PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jerome McCool (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luca Caputi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jerome McCool could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Luca Caputi's chin.

McCool
vs
Caputi

182 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jerome McCool!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luca Caputi!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCool throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Caputi's waist but Caputi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCool off to one side.
McCool will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

McCool gets the takedown into side control.
Caputi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Caputi is being controlled here.
Caputi tries to bench press McCool off him but McCool keeps the position.
McCool tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caputi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McCool wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Caputi sneaks back into half guard.
Caputi tries to get to full guard but McCool has control of the leg.

Caputi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McCool shoots in for a double leg but Caputi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome McCool. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCool will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McCool shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Caputi pinned against the cage. Caputi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McCool is breathing heavily.
McCool fails with the takedown.
Caputi shoots in but McCool avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McCool doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Caputi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
McCool keeping full guard, as Caputi tries to pass.
McCool wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
McCool not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McCool wants to stand and escape but Caputi is having none of it.
McCool seems keen to control Caputi's posture.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
McCool looking to hit a scissor sweep but Caputi is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caputi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCool swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McCool with a lazy takedown attempt

and Caputi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McCool!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McCool is looking to get to half guard.
McCool tries to hold on but Caputi pushes him away.
McCool is trying desperately to improve position.
McCool sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
McCool is trying to maintain the position but Caputi is very close to passing his half guard.

Caputi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McCool defends it well.
McCool keeping hold of Caputi's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caputi thows a huge punch but McCool dodges it nicely.
McCool wants to get back to full guard.

Caputi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McCool is controlling Caputi's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Caputi is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, McCool has managed to free his arm - good work.
Caputi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for McCool!
Caputi lands a big elbow.

Caputi looking to secure an arm triangle but McCool defends it well.
Caputi landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Caputi is working for a guillotine from mount but McCool frees his head quite easily.
Caputi landing shots from mount.
Caputi landing strikes, looking to finish!
McCool keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Caputi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McCool is in all sorts of trouble here.
Caputi dominating with strikes here.
Caputi is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. McCool is in real trouble.

Caputi looking for the choke but no joy.
Caputi doesn't have the hooks in and McCool manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Caputi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Caputi has his foot on McCool's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McCool works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Caputi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Caputi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Caputi is looking for a kimura here.
Caputi prevents McCool from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Caputi wants to pass to mount but McCool is defending the position.
Caputi is thwarting McCool's attempts to control the position.

Caputi seems to be looking for submissions.
Caputi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for McCool!
Caputi lands with some strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice elbow there by Caputi.
McCool tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Caputi looking to secure an arm triangle but McCool defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caputi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Luca Caputi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Caputi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but McCool manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Caputi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Caputi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McCool, who protects the arm well.

Caputi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Caputi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Caputi in side control lands a decent elbow.

Caputi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on McCool's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Caputi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Caputi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
McCool holds on to Caputi's head and controls the position momentarily.
McCool can't do much from the bottom here.

Caputi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
McCool can't do much from the bottom here.

Caputi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McCool knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McCool struggling a bit here.

Caputi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCool prevents Caputi from improving position.
Caputi working away.
McCool is not content to let Caputi control the position.
Caputi lands some shots froms side control.
What's McCool going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
McCool manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
McCool wants to improve his position but Caputi is controlling well.

McCool manages to escape and get back to his feet!
McCool misses with a takedown attempt

and Caputi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McCool!
McCool is in all sorts of trouble here.
McCool slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCool trying to control but Caputi postures up.
McCool tries to roll over but Caputi keeps him under control.
McCool slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McCool holds on and takes a little breather.
McCool manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCool can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Caputi is looking to escape.
Caputi is desperately trying to improve his position but McCool has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Caputi regains half guard.
Caputi wants to improve his position but McCool is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Caputi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McCool has his takedown stuffed

and Caputi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Caputi is working for a kimura but McCool is defending it quite comfortably.
Caputi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
McCool wants to improve his position but Caputi is controlling well.

Caputi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McCool works his way to full guard. Good work.
McCool controlling the position.

Caputi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Caputi stopping the sweep attempt from McCool.

Caputi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Caputi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caputi looking to pass the guard.
Caputi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

McCool throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McCool is pulling down on Caputi's head. It's preventing any offense from Caputi, at least for the moment.
Caputi trying to control but McCool is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McCool doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Caputi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McCool's guard.
Caputi advances position into side control!
McCool tries to escape but Caputi is in control.
McCool gets back to half guard.
McCool regains full guard. Nicely done.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McCool holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCool wants to sweep here but Caputi controlling him for the moment.
McCool has Caputi pulled in close to control his posture.
Caputi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McCool has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Caputi tries to free his leg and advance position but McCool is retaining full guard.
McCool avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Caputi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCool swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Caputi with a poor takedown
and McCool counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McCool throws a series of punches but Caputi moves out of range.
McCool has his takedown stuffed

and Caputi counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome McCool. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Caputi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McCool has escaped the position, nice work there.
McCool tries to buck Caputi off but Caputi is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCool is trying to control Caputi's posture but Caputi avoids it.
McCool tries to improve position but can't.
McCool is not content to let Caputi control the position.
Caputi working away.
McCool tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Caputi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
McCool is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Caputi off and has taken his back!
Caputi is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by McCool.
Caputi tries to escape the position.
McCool doesn't have the hooks in and Caputi manages to turn into his guard.
Caputi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Caputi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McCool trying to keep a closed guard but Caputi is proving a slippery customer.

Caputi drops back looking for a leg! McCool is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McCool manages to kick Caputi off! Caputi jumps back into McCool's guard.
McCool can't keep his opponent in guard - Caputi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Caputi lands with a punch from half guard.

Caputi seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. McCool is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Luca Caputi!