PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua's entrance music is Slayed. A fine choice. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Rua
vs
Cooper

185 cm
22
205 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
211 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cooper scores a takedown into full mount!
Rua is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Cooper controlling the pace for now.
Rua really wants to buck Cooper off and get back to his feet.
Cooper looking to control but Rua is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rua wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Cooper looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rua really wants to buck Cooper off and get back to his feet.
Cooper pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rua is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

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.
Cooper 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.
Cooper won't let Rua get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Cooper controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Cooper trying to control but Rua is having none of it.
Cooper tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cooper postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rua looks a forlorn figure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooper with a couple of short strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rua is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cooper trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rua is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Cooper dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rua scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cooper blocks a head kick by Rua.

Cooper is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rua's half guard.
Rua is trying to stand back up but Cooper is controlling him
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua pushes Cooper off looking to stand but Cooper dives back in and keeps control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cooper.
Cooper fails with the takedown.
Rua is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cooper.
Rua is looking to clinch.
Cooper slips under a jab.

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.
Cooper keeps the fight on the outside.

Rua gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cooper to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rua is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Cooper dives into side control.
Cooper misses with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cooper asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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.
Cooper can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rua is looking to escape.
Cooper controlling his opponent.
Rua's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Cooper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cooper fails with the takedown.
A head kick misses from Rua.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Cooper shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rua pushes Cooper off but Cooper dives into side control.
Rua is pushing Cooper's head away, looking to escape. Cooper manages to hold on to the position though.
Cooper wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Rua is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cooper has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua sneaks out the side door and pushes Cooper away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cooper throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooper looks for a takedown but Rua sprawls well.
Cooper displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Cooper bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rua misses with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a combination that misses
and Cooper cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mauricio Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cooper counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A head kick by Rua misses
and Cooper counters with a straight right hand.
Rua throws a lazy head kick

and Cooper counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cooper prevents Rua from getting back to his feet.
Cooper is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cooper pushes down on Rua's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rua looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua pushes Cooper off but Cooper dives into side control.
Rua tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Rua holding both Cooper 's hands and preventing any damage.
Cooper really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Rua.
Rua trying to get back to his feet but Cooper is in full control for now.
Jack Cooper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cooper is riding his opponent, not letting Rua buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Cooper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cooper 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Cooper!