though.

OConnor is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bowers knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bowers is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, OConnor asserts his dominance and retains side control.
OConnor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
OConnor is chipping away with strikes.
Bowers tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Bowers really wants to buck OConnor off and get back to his feet.
Bowers in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Bowers squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
OConnor with shots to the head and body - Bowers looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowers is squirming around, avoiding OConnor's attempts to control the action.
Bowers is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Bowers is in a horrible position here. OConnor smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Bowers's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
OConnor raining down shots from the mount!
The referee warns Bowers that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bowers is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

OConnor looking for a guillotine from mount but Bowers is having none of it.
Bowers is trying to stand.
OConnor lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OConnor landing strikes from the mount.
Bowers is in a horrible position here. OConnor smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
OConnor lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bowers hang on?
OConnor landing shots from mount.
OConnor won't let Bowers get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
A nice elbow there by OConnor.
Bowers trying desperately to get to his feet.

OConnor working for a submission but Bowers is keeping him at bay.
Bowers has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

OConnor looking for the RNC.

OConnor is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
OConnor is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. OConnor gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. OConnor gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. OConnor apologises and we restart here on the feet.
A jab from Bowers misses.
OConnor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bowers.
As Bowers backs off OConnor throws a huge counter combo but Bowers manages to avoid it all.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

William OConnor dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bowers throws a looping overhand right but OConnor ducks down to avoid it.
OConnor with the counter takedown but Bowers avoids it easily.
Bowers throws a hook but OConnor blocks it.
Bowers throws an off balance right hand
enabling OConnor to counter with a crisp jab.
A big left from Bowers misses.
Bowers pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bowers bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

It looks like William OConnor has been cut.
OConnor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bowers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for OConnor. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Bowers misses with an uppercut.
OConnor slips under a jab.
OConnor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Bowers defends it well.
A big left from Bowers misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bowers throws the left hand but OConnor avoids the punch easily.
And OConnor tries to counter it with a takedown but Bowers pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Bowers scores with a decent looking hook.
Bowers throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bowers throws a lazy right hand but OConnor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bowers is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by OConnor.
OConnor changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowers looks to throw the jab but OConnor is out of range.
OConnor feints the counter takedown.
Bowers misses with a looping right.
Bowers misses with a straight left.
OConnor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Bowers defends it well.
OConnor displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bowers throws out the jab.
OConnor now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
OConnor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
OConnor lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ryan Bowers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
OConnor ducks under a wild hook from Bowers.
Bowers stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

OConnor is rocked!
Bowers misses with a straight left.
OConnor is still on wobbly legs! Can Bowers finish him?
A big left from Bowers misses.
OConnor wants to counter with a clinch but Bowers pushes him away.
OConnor seems to have recovered his senses.
Bowers waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract OConnor.
Despite the aggression on OConnor's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
OConnor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bowers.
Bowers misses with a left hand
and OConnor counters with a right hand to the body.
Bowers throws a poor cross that misses
and OConnor counters with a one-two to the body.
William OConnor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bowers connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bowers misses with a left hand
and OConnor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowers looks to throw the jab but OConnor is out of range.
Bowers throws a shot from downtown. OConnor moves away and avoids it.
Bowers misses with a straight left.
Bowers misses with a straight right.
OConnor lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bowers is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
OConnor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bowers.
Bowers misses the jab.
OConnor tries to counter with a clinch but Bowers shakes him off and moves away.
OConnor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
OConnor tries to counter with a clinch but Bowers shakes him off and moves away.
Bowers misses with a right hand

and OConnor counters by moving into the clinch.
OConnor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
OConnor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
OConnor lands with a light punch inside.
Bowers lands a right hand that snaps the head of OConnor backwards.
Bowers lands a nice uppercut.
Bowers lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of OConnor backwards.
OConnor lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bowers or not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OConnor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
OConnor digs a right hand into Bowers's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bowers's gas tank.
OConnor lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
OConnor tries to land a knee to the head but Bowers blocks with his arms.
OConnor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bowers has a couple of punches blocked by OConnor.
OConnor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bowers throws a head punch that misses.
OConnor jumps guard but Bowers turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
OConnor misses with the head strike.
OConnor is trying to pull guard but Bowers has him pressed against the cage.
Bowers has a couple of punches blocked by OConnor.
A shot in the inside from Bowers.
Bowers avoiding damage as OConnor throws knees to the body.
OConnor blocking some punches.

OConnor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bowers thows a left - swing and a miss!
OConnor follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Bowers misses with an uppercut. OConnor saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OConnor defending well as Bowers loads up on a big left hand.
Bowers sets himself, and OConnor steps forward looking for the clinch! Bowers avoids it this time.
Bowers throws the left hand but OConnor avoids the punch easily.
Bowers misses with an uppercut
and OConnor counters with a two punch combo.
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!
A head kick misses from OConnor.
Bowers throws an overhand right that lands on OConnor's shoulder, as OConnor tries to avoid the shot.
Bowers connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ryan Bowers is winning the standup battle so far.
Bowers misses with an uppercut

and OConnor counters by moving into the clinch.
Bowers misses with a punch on the inside.
Bowers has a couple of punches blocked by OConnor.
Bowers working some nice short punches in the clinch.
OConnor tries to work over Bowers's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bowers misses with a punch on the inside.
Bowers misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Bowers fails to land.
Bowers swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Bowers fails to land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Bowers dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on William OConnor's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

OConnor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bowers waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract OConnor.
OConnor tries to clinch but Bowers is having none of it.
Bowers throws an ugly left hook that misses
and OConnor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bowers misses with a looping left.
Bowers throws a shot from downtown. OConnor moves away and avoids it.
OConnor is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nice defenses there by OConnor.
Bowers throws a right hand that misses
letting OConnor counter with a right hand.
Bowers misses with a lunging right hand
and Bowers takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bowers swings widly with a right hand

and OConnor counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bowers won't be happy with that.
Bowers is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
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!
Bowers is working to avoid the ground and pound but OConnor connects with a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnor prevents Bowers from escaping the position.

OConnor tries for a kimura but Bowers is defending well.
OConnor prevents Bowers from escaping the position.

OConnor is working to tighten his grip on Bowers's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Bowers has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but OConnor is really squeezing tight and eventually Bowers passes out! OConnor breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). William OConnor!