PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Josh Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Marks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Tim Marks enters the cage!

Cooper
vs
Marks

173 cm
24
147 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tim Marks!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, David Schapiro and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marks fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cooper jabs at Marks's body.
Cooper misses with a series of wild punches.
Marks slips a jab and a cross from Cooper.
Cooper stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cooper wants it to stay on the feet.
Marks on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cooper misses with a series of wild punches.

Marks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Marks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cooper keeping moving, preventing Marks from controlling successfully.
Marks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cooper wants to stand up but Marks is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marks throws and elbow that misses. Cooper uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Marks's guard. Nice move by Cooper!
Marks has a closed guard, preventing Cooper from standing up.
Marks wants to stand but Cooper is controlling the position.

That's two 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.

Marks is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Marks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cooper avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Josh Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Marks.

Cooper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cooper digs a good body shot into Marks's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marks forces Cooper back against the cage and clinches.
Cooper is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Cooper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marks tries for a takedown but Cooper sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Marks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cooper's waist but Cooper gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marks off to one side.
Marks takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cooper rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Marks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cooper lands with a right hand.
Josh Cooper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooper throws a right and a left that Marks avoids nicely.
Cooper misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marks shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Marks stops Cooper from getting back to his feet.

Cooper manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Cooper throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Marks.
Marks walks into a stiff left hand from Cooper.
A punch combination from Cooper misses.
Marks misses with a takedown attempt - Cooper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cooper pinned against the cage. Cooper gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Cooper dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cooper connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Marks dives in and grabs Cooper's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cooper pushes down on Marks's head and hops out.
Cooper throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cooper fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Cooper misses with a double jab.
Cooper looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper scores with a body shot.
Cooper catches Marks with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A nice combination there by Cooper.
Cooper misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Marks shoots in looking for a takedown. Cooper tries to sprawl out of it but Marks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cooper manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Marks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cooper sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Josh Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Marks.
Cooper throws a series of strikes that have Marks backpedaling.
Cooper throws a right and a left that Marks avoids nicely.
Cooper scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Marks fails with a takedown attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cooper!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marks tries to clinch there but Cooper circles away.
Marks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cooper.
Marks fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Marks changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cooper looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cooper is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Marks asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Cooper explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cooper avoids it really well and circles away.
Josh Cooper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A right-left combo lands from Cooper.
Cooper tries to bum rush Marks with a series of wild strikes but Marks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Marks shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cooper but Cooper pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Marks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cooper circles away.
Marks takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cooper lands a lovely overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cooper lands a jab-cross combination.
Cooper misses with a series of wild punches.
Cooper throws out a powerful jab.
Cooper throws a nice looking combination but Marks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cooper's waist but Cooper gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marks off to one side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marks takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Josh Cooper is winning the standup battle so far.
Cooper throws a right and a left that Marks avoids nicely.
Cooper misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Cooper dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Marks closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cooper to the mat! Cooper manages to get full guard.
Marks is looking to work some ground and pound but Cooper has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marks trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.

Cooper is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Cooper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cooper lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Josh Cooper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper misses with a two punch combination.
Cooper connects with a good right hand that stumbles Marks. Marks circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cooper defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Marks.
Marks tries to close the distance and clinch but Cooper swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cooper lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Marks closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cooper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marks.
Marks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cooper wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cooper makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Marks fails with a takedown attempt.
Cooper connects with a crisp jab.
A clash of legs there as Cooper blocks the low kick.
Cooper throws a series of punches but Marks avoids them all with ease.
Some wild striking there from Cooper.
Nice takedown defense from Cooper. No joy for Marks on that attempt.
Josh Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Marks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marks tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cooper sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marks somewhat.
Cooper swats away the attempt to clinch by Marks.
Josh Cooper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A cross from Cooper lands.
Cooper throws a series of strikes that have Marks backpedaling.

Marks is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cooper's half guard.
Cooper regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Marks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marks trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.
Marks has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cooper is proving hard to escape from.
Cooper is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Marks dives into side control.
Marks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cooper keeps working.
Tim Marks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cooper regains half guard, as Marks was trying to land strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tim Marks.
I think Cooper has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

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