|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Walter Flanagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Cowell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flanagan comes to the cage accompanied by The Wizard . Walter Flanagan has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.
 |
|
 |
| 171 cm
29
147 lbs
6 - 8 - 1 |
|
150 cm
22
135 lbs
5 - 8 - 0 |
Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin |
|
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Walter Flanagan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Cowell!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Darius Henderson.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cowell throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Flanagan to counter with a crisp jab.
Flanagan tries to keep at a distance but Cowell has taken the fight into the clinch.
Flanagan managing to block the knees to the body from Cowell.
Cowell has Flanagan pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cowell pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Flanagan tumbling to the mat - Cowell dives into Flanagan's guard.
Flanagan is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Cowell dives into side control.
Flanagan is not content to let Cowell control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flanagan defending against the ground and pound.
Flanagan tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Cowell presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Cowell there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cowell punching from mount but Flanagan doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Flanagan gets back to half guard.
Flanagan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cowell.
Flanagan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cowell on the ground.
Flanagan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cowell.
Cowell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Flanagan defending well though.
Cowell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cowell throws a strike but Flanagan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Cowell working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Flanagan's head.
Cowell won't allow Flanagan to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cowell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cowell throws an elbow that misses. Flanagan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cowell's guard. Nice move by Flanagan!
Cowell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Flanagan defends well.
Cowell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Flanagan is stalling in the full guard.
Cowell looking for a sweep. Not yet Cowell, not yet.
Cowell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flanagan postures up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Flanagan stays in close to Cowell's body and controls the position.
Cowell wants to sweep but no luck.
Flanagan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Flanagan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cowell shoots and misses
and Flanagan counters with a stiff right hand.
Cowell tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Flanagan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cowell wants to clinch.
A combination from Flanagan does no damage.
Cowell tries to clinch but Flanagan is having none of it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan connects with a right hand. Cowell shakes it off.
Cowell tries to clinch there but Flanagan circles away.
Cowell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Flanagan.
Cowell closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cowell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cowell tries to clinch up.
Cowell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cowell moves to clinch but Flanagan breaks away
and Flanagan counters with a right hand to the body.
Flanagan throws a jab but it's blocked by Cowell.
No joy there for Flanagan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Flanagan throws a body punch but Cowell moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cowell doesn't manage to clinch there - Flanagan circles away.
Flanagan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cowell's hands.
Cowell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Flanagan, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Walter Flanagan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Cowell throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Flanagan counters with a shoot takedown. Cowell fights it but they end up in guard.
Cowell looking for a sweep. Not yet Cowell, not yet.
Flanagan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cowell is looking to sweep but instead, Flanagan has passed into half guard.
Cowell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cowell moves into full guard.
Cowell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Flanagan is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowell can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Flanagan controls the pace.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowell throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cowell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Flanagan looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Cowell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Flanagan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Flanagan won't allow Cowell to sweep him here.
Flanagan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alex Cowell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cowell is looking to clinch.
Flanagan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Flanagan is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Cowell pushes Flanagan up against the cage in a clinch.
Cowell working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Flanagan manages to break the clinch.
Flanagan is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Cowell tries to close the distance and clinch but Flanagan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Flanagan misses the target.
Cowell gets a clinch.
Cowell trying to land knees to the body.
Flanagan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cowell is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Flanagan is keeping busy.
Flanagan breaks the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cowell wants to clinch.
Cowell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Flanagan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cowell takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cowell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cowell tries for a takedown but Flanagan circles away easily
and Flanagan counters with a three punch combo that has Cowell backing up. Cowell nods at Flanagan to acknowledge the strikes.
Cowell pushes Flanagan up against the cage in a clinch.
Flanagan breaks the clinch.
Cowell with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Flanagan to score with a decent uppercut.
Flanagan cracks Cowell with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Flanagan with a jab.
Cowell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Flanagan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Flanagan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cowell can do to turn this around?
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cowell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Flanagan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Walter Flanagan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Cowell.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cowell tries to close the distance and clinch but Flanagan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Flanagan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cowell tries to clinch but Flanagan moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Flanagan misses its target.
A cross from Flanagan lands.
Flanagan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cowell doesn't seem bothered though.
Cowell steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Flanagan.
Cowell tries to clinch up.
Flanagan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Flanagan gets tackled into the cage by Cowell. Cowell maintains the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Flanagan as Cowell tries to tie him up.
Flanagan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Flanagan lands a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Walter Flanagan dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
A left and a right from Flanagan both land. Nice combination.
Flanagan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cowell is fending him off so far but Flanagan persists. Nope, Cowell circles away and we're back to standing.
Walter Flanagan is winning the standup battle so far.
Cowell is looking to clinch but Flanagan is avoiding it.
A quick step to the side and Flanagan tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Flanagan misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Cowell was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cowell doesn't manage to clinch there - Flanagan circles away.
Flanagan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cowell is looking to clinch but Flanagan is avoiding it.
Cowell ducks under a wild hook from Flanagan.
Cowell moves in looking to clinch but Flanagan pushes him off.
Flanagan misses with a body shot.
Cowell feints a counter leg kick.
Cowell fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowell misses with an uppercut. Flanagan saw that one coming.
Flanagan throwing a counter right hand but Cowell manages to avoid it.
Flanagan misses with a wild body shot.
Cowell avoids a punch combination nicely.
Flanagan lands a body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cowell doesn't manage to clinch there - Flanagan circles away.
Flanagan misses the shot to the body.
Cowell gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cowell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Flanagan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Flanagan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Flanagan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cowell.
Cowell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Flanagan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Flanagan swats away the attempt to clinch by Cowell.
Cowell moves in looking to clinch but Flanagan pushes him off.
Cowell moves in looking to clinch but Flanagan pushes him off.
Flanagan with a hook.
Cowell wants to clinch but Flanagan slips to the side
and Flanagan counters with a straight right hand.
Cowell moves to clinch but Flanagan breaks away
and Flanagan counters with a straight right hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cowell lands with a right hand.
Cowell moves in looking to clinch but Flanagan pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cowell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cowell wants to clinch up but Flanagan keeps it at a distance.
Cowell clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Flanagan prevents a body shot from Cowell.
Cowell misses with the head strike.
Flanagan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cowell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Flanagan breaks the clinch.
Flanagan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cowell tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Flanagan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cowell napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cowell is looking for a sweep.
Flanagan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cowell gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Flanagan moves nicely into side control.
Cowell looks to move to half guard but instead Flanagan has passed into mount! Damn!
Cowell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Flanagan controlling his opponent.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cowell is trying desperately to improve position.
Flanagan controlling the pace for now.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Flanagan.
Walter Flanagan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cowell is in all sorts of trouble here.
Alex Cowell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cowell bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that's the end of the fight!
Walter Flanagan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Flanagan, 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walter Flanagan!
An out of breath Walter Flanagan thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
46% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
