PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reino Vaananen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Cotes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cotes is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Victory. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Vaananen
vs
Cotes

182 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

200 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

EFC Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Reino Vaananen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sean Cotes!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cotes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Reino Vaananen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cotes dives in and grabs Vaananen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vaananen pushes down on Cotes's head and hops out.
Cotes scores with a one two! Vaananen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Cotes scores with a jab to the head.
Vaananen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vaananen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cotes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vaananen thinking.
Vaananen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cotes lands a nice hook to Vaananen's body. Vaananen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cotes takes the fight into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Cotes.
Vaananen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cotes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reino Vaananen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaananen fails to pull guard.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Vaananen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Vaananen tries for a takedown but Cotes manages to get underhooks.
Vaananen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cotes pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cotes throws a series of punches but Vaananen moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotes sizes up Vaananen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cotes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Cotes has managed to clinch.
Cotes has Vaananen pressed against the cage, preventing Vaananen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Cotes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vaananen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cotes circles away from the clinch attempt

and Cotes moves into the clinch.
Cotes is trying to break free.
Vaananen tries to land knees in the clinch but Cotes avoids the damage to the body.
Vaananen jumps guard but Cotes stands there with Vaananen around his waist. Vaananen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cotes working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Vaananen tries a knee to the head but Cotes blocks it.
Cotes misses with a short punch on the inside.

Cotes gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Cotes is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Vaananen has managed to free his arm - good work.

Cotes looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Vaananen trying to hold on to Cotes's head to control him but Cotes postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaananen wants to improve his position but Cotes is controlling well.
Vaananen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Vaananen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cotes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vaananen is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cotes tries to close the distance and clinch but Vaananen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vaananen takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Vaananen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cotes, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cotes is pressed up against the cage. Vaananen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cotes down to the mat. Cotes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Vaananen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cotes controls Vaananen momentarily but Vaananen frees himself.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cotes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vaananen passes into side control.
Cotes gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cotes looks gassed!
Vaananen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Vaananen is looking for a kimura but Cotes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vaananen to get the leverage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vaananen is keen to just control but Cotes is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Cotes dominated that round.
That's time! Vaananen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Vaananen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cotes.
Cotes is looking to clinch but Vaananen is avoiding it.
Cotes with a poor takedown

and Vaananen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cotes's guard now.
Vaananen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cotes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vaananen is one step ahead there.

Cotes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vaananen is aware though and is defending well.
Vaananen tries to free his leg and advance position but Cotes is retaining full guard.
Vaananen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cotes's guard.

Vaananen is looking for a kimura here.

Vaananen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cotes is just riding it out for now. Vaananen eventually gives up the hold.
Cotes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaananen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cotes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cotes.

Cotes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vaananen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vaananen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cotes is on top in guard.
Vaananen looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vaananen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cotes passes into half guard.

Vaananen makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Vaananen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Cotes postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vaananen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cotes, into his guard.
Vaananen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Reino Vaananen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vaananen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaananen trying to control but Cotes is working from the bottom.
Cotes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vaananen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Vaananen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cotes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vaananen has managed to get both his arms back between Cotes's legs - danger averted.
Vaananen wants to control from the top but Cotes keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vaananen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cotes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cotes thuds his right hand into Vaananen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Vaananen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cotes sprawls well initially but Vaananen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Vaananen working Cotes over with strikes.
Cotes trying to control but Vaananen postures up.
Vaananen is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Cotes reverses the position - he's now on top in Vaananen's guard.
Vaananen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Vaananen drops an elbow to the side of Cotes's head.
Vaananen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cotes keeps working.
Vaananen is really struggling to control Cotes but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reino Vaananen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Vaananen misses with a takedown
and Cotes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Cotes pushes Vaananen up against the cage in a clinch.
Vaananen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Cotes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vaananen keeps the fight on the outside.
A right-left combo lands from Cotes.

Cotes darts in and clinches Vaananen up against the cage.
Cotes avoiding damage as Vaananen throws knees to the body.
Vaananen tries to land a knee to the head but Cotes blocks with his arms.
Vaananen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cotes's efforts to push away.
Vaananen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaananen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cotes is defending well for now.
Vaananen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cotes pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reino Vaananen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good standup being displayed there by Cotes as he connects with a hook.
Cotes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Reino Vaananen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cotes moves into the clinch successfully.
Cotes pushes Vaananen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vaananen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vaananen fails to pull guard.
The is referee keeping an eye on Cotes - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Vaananen is trying to drag Cotes to the mat but Cotes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Vaananen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cotes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Vaananen fails to land.
Vaananen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cotes up against the cage.

Cotes lands a takedown into guard.
Cotes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cotes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cotes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cotes forces Vaananen back against the cage and clinches.
Vaananen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cotes smiles and moves away.

Cotes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vaananen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cotes has an Americana. Vaananen didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Cotes is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Cotes hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Sean Cotes!