PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jared Cowen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathurin Kerbouchard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jared Cowen has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Cowen
vs
Kerbouchard

198 cm
24
215 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
28
216 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jared Cowen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mathurin Kerbouchard!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerbouchard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cowen as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kerbouchard.
Cowen tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kerbouchard is defended easily by Cowen.
Jared Cowen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mathurin Kerbouchard.
Kerbouchard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cowen.
Kerbouchard takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Mathurin Kerbouchard has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowen tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Cowen.
Kerbouchard moves away from the strike by Cowen.
Cowen lands a head shot.

Cowen sends Kerbouchard crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Cowen is motioning to the referee to let Kerbouchard up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big left from Cowen misses.
Jared Cowen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cowen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab from Cowen does it's job there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerbouchard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kerbouchard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kerbouchard moves into the clinch successfully.
Kerbouchard pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kerbouchard fails to pull guard.
Kerbouchard is trying desperately to land a takedown but Cowen is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Kerbouchard.
Cowen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kerbouchard goes for a takedown attempt but Cowen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jared Cowen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kerbouchard. Cowen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cowen misses with a low kick.
Cowen lands with a right hand.
Kerbouchard checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kerbouchard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cowen. That's going to slow Kerbouchard down.
Cowen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kerbouchard's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cowen. Kerbouchard does a little dance to reset his feet.

Kerbouchard clinches up with Cowen and pushes him back against the cage.
Kerbouchard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kerbouchard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kerbouchard blocks an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jared Cowen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mathurin Kerbouchard's cut.
That's time! Cowen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cowen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cowen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mathurin Kerbouchard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cowen throws a lazy head kick
and Cowen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cowen scoring well with a low kick there.
Cowen misses with a wild combination.
Cowen connects with a jab.
Kerbouchard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cowen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowen looks to land a right hand but Kerbouchard moved out of range.
Kerbouchard avoids the head kick by Cowen.

Kerbouchard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cowen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kerbouchard working away.
Kerbouchard is looking to take a break and control but Cowen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Cowen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kerbouchard goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cowen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kerbouchard but great work by Cowen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kerbouchard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kerbouchard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kerbouchard wants to control but Cowen postures up.
Cowen takes a little break here. Kerbouchard wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kerbouchard manages to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kerbouchard tries to get to full guard but Cowen has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowen wants to take a breather but Kerbouchard is having none of it.

Cowen wants to work for an arm triangle but Kerbouchard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kerbouchard is trying to get back to full guard.
Kerbouchard is trying to maintain the position but Cowen is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cowen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Kerbouchard!
Kerbouchard is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kerbouchard manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Cowen wants to pass the guard but Kerbouchard is defending well.
Kerbouchard is looking to improve his position.

Kerbouchard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kerbouchard looking for submissions off his back.
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 Jared Cowen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mathurin Kerbouchard's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cowen looks to land a left hand but Kerbouchard moved out of range nicely.
Cowen thuds a left hand into Kerbouchard's body.
Kerbouchard blocks a head kick by Cowen.
Cowen misses with a double jab.
Kerbouchard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cowen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowen connects with a crisp jab.
Jared Cowen is winning the standup battle so far.
Kerbouchard shoots in for a takedown but Cowen shows good takedown defense.
Kerbouchard defending well as Cowen loads up on a big left hand.
Cowen lands the left hand.

Kerbouchard looking to score a takedown here. Cowen is defending well but Kerbouchard drives through and ends up in Cowen's guard.
Kerbouchard looking to sit in guard and control but Cowen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cowen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kerbouchard working for a triangle but Cowen defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cowen wants to control from the top but Kerbouchard keeps moving.
Kerbouchard 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.
Kerbouchard keeping moving, preventing Cowen from controlling successfully.

Kerbouchard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cowen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cowen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kerbouchard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cowen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cowen is looking to stand up but Kerbouchard won't let him.

Kerbouchard looking for subs off his back but Cowen has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cowen prevents Kerbouchard from improving his position.
Cowen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerbouchard gets full guard.

Kerbouchard working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cowen has passed into half guard!
Kerbouchard punching from the bottom.
Mathurin Kerbouchard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kerbouchard is looking for a sweep. Cowen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kerbouchard manages to get to full guard.
Cowen stays in close to Kerbouchard's body and controls the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kerbouchard looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cowen passes into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jared Cowen.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cowen, 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jared Cowen!
Jared Cowen tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.