PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeffrey Cousins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Beckett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cousins
vs
Beckett

176 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeffrey Cousins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Beckett!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Columbo Gatti and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cousins shoots in and drives through. Beckett sprawls well.
Beckett lands with a shot to the body.
Cousins fails in his attempt to clinch.
A big left from Beckett misses.
Jeffrey Cousins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beckett waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cousins.
Beckett tries for a takedown but Cousins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cousins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Beckett as he avoids it easily.
Beckett avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cousins throws a combination that misses
and Beckett makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Beckett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Beckett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cousins.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeffrey Cousins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckett avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cousins slips a straight right by Beckett.
Cousins closes the distance but Beckett moves to the side
enabling Beckett to counter with a crisp jab.

Beckett fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cousins, pushing him back against the cage.
Beckett tries to throw a body punch but Cousins avoids it by throwing Beckett back against the cage.

Beckett jumps guard.
Beckett working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cousins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cousins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cousins slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cousins looking to pass the guard.
Beckett looking for a sweep. Not yet Beckett, not yet.
Cousins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cousins stopping the sweep attempt from Beckett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Beckett working a defensive guard here.
Cousins has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jeffrey Cousins.
Cousins moves out of range as Beckett strikes.
Beckett shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cousins as he avoids it easily.
Cousins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cousins tries to clinch there but Beckett circles away.
Cousins shoots in but Beckett avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Beckett throws out a powerful jab.
Cousins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Beckett. Cousins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cousins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cousins shoots for a takedown but Beckett saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Beckett dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Beckett rushes Cousins and presses him up against the cage.
Cousins is trying to pull guard but Beckett has him pressed against the cage.

Beckett jumps guard.
Cousins wants to stand and escape but instead Beckett has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Cousins is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Beckett is aware though and is defending well.
Cousins managing to control the position.

Beckett drops back looking for a leg! Cousins is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cousins manages to kick Beckett off! Beckett jumps back into Cousins's guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cousins trying to control the position here.
Beckett slips nicely into half guard.
Cousins is staying active underneath Beckett, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Beckett tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cousins knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beckett trying to control the action but Cousins is working from the bottom.
Cousins wants to improve his position but Beckett is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cousins trying to control but Beckett postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Beckett wants to pass to mount but Cousins is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cousins trying to control here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cousins uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Beckett.
Jeffrey Cousins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Beckett getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Good work by Beckett as he checks the leg kick.
Beckett throws a body punch but Cousins moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Cousins or perhaps it was just good defense by Beckett which made him look bad.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cousins throws the kick towards the body but Beckett avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Beckett. That snapped Cousins's head back.
Beckett scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cousins tries to close the distance and clinch but Beckett swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Beckett just misses with a punch to the body.

Beckett closes the distance and pushes Cousins back into the cage.
Beckett looking to slow down the pace here.
Beckett stalling.
Cousins working hard to break the clinch.
Beckett presses Cousins against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Beckett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cousins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Beckett ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Beckett closes the distance and pushes Cousins back into the cage.
Cousins can't get the takedown.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Beckett.
Beckett misses with a body punch.
Beckett tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Beckett tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cousins stalling in the clinch.
Cousins lands an elbow inside that Beckett shrugs off.
Cousins is trying to stall.
Beckett goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cousins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cousins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Beckett misses with some punches.
Beckett pushes Cousins back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Beckett is trying to stall.
The referee calls for Cousins to work.
Beckett tries to pull guard but Cousins forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Beckett jumps guard but Cousins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jeffrey Cousins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Beckett.
A head punch on the inside from Beckett fails to land.
Cousins looking for a takedown.
Cousins is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Beckett to keep the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cousins is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Beckett gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Beckett lands a hook that snaps the head of Cousins backwards.
Beckett is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Beckett manages to pull guard.

Beckett escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cousins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Beckett wants to sweep but no luck.
Beckett pulls Cousins in close to prevent any damage.
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!
Cousins postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cousins wanted to stand there but Beckett had control of the position.
Beckett has Cousins pulled in close to control his posture.

Jeffrey Cousins has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Cousins tries to close the distance and clinch but Beckett swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cousins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Beckett.
Beckett throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cousins takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cousins moves to clinch but Beckett breaks away
enabling Beckett to counter with a crisp jab.
Beckett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cousins was well out of range. Poor timing from Beckett.
Jeffrey Cousins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Beckett gets a clinch.
Jim Beckett is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Beckett tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cousins smiles and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Beckett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Beckett has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Beckett!