PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dwayne Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony McCowan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard comes into the arena with Immortality by Pearl Jam blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Howard
vs
McCowan

189 cm
32
215 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

190 cm
31
219 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dwayne Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony McCowan!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Eddie Farnsworth and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Howard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McCowan is looking to clinch.
McCowan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Howard's hands.
McCowan throws a hook but Howard blocks it.
Howard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McCowan.
McCowan slips a jab and a cross from Howard.
McCowan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Howard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tony McCowan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCowan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

McCowan throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Howard stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. McCowan follows into mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McCowan is trying to take his opponent's back.
McCowan tries to control but Howard wriggling away.
McCowan fails to advance to Howard's back.
Howard is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
McCowan wants to control the pace but Howard is squirming around nicely.
McCowan fails to move to back control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCowan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Howard is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
McCowan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

McCowan is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Howard has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Howard has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Howard is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Howard preventing the rear naked choke attempt from McCowan.
Howard looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

McCowan is persistently looking for the submission but Howard is defending it well.
Howard is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McCowan working for the choke.
Howard prevents McCowan from getting a body triangle.
I would not like to be Howard right now.
Howard is trying to stand back up.
Howard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McCowan on the ground.

McCowan tightening his grip on Howard, looking for the choke.
Howard wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McCowan looking for the choke but no joy.

Howard showing good submission defense here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

McCowan looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Howard is controlling McCowan 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Howard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony McCowan dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Howard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

McCowan clinches with his opponent.

Howard breaks from the clinch.
Howard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Howard lands a body shot.
Howard takes a swing at McCowan's ribcage but misses.
Howard loads up on a big right hand but McCowan slips the punch.
Howard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McCowan.

McCowan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McCowan trying to land knees to the body.
McCowan lands an elbow that stopped Howard in his tracks for a moment.
Howard wants to break free but McCowan has control.

Howard breaks from the clinch.
McCowan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Howard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McCowan throws an overhand right that lands on Howard's shoulder, as Howard tries to avoid the shot.

McCowan gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard wants to get back to striking at distance but McCowan won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCowan lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
McCowan keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Howard's efforts to push away.
Howard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McCowan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Howard wants to break free but McCowan has control.
Howard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Howard is trying to break the clinch but McCowan has him pressed against the cage.
McCowan looks to throw an elbow but misses.
McCowan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McCowan lands a knee to the body.
McCowan lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

McCowan manages to break the clinch.

McCowan moves into range and clinches up with Howard.
McCowan working Howard over with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCowan lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
McCowan lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCowan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McCowan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howard throws a series of punches but McCowan avoids them all with ease.
Howard circles away from the clinch attempt.
McCowan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A punch combination from Howard misses.
McCowan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howard moves away.
Howard scores with a shot to the body.
McCowan misses with a wild body shot.
McCowan's corner calls for a 1-2. McCowan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

McCowan drops his shoulder and cracks Howard with a huge uppercut! Howard goes down! Can McCowan finish him?

Howard is rocked!
Howard can't keep his opponent in guard - McCowan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Oh Howard is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Howard is trying to stand up here but McCowan is controlling him well.
McCowan passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCowan controlling his opponent.
Howard seems to have got his legs back now.
McCowan thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
McCowan mounts Howard! Really nice guard pass there!
Howard is squirming around, avoiding McCowan's attempts to control the action.
McCowan throws some wild stikes that Howard manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCowan wants to control the pace but Howard is squirming around nicely.
McCowan wants to take Howard's back here but Howard is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Howard wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McCowan wants to take Howard's back here but Howard is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

McCowan jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Howard manages to avoid the submission attempt.
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 bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony McCowan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A head kick misses from McCowan.
Howard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McCowan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McCowan wants to clinch.
Howard lands with a shot to the body.
Howard moves out of range as McCowan strikes.
McCowan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Howard has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
McCowan throws a head kick that misses.
Howard takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Howard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCowan was well out of range. Poor timing from Howard.

McCowan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McCowan tries a knee to the head but Howard blocks it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Howard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McCowan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Howard.
A right hand to the body from McCowan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCowan lands an elbow inside.
McCowan lands a shoulder strike.
Tony McCowan seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
McCowan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Howard.
McCowan scores with a nice hook to the head.
McCowan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCowan lands an elbow inside.
McCowan misses with a knee strike.
McCowan with a knee to the head.
McCowan using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
McCowan wants to stall.
McCowan keeps control of Howard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Howard is trying to break the clinch but McCowan is controlling him.
McCowan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
McCowan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dwayne Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCowan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Howard.
Howard tries to circle away but McCowan has him pinned against the cage.
A hook to the body from McCowan.
McCowan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Howard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McCowan tries to land knees in the clinch but Howard avoids the damage to the body.
McCowan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Howard.

Howard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McCowan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Howard.
Howard throws a series of punches but McCowan moves out of range.

McCowan clinches up against the cage.

McCowan manages to break the clinch.
A punch combination from Howard misses.
Howard throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Howard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McCowan circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard catches McCowan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Howard throws a body punch but McCowan moves out of range.
Howard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Tony McCowan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McCowan wants to clinch.
McCowan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Howard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McCowan connects with a high kick.
McCowan on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A punch combination from Howard misses.
Howard listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Left hook, right uppercut from Howard.
Howard is looking to wear down McCowan with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McCowan tries to land a knee to the head but Howard blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCowan has a couple of punches blocked by Howard.
McCowan lands a good knee to the midsection. Howard won't want to take too many of those.

McCowan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McCowan tries to clinch up
and Howard counters with a one-two to the body.
Tony McCowan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Howard slips a straight right by McCowan.
McCowan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Howard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Howard misses with a jab, cross combination.
McCowan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McCowan closes the distance but Howard moves to the side
and Howard counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
McCowan is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony McCowan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McCowan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony McCowan!
After winning the bout, Tony McCowan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.