PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Duke Cottingham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georgie Borisov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Cottingham
vs
Borisov

161 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

152 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Duke Cottingham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Georgie Borisov!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cottingham closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Borisov to the mat! Borisov manages to get full guard.

Cottingham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cottingham has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Borisov is controlling Cottingham's posture.
Borisov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Cottingham is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cottingham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cottingham is looking to work some ground and pound but Borisov has wrist control.

Cottingham drops back looking for a leg! Borisov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Borisov manages to kick Cottingham off! Cottingham jumps back into Borisov's guard.
Cottingham postures up and lands a big shot to Borisov's brow.

Borisov pushes Cottingham off and scrambles back to his feet.
Borisov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cottingham chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Borisov can pounce on him.
Borisov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cottingham throws a head kick that misses.
Nice body kick from Borisov.
Cottingham is breathing heavily.
Borisov throws a right hand that Cottingham ducks under and follows up with a left that Cottingham also avoids with ease.
Borisov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Cottingham could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cottingham uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Borisov.
Borisov tries a low kick but Cottingham avoids it.
Borisov fails to land with a series of punches.
Borisov throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cottingham tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Borisov swivels and escapes.
Borisov misses the shot to the body.
Borisov throws a head kick but Cottingham moves out of range.

Borisov darts in and clinches Cottingham up against the cage.

Borisov breaks from the clinch.
Cottingham shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Borisov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Borisov waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Cottingham.
Borisov tries to clinch there but Cottingham circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov scores with a jab. Cottingham acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Borisov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Borisov tries to clinch up.
Borisov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cottingham sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Good leg kick by Borisov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cottingham dodges the punch combination from Borisov.
A punch combination from Borisov misses.
Borisov is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borisov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Borisov throws a series of punches but Cottingham moves out of range.
Borisov tries to clinch but Cottingham moves out of range.
Borisov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Borisov lands a head kick!
Borisov throws a right and a left that Cottingham avoids nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Borisov throws a head kick that half lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgie Borisov 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.

Borisov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Borisov looks to land a combination but Cottingham avoids it well.
Borisov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cottingham tries for a takedown but Borisov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cottingham shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cottingham showed some decent athleticism there.

Cottingham is trying to work for a kimura but Borisov is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cottingham is thwarting Borisov's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cottingham is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Borisov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cottingham.
Borisov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cottingham's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cottingham's back!
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.
Borisov trying to control momentarily.
Borisov is landing with strikes from the back.

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.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Borisov controlling the positon.
Cottingham looking very determined here, making life difficult for Borisov.
Cottingham rolls, trying to escape but Borisov keeps control of the position.
Borisov wants to control but Cottingham is keeping busy.
Cottingham can't escape the position.
Will Borisov go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Despite being in the dominant position, Georgie Borisov just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Borisov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cottingham paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Duke Cottingham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov misses with a looping left.
Borisov is looking to clinch but Cottingham is avoiding it.
Borisov swings for the body but Cottingham moves out of range.
Cottingham walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Borisov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Borisov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Borisov lands a head shot.
Borisov tries to bum rush Cottingham with a series of wild strikes but Cottingham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Borisov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cottingham.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Borisov throws a series of punches but Cottingham avoids them all with ease.
Georgie Borisov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cottingham dodges the punch combination from Borisov.
Borisov misses the jab.
Borisov throws a right hand that Cottingham ducks under and follows up with a left that Cottingham also avoids with ease.

Cottingham tries to keep at a distance but Borisov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Borisov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cottingham fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgie Borisov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Borisov misses with a few strikes there.
Borisov tries to bum rush Cottingham with a series of wild strikes but Cottingham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Borisov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cottingham was well out of range. Poor timing from Borisov.
Cottingham shoots in but Borisov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A punch combination from Borisov misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borisov is looking to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Borisov misses with a leg kick

and Cottingham counters with a single leg into guard. Borisov didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cottingham with a flurry of punches that miss.
Borisov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Cottingham drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Borisov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cottingham has Borisov in his guard.

Borisov gets to his feet - Cottingham follows without any prompting.
Borisov throws a combination that misses

and Cottingham counters with a single leg into guard. Borisov didn't expect that.

Cottingham postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Borisov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cottingham, into his guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Cottingham has his foot on Borisov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Borisov works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borisov is in close to Cottingham's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cottingham is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Borisov trying to control the position from guard on top but Cottingham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Borisov gets to his feet. Cottingham looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cottingham moves out of range of the body kick from Borisov.
Borisov throws a leg kick which misses Cottingham's front leg but catches the back leg as Cottingham tries to avoid it.
Borisov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cottingham misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cottingham shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duke Cottingham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov misses with a double jab.
Cottingham fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Borisov misses with a series of wild punches.
Cottingham shoots in but Borisov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cottingham takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Borisov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A combination from Borisov does no damage.
Duke Cottingham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Borisov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cottingham to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Borisov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cottingham!
Georgie Borisov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cottingham flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

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 Duke Cottingham.
I think Borisov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georgie Borisov!