PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nolan Sackett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sackett kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bad To the Bone. Jack Cooper is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sackett
vs
Cooper

190 cm
24
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

193 cm
24
212 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Convicted

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nolan Sackett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooper misses with a looping left.
Sackett shoots in for a double leg but Cooper sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Sackett 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.

Cooper is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sackett defends well.
Sackett trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cooper's guard.
Sackett lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sackett passes Cooper's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Sackett wants to work for an arm triangle but Cooper is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Sackett is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper is trying to get back to full guard.
Sackett tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cooper controls his leg.
Sackett not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cooper wants to control but Sackett is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Sackett wants to work for an arm triangle but Cooper is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nice strikes from Sackett there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Sackett is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Cooper makes his way to full guard, as Sackett worked for a kimura.
Sackett lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sackett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cooper lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sackett!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett tries to reverse the position but Cooper maintains control.
Sackett regains half guard.
Sackett is trying to stand.
Sackett misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Sackett is refusing to be controlled, as Cooper sits in half guard.

Cooper is looking for a kimura but Sackett is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cooper to get the leverage.
Sackett is pressing down on Cooper's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sackett is adopting a defensive guard.
Cooper with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sackett trying to control the position.
Sackett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cooper is one step ahead there.
Sackett trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nolan Sackett dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sackett shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cooper sprawls well. Cooper wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sackett gets slowly back to his feet.
A punch lands to the side of Cooper 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sackett tries for a takedown but Cooper sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cooper avoids the body shot from Sackett.
Sackett misses with a hook.
Sackett tries to land a leg kick but Cooper saw it coming and moves away.
Cooper lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sackett lands with a straight right. Cooper didn't see that one coming.
Sackett wants to clinch up but Cooper keeps it at a distance.
Sackett shoots for a double leg takedown but Cooper sprawls well. He's pushed Sackett's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nolan Sackett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sackett throws a body punch but Cooper moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper throws a jab but it's blocked by Sackett.
Sackett throws a jab but it's blocked by Cooper.

Sackett shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sackett was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Sackett jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Cooper is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Cooper and Sackett has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Cooper is trying to buck Sackett off.
Sackett in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Sackett looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sackett tries to move to mount but Cooper blocks the move with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooper struggling a bit here.
Cooper gets back to half guard.
Cooper is trying to get back to full guard.
Sackett moves into full mount! Cooper won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper regains half guard.
Cooper is in trouble now - Sackett has advanced to mount!
Cooper can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A nice elbow there by Sackett.
Sackett misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sackett trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sackett raining down shots from the mount!
Nolan Sackett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sackett is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Cooper has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Cooper!
Sackett tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sackett looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sackett looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nolan Sackett dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sackett throws a jab when Cooper was well out of range.
Cooper digs a good hook to Sackett's body.
Cooper bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sackett's head backwards.
Cooper is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sackett shoots in looking for a takedown. Cooper tries to sprawl out of it but Sackett keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cooper manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cooper scores with a kick to the body.
Sackett misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Cooper counters with a stiff right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sackett misses with an uppercut. Cooper saw that one coming.
Sackett ducks under a wild hook from Cooper.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sackett has his takedown stuffed
and Cooper counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper misses with the combination.
Cooper connects with a body shot.
Cooper scores with a decent looking hook.
Sackett slips under a jab.
Jack Cooper seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sackett tries to clinch but Cooper moves away
enabling Cooper to counter with a crisp jab.
Sackett tries for a takedown but Cooper circles away easily
and Cooper makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nolan Sackett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooper misses with an uppercut. Sackett saw that one coming.
Cooper throws a looping overhand right but Sackett ducks down to avoid it.
Sackett tries for a takedown but Cooper circles away easily
and Cooper counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper throws out a loose jab but Sackett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sackett looks to clinch

and Cooper counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Sackett down! Cooper is looking to finish but Sackett is intelligently defending himself.

Sackett is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cooper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Oh Sackett is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Cooper stands up and waves to Sackett to follow him.
Sackett seems to have got his legs back now.
Cooper throws a looping overhand right but Sackett ducks down to avoid it.
Sackett takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cooper misses with a double jab.
Cooper lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sackett circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper throws out a loose jab but Sackett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cooper connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sackett. Sackett circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cooper slips under a jab.
Sackett misses with a two punch combination.
Sackett avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nolan Sackett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Sackett gets the takedown into side control.
Sackett takes a little break here. Cooper wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Cooper manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is staying active underneath Sackett, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cooper trying to hold on to Sackett's head to control him but Sackett postures up.
Jack Cooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sackett is working for an americana but Cooper has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Sackett was thinking about the submission.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sackett sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Cooper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sackett 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nolan Sackett!