PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vedran Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Cooper (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.

Russo
vs
Cooper

183 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vedran Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Andrew Cooper!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Cooper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Russo moves into the clinch.

Russo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cooper tries to clinch up but Russo circles away and keeps his distance.
Russo shoots in and drives through. Cooper sprawls well.
Cooper rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Russo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Russo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cooper pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cooper fails to land the takedown.
Russo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cooper.
Cooper ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper shoots in looking for a takedown but Russo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cooper's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Vedran Russo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Cooper.
Russo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Russo stuffs the takedown.
Russo throws a sloppy head kick and Cooper moves out of range easily.
Cooper is trying hard to land a takedown here. Russo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cooper slaps away a takedown attempt from Russo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Russo misses with a takedown attempt - Cooper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Russo fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper misses with an uppercut. Russo saw that one coming.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown but Russo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cooper tries for a takedown but Russo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cooper shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Russo defends it nicely.
Cooper looks gassed!

Cooper tries to keep at a distance but Russo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Russo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cooper pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Russo tries to land a knee to the head but Cooper blocks with his arms.
Cooper jumps guard but Russo stands there with Cooper around his waist. Cooper gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper blocks an elbow strike.

Russo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cooper uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Cooper gets to his feet - Russo follows without any prompting.
Cooper misses with a hook. Russo ducked under it nicely.
Russo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Russo wants it to stay on the feet.
Russo moves in looking to clinch but Cooper pushes him off.
Russo shoots in for a takedown but Cooper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cooper shoots in for a double leg but Russo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Russo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cooper dives in and grabs Russo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Russo pushes down on Cooper's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Russo clinches up with Cooper and pushes him back against the cage.
Cooper just leaning against Russo, taking a breather.
Cooper is trying to break free.

Russo breaks the clinch.
Russo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Russo fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooper fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vedran Russo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cooper fails with the takedown.
Cooper looks to clinch
and Russo counters with a head kick.
Russo leaves Cooper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cooper is trying hard to land a takedown here. Russo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vedran Russo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Cooper.
Russo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cooper swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Russo with a jab.
Russo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cooper is breathing heavily.
Cooper thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Russo if he has to take too many more of those.
Russo circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Russo.
Cooper fails with a takedown attempt.
Russo misses with a wild combination.
Cooper doesn't manage to clinch there - Russo circles away.
Russo tries to clinch but Cooper moves out of range.
Russo shoots in and drives through. Cooper sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper shoots in and drives through. Russo sprawls well.
Russo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cooper pinned against the cage. Cooper gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Russo blocks a head kick by Cooper.
Russo looks for a takedown but Cooper sprawls well.
Russo shoots in looking for a takedown but Cooper manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Russo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cooper fails with a takedown attempt.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Russo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Russo.
Cooper is trying hard to land a takedown here. Russo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Russo. No joy for Cooper on that attempt.
Russo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Russo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cooper circles away.
Russo fails to land the takedown.
Cooper shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Russo pinned against the cage. Russo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo throws a nice looking combination but Cooper bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Cooper has closed the distance and engaged Russo in a clinch.

Cooper manages to break the clinch.
Cooper looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cooper tries to clinch but Russo moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Russo.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooper fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andrew Cooper will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Russo fails with the takedown.
Cooper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Russo tries to avoid it but Cooper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Russo to the ground. Russo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cooper shoots in looking for a takedown but Russo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cooper's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cooper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Russo tries to avoid it but Cooper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Russo to the ground. Russo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vedran Russo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Cooper.
Nice takedown defense from Cooper. No joy for Russo on that attempt.
Cooper fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cooper.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cooper circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Russo as he jumps to the side.
Russo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cooper sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Russo somewhat.
Russo cracks Cooper with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Cooper darts in trying to clinch
and Russo counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo moves in looking to clinch but Cooper pushes him off.
Cooper shoots in and drives through. Russo sprawls well.
Horrible takedown by Russo or perhaps it was just good defense by Cooper which made him look bad.
Cooper fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Russo manages to avoid it.
Russo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Russo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Russo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cooper throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Russo's waist but Russo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cooper off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cooper gets tackled into the cage by Russo. Russo maintains the clinch.
Cooper tries to work over Russo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cooper looking to slow down the pace here.
A bit of stalling here from Russo.

Russo breaks from the clinch.
Cooper rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Russo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Russo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cooper tries to clinch there but Russo circles away.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown but Russo shows good takedown defense.
Russo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cooper clinches up against the cage.
Russo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cooper avoids it.
Cooper wants to get back to striking at distance but Russo won't allow it.
Cooper lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cooper prevents the takedown attempt.
Cooper has Russo pushed against the cage.
Russo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cooper drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Russo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Russo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vedran Russo.
I think Russo 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vedran Russo!