PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Poon Slayer (ranked 4103 p4p, 24880 weight class) and Landon Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Landon Cox was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Slayer
vs
Cox

183 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
21
188
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Poon Slayer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Landon Cox!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slayer changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cox tries to avoid it but Slayer manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cox to the ground. Cox escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Slayer shoots for a takedown but Cox saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Slayer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cox sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Slayer somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Poon Slayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slayer falls off balance throwing a combination

so Cox counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Slayer is keeping the position for now.
Cox is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cox wants to get up but he can't break Slayer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cox prevents Slayer from getting back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cox is pushing down on Slayer's leg trying to pass to half guard. Slayer is fighting to maintain full guard but Cox has managed to sneak the leg through.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cox moves nicely into side control.
Slayer parries the strikes from Cox easily there. Cox is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Slayer to escape.

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 asks Cox politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Cox prefers to stall for the moment though.
Cox cracks Slayer with a big elbow.

Cox is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Slayer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cox is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Slayer will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
What's Slayer going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Slayer is trying to control Cox's posture but Cox avoids it.
Cox lands a few punches from side control.
Cox working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Cox lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Slayer down.
Cox trying to control the position but Slayer is working away.
Cox has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Slayer is trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cox moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Cox tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Slayer will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Cox working the body and head with strikes.

Cox is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Slayer is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cox wants to stand but Slayer is controlling his arm.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Landon Cox dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cox gets a double leg takedown into Slayer's guard.
Slayer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cox has his hands clasped together around Slayer's back. He's all about the action.

Cox looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Slayer is keen to just control but Cox is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cox controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slayer looks to land a strike but Cox avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Cox working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Slayer has passed into half guard!

Slayer seems to be working for a kimura but Cox defends the submission attempt.

Slayer decides to stand up.

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.

Cox drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cox not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cox connects with a couple of short punches.
Slayer is trying to keep Cox in close.
Cox is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Slayer throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cox is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox landing with the ground and pound.
Cox looking to pass the guard.

Cox decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cox shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Slayer sprawls well. Slayer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cox gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cox tries for a takedown but Slayer circles away easily
enabling Slayer to counter with a crisp jab.
Cox is breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Slayer is defended easily by Cox.
Slayer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Slayer throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Slayer moves into range and clinches up with Cox.
Slayer can't break the clinch.

Cox gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Cox is standing up over Slayer. Slayer looks to escape but Cox dives into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Landon Cox will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Slayer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cox defends it nicely.
Cox with the counter takedown but Slayer avoids it easily.
Slayer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cox's waist but Cox gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Slayer off to one side.
Slayer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cox is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Poon Slayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slayer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Slayer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As Slayer backs off Cox throws a huge counter combo but Slayer manages to avoid it all.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cox forces Slayer back against the cage and clinches.

Cox's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cox fails with the takedown
and Slayer counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cox thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Slayer tries to clinch there but Cox circles away.

Cox closes the distance and clinches.
Cox struggles to land a body shot inside as Slayer controls his hands.
Slayer is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Cox has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Slayer clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Cox is landing with strikes from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Slayer showing good submission defense here.
Cox has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Slayer can't escape the position.
Slayer is working hard here to advance position.
Cox biding his time, controlling Slayer.

Cox is persistently looking for the submission but Slayer is defending it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
I would not like to be Slayer right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox is continuing to stall.
Slayer trying to get back to his feet but Cox is in full control for now.
Cox lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Cox controlling the position well here. Slayer rolled but Cox kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Slayer wants to escape the position.
Slayer grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Cox really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Slayer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Will Cox go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Poon Slayer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Landon Cox is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Slayer covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Landon Cox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cox 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 26:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Landon Cox!