PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Cotilla (ranked 398 p4p, 1335 weight class) and Rob Smith (ranked 60 p4p, 203 weight class). 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.

Cotilla
vs
Smith

191 cm
26
215
12 - 4 - 0

185 cm
25
220
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Cotilla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rob Smith!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cotilla comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Smith moves out of range of the leg kick from Cotilla.
Cotilla fails with a takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Cotilla. Those never looked like landing.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cotilla with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cotilla looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
It seemed like Smith was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Cotilla moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cotilla tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.

Cotilla's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cotilla waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cotilla misses with a double jab
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotilla wants to clinch.
Cotilla fails to land with a series of punches.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cotilla swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cotilla tries to clinch up.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Smith has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Cotilla tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith throws a counter combo.
Cotilla looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cotilla moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotilla throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Rob Smith has been cut.
Smith lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

It looks like Alexander Cotilla has been cut.
Cotilla looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cotilla tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith throws out a counter right but Cotilla avoids it with no problem.

Cotilla lands a left and a right that send Smith crashing to the mat, dazed. Cotilla thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Smith is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cotilla tried to score with a low kick but Smith checks it.
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can Cotilla finish him?
Cotilla throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Cotilla misses with a double jab

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cotilla.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Cotilla has double underhooks.
Cotilla wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith misses with some punches.
Smith lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Smith on the inside.

Cotilla's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cotilla lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cotilla.
Smith throws a counter combo.
Cotilla misses with a few strikes there.
Smith throws out a counter right but Cotilla avoids it with no problem.
Cotilla misses with a combination
and Cotilla takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cotilla connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Smith scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Cotilla tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cotilla manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cotilla takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cotilla closes the distance looking to clinch

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Cotilla didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Cotilla dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cotilla swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.

Cotilla's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alexander Cotilla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cotilla takes one on the button.

Cotilla moves into the clinch successfully.
Cotilla blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cotilla blocks a body shot from Smith.

Cotilla escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cotilla swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cotilla is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotilla misses with a takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cotilla throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cotilla takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cotilla scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotilla's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cotilla duly obliges.

Cotilla has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Smith on the inside.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Cotilla pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Cotilla rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
A short left from Smith.
Smith lands a right hand.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cotilla misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Cotilla controls the action.
Cotilla looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Cotilla.
Cotilla stalling against the cage.
Rob Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cotilla prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.

Cotilla breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cotilla gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Smith.
Cotilla falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Cotilla's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cotilla duly obliges.
A nice combination there by Cotilla.
Cotilla takes one on the button.
Cotilla falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cotilla takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cotilla.
Cotilla throws a leg kick but Smith sees it coming and moves out of range.
As Cotilla backs off Smith throws a huge counter combo but Cotilla manages to avoid it all.

Cotilla moves into the clinch successfully.

Cotilla escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cotilla throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Alexander Cotilla's cut is getting worse.
Cotilla tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Cotilla misses with a double jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Smith! But no joy.
Smith might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cotilla misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cotilla misses the jab.
Smith throws out a counter right but Cotilla avoids it with no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cotilla rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cotilla shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Cotilla's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Smith misses with a looping left.

Smith looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Cotilla kicks off Smith and gets to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cotilla lands with a nice combination. Smith backs away looking to recover.
Cotilla looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cotilla throws a head kick that misses
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cotilla ducks right into an uppercut from Smith.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alexander Cotilla will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Oooooh!!! Cotilla has knocked Smith down with a huge combo! Cotilla steps away and waves a wobbly Smith back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Cotilla throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cotilla connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cotilla falls off balance throwing a combination

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cotilla won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cotilla is trying to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Cotilla's face as Smith controls the position.
Cotilla is working to avoid the ground and pound but Smith connects with a decent elbow.
Smith landing a few strikes.
Smith lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Cotilla's shoulder. That is not cool.
Rob Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cotilla tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Smith connects with a big shot to the side of Cotilla's head.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is continuing to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Smith's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Smith misses with an elbow to the head.
Cotilla wants to get back to his feet.
Smith struggling to keep hold of the position.
Cotilla is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Smith's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
I really don't envy Cotilla right now.
Smith is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Cotilla is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Well, with Smith on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Cotilla is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Smith throwing sloppy strikes.
Smith controls the position.

That's four 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.
Smith missing with strikes from the back.
Cotilla looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Cotilla looking very determined here, making life difficult for Smith.
Alexander Cotilla is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cotilla covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Rob Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith misses with punches from the back.
Cotilla covering up well under a series of strikes from Smith.
Smith controlling from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cotilla has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Cotilla!
A relieved looking Alexander Cotilla thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.