PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keno Mellberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Keno Mellberg has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mellberg
vs
Cooper

178 cm
21
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

[MMABR] Winners' Supplements

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keno Mellberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, William Cooper!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mellberg tries to clinch up but Cooper circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Mellberg.

Mellberg shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cooper is trying to defend but Mellberg finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Mellberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cooper keeps working.
Mellberg passes to full mount!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Mellberg looking to finish with strikes here!
Mellberg content just to control the position here.
Mellberg's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Cooper looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper taking shots to the head.
Mellberg controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cooper is squirming around, avoiding Mellberg's attempts to control the action.
Mellberg controlling his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Keno Mellberg just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Mellberg misses with a low kick as Cooper jumps back.
Mellberg throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mellberg throws a sloppy head kick and Cooper moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mellberg misses with a head kick.
Mellberg tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cooper swivels and escapes.
Mellberg lands a right hook to the body.
Mellberg changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cooper tries to avoid it but Mellberg manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cooper to the ground. Cooper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cooper blocks a head kick by Mellberg.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mellberg.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keno Mellberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mellberg lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Mellberg lands a with a good body shot.
Cooper stuffs the takedown.
Mellberg throws a head kick that misses.
Mellberg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mellberg lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Mellberg moves away from the strike by Cooper.
Mellberg throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mellberg lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cooper circles away quickly and effectively.
Mellberg misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cooper throws a left and a right that both miss

and Mellberg counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mellberg stands up.
Mellberg misses with a wild combination.
Mellberg throws a head kick but Cooper moves out of range.
Cooper moves out of range as Mellberg throws a body kick.
Mellberg moves forwards but Cooper connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mellberg scores with a one two! Cooper had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mellberg tries a head kick but it misses.
Cooper takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Mellberg fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooper tries to land a leg kick but Mellberg saw it coming and moves away.
Mellberg shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mellberg misses with a takedown attempt - Cooper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cooper displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mellberg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keno Mellberg dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Good work by Mellberg as he checks the leg kick.
Mellberg scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Keno Mellberg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mellberg tries to clinch there but Cooper circles away.
A clash of legs there as Mellberg blocks the low kick.
Mellberg scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cooper avoids the head kick by Mellberg.
Mellberg connects with a single shot there.
Mellberg uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Cooper is rocked!

Mellberg lands a left and a right that send Cooper crashing to the mat, dazed. Mellberg thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Cooper is still on wobbly legs! Can Mellberg finish him?
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!

Mellberg scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Mellberg has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mellberg shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cooper seems to have recovered his senses.
Mellberg throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cooper sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cooper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Mellberg swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mellberg misses with a low kick.
Cooper showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mellberg.
Mellberg is looking to clinch but Cooper is avoiding it.
Keno Mellberg is winning the standup battle so far.
Mellberg rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cooper moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Cooper gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mellberg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mellberg postures up in Cooper's guard and throws a big left but Cooper blocks it.
Mellberg wants to get up but he can't break Cooper's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Mellberg decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cooper, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mellberg throws a leg kick that misses.
Cooper pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mellberg tries to clinch up.
Cooper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mellberg misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mellberg tries to bum rush Cooper with a series of wild strikes but Cooper uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mellberg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cooper leaves Mellberg with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cooper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mellberg fails to land with a series of punches.
Mellberg throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cooper swats away the attempt to clinch by Mellberg.
Mellberg lands a jab to Cooper's midsection.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mellberg is defended easily by Cooper.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keno Mellberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Cooper with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mellberg fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cooper is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Mellberg changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cooper avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cooper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mellberg shoots in for a takedown but Cooper shows good takedown defense.
Mellberg has a takedown stuffed.
Cooper fails with the takedown.
Mellberg scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cooper in his tracks.
Mellberg thuds a left hand into Cooper's body.
Mellberg throws a head kick but Cooper moves out of range.
Mellberg's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Mellberg duly obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mellberg checks a leg kick.
Mellberg blocks a head kick by Cooper.
Mellberg throws a series of punches but Cooper moves out of range.
Good work by Mellberg as he checks the leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mellberg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mellberg.
Mellberg shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cooper as he avoids it easily.
Cooper throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Mellberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cooper throws a nice looking combination but Mellberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mellberg throws a half hearted mid kick.
Keno Mellberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooper takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cooper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mellberg misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mellberg misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keno Mellberg dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mellberg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mellberg is looking to wear down Cooper with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Mellberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mellberg throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mellberg tries to clinch but Cooper is having none of it.
Mellberg dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cooper loads up on a big right hand but Mellberg slips the punch.

Cooper scores a takedown into full mount!
Cooper won't let Mellberg get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Mellberg wants to hold on but Cooper pushes him away.

Cooper goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Mellberg is on top in guard.
Mellberg advances to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mellberg wants to stand but Cooper has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Mellberg controlling the pace.

Mellberg is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cooper doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mellberg.
Cooper is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mellberg perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mellberg seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cooper for as long as he can get away with.
Mellberg tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mellberg decides to return to a standing position.
Mellberg throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Good shot there by Mellberg.
Mellberg is looking to clinch.

Mellberg lands a left and a right that send Cooper crashing to the mat, dazed. Mellberg thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Cooper blocks a head kick by Mellberg.
Mellberg shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cooper as he jumps to the side.
A bone on bone clash there as Mellberg blocks the leg kick.
Mellberg fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mellberg shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cooper pinned against the cage. Cooper gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keno Mellberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooper misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cooper. Mellberg does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mellberg tries to score with a low kick but Cooper moves his leg out of the way.
Mellberg swinging wildly here.
Keno Mellberg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mellberg jabs at Cooper's body.
Mellberg catches Cooper with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Mellberg fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cooper sprawls well initially but Mellberg persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mellberg is looking to take a break and control but Cooper is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mellberg tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Cooper.
William Cooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mellberg is keen to just control but Cooper is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keno Mellberg showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mellberg has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keno Mellberg!