PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Finley Cowan (ranked 1992 p4p, 4985 weight class) and Renan Viana (ranked 204 p4p, 393 weight class). Renan Viana is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Cowan
vs
Viana

170 cm
27
155
9 - 5 - 1

170 cm
27
135
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Finley Cowan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renan Viana!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Cowan misses

and Viana counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cowan!
Viana in the domination position with Cowan hanging on.
Viana tries to score with some ground and pound. Cowan controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cowan is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Viana trying to control the position but Cowan is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sloppy strikes there by Viana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowan is not content to let Viana control the position.
Cowan manages to get back to half guard.
Viana is looking to stall here but Cowan recovers full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cowan wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Viana being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Cowan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cowan shoots in for a takedown but Viana shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Viana moves away from the strike by Cowan.
Viana drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Cowan defends it well.
Cowan shoots in for a double leg but Viana sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Cowan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Viana did well to prevent Cowan getting side control.
Nice strikes from Cowan there.
Viana taking some punishment here, with Cowan in his half guard.
Cowan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cowan is just content to waste time from the top position. Viana takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowan controlling from the top position.
Cowan cracks Viana with a solid left hand.
Viana wants to sweep here but Cowan controlling him for the moment.
Cowan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cowan prevents Viana from getting back to his feet.
Cowan wants to control from the top but Viana keeps moving.
Viana can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cowan controls the pace.
Viana is adopting a defensive guard.
Cowan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cowan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Finley Cowan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cowan closes the distance and clinches up with Viana, looking for a takedown. Cowan pushes Viana against the cage but Viana circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cowan throws a leg kick that is checked

and Viana counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cowan keeping moving, preventing Viana from controlling successfully.
Cowan 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.
Viana is looking to stand up but Cowan won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cowan keeping moving, preventing Viana from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Viana pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cowan is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Viana shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cowan is trying to defend but Viana finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cowan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cowan tries to get to full guard but Viana has control of the leg.
Cowan is working hard here to advance position.
Viana wants to take a breather but Cowan is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowan trying to control here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Viana fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cowan avoids it really well and circles away.
Cowan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Viana tries to avoid it but Cowan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Viana to the ground. Viana escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Cowan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cowan showed some decent athleticism there.
Viana moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cowan is looking to work some ground and pound but Viana has wrist control.
Renan Viana has got the better of the ground game so far.
Viana keeping moving, preventing Cowan from controlling successfully.
Viana is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cowan is controlling him.
Cowan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cowan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cowan looking to sit in guard and control but Viana gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Viana showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cowan looks to land a body kick but Viana moved away.
A low kick from Cowan misses

so Viana counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Viana throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cowan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Viana trying to control but Cowan is working from the bottom.
Cowan has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Viana has passed into side control.

Viana is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cowan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowan tries to bench press Viana off him but Viana keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Viana is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cowan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cowan tries to bench press Viana off him but Viana keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Viana trying to control the action but Cowan is working from the bottom.
Cowan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cowan working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Viana. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Cowan sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowan trying to control from half guard but Viana is working away.
Cowan misses with a head shot. Viana uses the momentum to regain guard.
Cowan wants to control from the top but Viana keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cowan content to stall in guard here.
Cowan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cowan preventing the sweep.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Viana being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cowan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Cowan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cowan is looking to stall here but Viana recovers full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Renan Viana.
I think Viana 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Renan Viana!