PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Weissman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lawrence Cohen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Weissman
vs
Cohen

180 cm
23
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
210 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brian Weissman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lawrence Cohen!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Damien Edna and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cohen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Weissman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cohen manages to avoid it.
Cohen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Weissman's waist but Weissman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cohen off to one side.

Weissman rushes Cohen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Weissman breaks from the clinch.
Weissman throws a nice looking combination but Cohen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cohen tries to clinch up
and Weissman counters with a left and a right that stings Cohen.
Cohen wants to clinch

and Weissman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cohen's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cohen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cohen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Weissman.
Weissman wants to control from the top but Cohen keeps moving.
Cohen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Weissman.
Weissman wants to control from the top but Cohen keeps moving.
Weissman preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weissman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Weissman wants to control from the top but Cohen keeps moving.
Cohen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cohen keeping moving, preventing Weissman from controlling successfully.
Weissman slips nicely into half guard.
Cohen trying to hold on to Weissman's head to control him but Weissman postures up.
Weissman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Well, if Weissman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cohen is looking to escape.
Weissman stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cohen is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Weissman lands strikes from half guard.
Weissman blocks the strikes from Cohen.
Weissman wants to free his trapped foot but Cohen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cohen is refusing to be controlled, as Weissman sits in half guard.
Cohen is trying to stand up here but Weissman is controlling him well.
Cohen tries to roll over but Weissman keeps him under control.
Weissman is trying to control the action in half guard but Cohen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Weissman working over Cohen with some ground and pound. Cohen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Weissman is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Weissman is working away from the top position though.
Cohen punching from the bottom.
Cohen is trying to control but can't.
Weissman is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cohen wants to get back to full guard.
Weissman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cohen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Weissman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Weissman working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Weissman lands with a punch from half guard.
Cohen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Cohen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Weissman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weissman is keen to just control but Cohen is a slippery customer.
Weissman working Cohen over with strikes.
Weissman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Weissman trying to pass the guard but Cohen defending well.
Weissman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Weissman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cohen defending well though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Weissman gets a clinch.

Weissman breaks from the clinch.
Weissman misses with a wild combination.
Cohen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Brian Weissman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lawrence Cohen.
Cohen looks gassed!
Cohen tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Weissman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cohen's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Weissman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Weissman throwing strikes from guard but Cohen blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cohen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Weissman counters with a left to the body.
Cohen misses with a takedown
and Weissman counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Weissman cracks Cohen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
No joy there for Weissman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Weissman blocks a jab.

Weissman clinches.

Weissman works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Weissman with a nice head shot there.
Weissman trying to control the position from guard on top but Cohen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Weissman postures up in Cohen's guard and throws a big left but Cohen blocks it.
Cohen is breathing heavily.
Weissman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cohen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Weissman looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cohen pulls Weissman in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weissman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Weissman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Weissman lands a couple of elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Weissman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cohen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Weissman tries to reverse the position but Cohen maintains control.
Weissman throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Weissman sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Weissman wants to get back to full guard.
Weissman is doing well to control the position and prevent Cohen from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weissman manages to get to full guard.
Weissman wants to sweep but no luck.
Weissman is working hard here to advance position.
Cohen passes into half guard.
Weissman wants to get back to full guard.
Weissman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Weissman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Weissman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cohen is trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen tries to hold on but Weissman postures up.
A nice elbow there by Weissman.
Weissman lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cohen hang on?
Weissman tries to control but Cohen wriggling away.
Weissman scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Weissman scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cohen?
Weissman lands a big elbow.
Weissman controlling his opponent.
Cohen is trying to escape the mount.
Brian Weissman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weissman lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cohen hang on?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Weissman lands a big elbow.
Weissman pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cohen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Weissman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Cohen is rocked!
Weissman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cohen can do to turn this around?
Weissman lands a big shot to the head and Cohen winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Brian Weissman!