PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Soldadito Cojo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derrick Rankinstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cojo
vs
Rankinstein

168 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

169 cm
20
142 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Balco Boys - Hilo

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Soldadito Cojo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Derrick Rankinstein!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cojo slips under a jab.
A right-left combo lands from Rankinstein.
Cojo throws a one two combo.

It looks like Derrick Rankinstein has been cut.
Cojo dives in and grabs Rankinstein's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rankinstein pushes down on Cojo's head and hops out.
Cojo throws a big shot that misses.
Cojo ducks under a wild hook from Rankinstein.
Rankinstein buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The fighters circling - Cojo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rankinstein showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cojo.
A cross from Rankinstein lands.
Rankinstein tries to bum rush Cojo with a series of wild strikes but Cojo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rankinstein lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
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!
Rankinstein listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rankinstein lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rankinstein takes a swing at Cojo's ribcage but misses.
Rankinstein throws an off balance right hand
and Cojo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cojo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rankinstein looks to score with a jab to the body but Cojo is just out of range.
Rankinstein lands with a right hand.

Rankinstein closes the distance and clinches.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Cojo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rankinstein is trying to maintain a safe position but Cojo gets an underhook and turns Rankinstein into the ropes.
Still in the clinch, Cojo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rankinstein lands a nice knee to the body.
Cojo can't break the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rankinstein obliges.
Stalling in the clinch from Cojo.
Cojo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rankinstein avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Soldadito Cojo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cojo can't get the takedown.
Cojo is breathing heavily.
Rankinstein working Cojo over with knees to the body.
Rankinstein tries to stall but Cojo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cojo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Cojo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rankinstein lands a nice elbow.
A right handed body shot lands from Rankinstein.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rankinstein is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cojo managing to block the knees to the body from Rankinstein.
Rankinstein is looking to control Cojo's arms but Cojo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rankinstein has his back to the ropes.
Cojo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rankinstein smiles and moves away.
Rankinstein shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cojo eats them both and turns towards Rankinstein to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Rankinstein goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rankinstein looks to score with a jab to the body but Cojo is just out of range.

Rankinstein drives through and clinches with Cojo against the ropes.
A short uppercut from Cojo.
Cojo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rankinstein avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cojo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cojo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cojo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rankinstein scores a nice knee to the body.
Rankinstein throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Cojo wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rankinstein lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cojo backwards.
Rankinstein lands an elbow just above Cojo 's eye.
Rankinstein slowing the pace effectively.
Cojo slows down the pace here.
Cojo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rankinstein landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cojo goes for a takedown attempt but Rankinstein pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rankinstein looks to land a combination but Cojo avoids it well.
Soldadito Cojo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cojo takes one on the button.
Rankinstein keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cojo.
Rankinstein scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rankinstein.
Cojo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rankinstein counters with a left and a right that stings Cojo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cojo takes a swing at Rankinstein's ribcage but misses.
Rankinstein lands with a nice body kick.
Rankinstein scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cojo fails with a takedown attempt.
Rankinstein lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cojo circles away quickly and effectively.
Rankinstein with a hook.
Cojo walks into a left hand.
Derrick Rankinstein is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rankinstein slips a straight right by Cojo.
A big right from Cojo misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A good leg kick by Rankinstein.
Cojo throws an off balance right hand
and Rankinstein counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rankinstein lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rankinstein lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Rankinstein dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Derrick Rankinstein's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Cojo throws a lazy uppercut
and Rankinstein connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rankinstein connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cojo momentarily.
Cojo tries for a takedown but Rankinstein sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cojo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rankinstein bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cojo. Rankinstein does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rankinstein throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cojo on the side of the head.
Cojo swings for the body but Rankinstein moves out of range.
Rankinstein scores with a punch to the head.
Rankinstein slips a straight right by Cojo.
Cojo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cojo misses with a two punch combination.
Rankinstein moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Cojo is rocked!

Rankinstein moves into the clinch successfully.
Oh Cojo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rankinstein taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Derrick Rankinstein seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cojo looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rankinstein working Cojo over with knees to the body.
Rankinstein unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cojo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cojo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cojo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rankinstein leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Cojo takes an elbow to the temple.

Rankinstein pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Derrick Rankinstein seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cojo blocks a head kick by Rankinstein.
Rankinstein connects with a nice looking jab.
and Rankinstein counters with a massive uppercut that badly hurts Cojo! He's just covering up as Rankinstein starts to tee off till referee steps in and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Derrick Rankinstein!