PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Josh Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Zarate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Cooper has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cooper
vs
Zarate

173 cm
26
147 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
144 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Zarate!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zarate tries to clinch up
and Cooper counters with a straight right hand.
A shot to the body from Zarate misses
and Cooper counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Zarate is rocked!

It looks like Kevin Zarate has been cut.
Cooper dodges the punch combination from Zarate.
Zarate slips a jab from Cooper.

Cooper has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarate misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cooper.
Zarate missing with knees to the body.
Cooper is trying to break the clinch but Zarate is controlling him.
Zarate is trying to push Cooper away but Cooper has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zarate trying to control the position but instead, Cooper has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zarate into the cage.

Cooper breaks from the clinch.
Cooper throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zarate counters with a nice body shot.
Zarate shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Cooper counter with a right hand.
Zarate tries to clinch
and Cooper makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarate tries to clinch
and Cooper cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zarate tries to clinch
and Cooper counters with a stiff right hand.
Zarate is still on wobbly legs! Can Cooper finish him?
Zarate avoids the body shot from Cooper.
Zarate lands with a cross.
Zarate misses with a takedown
and Cooper makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zarate seems to have recovered his senses.
Zarate misses with a hook. Cooper ducked under it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper misses with an uppercut
and Zarate counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cooper thinking.

Cooper pushes Zarate up against the cage in a clinch.
Cooper wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zarate misses with a knee to the head.
Zarate is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cooper wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zarate throws an elbow but it misses.
Cooper avoiding damage as Zarate throws knees to the body.
Cooper wants to get back to striking at distance but Zarate won't allow it.
Zarate is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cooper avoiding damage as Zarate throws knees to the body.

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 wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zarate lands a nice knee to the body.
Cooper wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zarate.
Cooper avoiding damage as Zarate throws knees to the body.
Zarate is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cooper is defending well for now.
Zarate throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zarate can't break the clinch.
Zarate tries to pull guard but Cooper won't allow it.
Josh Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Zarate.
Zarate throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zarate stalling in the clinch but Cooper improves position.

Cooper manages to break the clinch.
Cooper misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Cooper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kevin Zarate's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zarate moves to clinch but Cooper breaks away
and Cooper counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cooper circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cooper counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Zarate throws out a powerful jab.
A punch combination from Cooper misses.
Cooper fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zarate manages to avoid it.
Josh Cooper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarate throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cooper counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Zarate tries to clinch but Cooper moves away
and Cooper counters with a straight right hand.
Zarate staying out of range there.
Zarate looks to clinch
letting Cooper counter with a right hand.
Zarate misses with a right hand
and Cooper counters with a left to the body.
Zarate tries to clinch but Cooper moves away
and Cooper counters with a straight right hand.
Zarate looks to clinch
and Cooper counters with a three punch combo that has Zarate backing up. Zarate nods at Cooper to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarate closes the distance but Cooper moves to the side
and Cooper scores with a counter punch that sends Zarate to the canvas! Cooper smells blood - he's punishing Zarate with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Zarate has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:11 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Josh Cooper!