PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marko Kersikov (ranked 313 p4p, 112 weight class) and Mickey Cowan (ranked 49 p4p, 9 weight class). Kersikov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Re-Style - Spring. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kersikov
vs
Cowan

168 cm
31
140
16 - 7 - 1

174 cm
30
141
23 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Conviction
Northern Zombie

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Marko Kersikov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mickey Cowan!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cowan throws out a loose jab but Kersikov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cowan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kersikov. That did some damage!
Kersikov misses with a left hand
and Cowan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kersikov moves out of range as Cowan strikes.
It looked like Kersikov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kersikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kersikov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kersikov counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov defending well as Cowan loads up on a big left hand.
Kersikov throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Cowan to counter with a crisp jab.
Kersikov throws a lazy uppercut
and Cowan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Decent striking displayed by Cowan there.
A big left from Cowan misses.

Cowan has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kersikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Cowan.
Cowan lands a shoulder strike.
Kersikov throws a head punch that misses.
Cowan can't find room to land a body shot as Kersikov controls the action.
A body shot lands from Cowan.
Cowan lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kersikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Cowan.
Kersikov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cowans head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cowan.
Kersikov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cowan lands with a left to the head.

Kersikov manages to break the clinch.
Cowan misses with a wild body shot.
Kersikov is looking to counter punch.
Cowan tries to clinch there but Kersikov circles away.
Kersikov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cowan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kersikov. Cowan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kersikov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cowan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kersikov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Mickey Cowan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kersikov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cowan.
Cowan throws a fast counter high kick but Kersikov manages to duck under it in time.
Cowan with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cowan misses with a straight left.
Kersikov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kersikov scores with a nice head shot.
Kersikov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kersikov misses with a right hand
and Cowan counters with a stiff right hand.
Kersikov looks to score with a jab to the body but Cowan is just out of range.
Cowan throws a fast counter high kick but Kersikov manages to duck under it in time.
Cowan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kersikov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kersikov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Cowan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cowan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cowan fakes the leg kick and cracks Kersikov in the body.
Cowan throws a lazy body kick
and Kersikov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kersikov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Kersikov misses the target.
Kersikov lands with a straight right. Cowan didn't see that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cowan needs to keep his hands up - Kersikov had a free shot at his head there.

Cowan is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowan misses with an uppercut.
Kersikov defending well as Cowan loads up on a big left hand.
Kersikov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cowan scores with a body shot.
Kersikov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cowan is still on wobbly legs! Can Kersikov finish him?
Cowan throws a big shot that misses.
Cowan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cowan seems to have recovered his senses.
Kersikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cowan moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cowan connects with a high kick.
Kersikov has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kersikov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kersikov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Cowan throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kersikov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kersikov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cowan. Cowan obviously looking to wear him down.
Nice body kick there by Cowan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov scores with a shot to the side of Cowan's head.
Cowan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kersikov backwards.

Kersikov breaks the clinch.
Kersikov scores with a nice head shot.
Kersikov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cowan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cowan tries to land a body kick
and Cowan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kersikov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kersikov ducks under a wild hook from Cowan.
A little feinted left hand from Kersikov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov lands a nice hook to Cowan's body. Cowan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kersikov misses with an uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Cowan misses the target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kersikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Kersikov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cowan connects with a single shot there.
Cowan throws a head kick but Kersikov moves out of range.
Kersikov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cowan.
Kersikov throws a big counter combination but Cowan scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Cowan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kersikov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cowan rushes Kersikov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cowan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cowan throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kersikov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Cowan tries a body shot but Kersikov blocks it.
Cowan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Kersikov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cowan. Kersikov does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Kersikov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowan misses with a low kick as Kersikov jumps back.
Kersikov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Cowan scores with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov swings for the body but Cowan moves out of range.
Kersikov moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromCowan.
Cowan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kersikov.
Mickey Cowan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cowan misses with a lunging right hand
and Kersikov counters with a left to the body.

Cowan lands a big head kick that sends Kersikov tumbling to the mat! Cowan takes a step backwards and waves Kersikov back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Kersikov is rocked!
Cowan feints with a left and delivers a massive head kick! Kersikov collapses like a ragdoll! Game over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Mickey Cowan!
Mickey Cowan is the new bantamweight champion!
Mickey Cowan thanked the fans post fight for their support.