PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phan Nam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristian Bowles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nam
vs
Bowles

180 cm
25
275 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phan Nam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cristian Bowles!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nam enables Bowles to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nam manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bowles must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nam has his hands on Bowles's head, controlling the position.

Nam looking for a guillotine here but Bowles defends easily.
Nam is trying to keep Bowles in close.
Nam wants to sweep but no luck.
Bowles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nam swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bowles postures up.
Nam looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phan Nam has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nam pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bowles bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nam.

Bowles shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bowles perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bowles is trying to control the action in half guard but Nam is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bowles throwing shots but Nam is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowles looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bowles wants to control but Nam is keeping him busy.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cristian Bowles hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Bowles scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The ground and pound from Bowles seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Nam is looking for a sweep.
Nam is not content to let Bowles control the position.
Bowles fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowles looking to control but instead Nam has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Bowles is thwarting Nam's attempts to control the position.
Bowles tries to stand but can't do so whilst Nam controls his leg.
Nam regains full guard. Nicely done.

Nam looking for a guillotine here but Bowles defends easily.
Nam wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nam keeping moving, preventing Bowles from controlling successfully.

Bowles avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nam looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bowles is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nam is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bowles gets a takedown into half guard.
Nam is trying to maintain the position but Bowles is very close to passing his half guard.
Bowles is looking to stall here but Nam recovers full guard.
Nam bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bowles's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nam stops Bowles from standing up.
Bowles wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Nam is now in half guard.

Nam is looking for a kimura but Bowles is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nam to get the leverage.

Nam is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bowles doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nam.
Bowles gets back to full guard.
Bowles is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowles keeping full guard, as Nam tries to pass.
Nam wants to control from the top but Bowles keeps moving.
Nam really is a fat lump.
Nam pushes down on Bowles's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Nam is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Nam is looking for a kimura but Bowles is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nam to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nam uses his free foot to push down on Bowles's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Bowles.
Nam prevents Bowles from getting the reversal.
Nam controlling the position easily from mount.

Nam goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Bowles is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nam controlling Bowles's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bowles stands up and waves to Nam to follow him.

Bowles feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Nam working a defensive guard here.
Bowles tries to free his leg and advance position but Nam is retaining full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nam is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nam keeping moving, preventing Bowles from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Phan Nam will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nam walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Phan Nam has been cut.
Bowles is looking to clinch.

Bowles drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bowles preventing the sweep.
Nam keeping moving, preventing Bowles from controlling successfully.

Bowles got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nam has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bowles has managed to get both his arms back between Nam's legs - danger averted.
Bowles is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bowles looking to pass the guard.

Nam escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bowles gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowles would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nam is on top in guard.
Nam passes Bowles's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bowles really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nam. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Nam is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bowles sees it coming and defends easily.
Nam trying to control the action but Bowles is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nam is trying to work for a kimura but Bowles is defending well.
Bowles tries to roll over but Nam keeps him under control.
Nam passes the guard and advances to mount!
Nam controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nam swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Bowles is now in Nam's guard. A big mistake from Nam there, giving up the dominant position!
Bowles chips away with some ground and pound.
Bowles wants to control from the top but Nam keeps moving.
Nam looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Nam working for a triangle but Bowles defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nam avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Nam is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bowles is aware though and is defending well.
Bowles trying to control but Nam is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nam pulls Bowles in to control the position.
Cristian Bowles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phan Nam is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Bowles avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phan Nam showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nam, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phan Nam!
Phan Nam spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.