PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Cohen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dai Vernon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cohen comes into the arena with Season in the Abyss blaring out of the sound system. Vernon has chosen Ari Gold - Let's Hug It Out, BITCH as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Cohen
vs
Vernon

178 cm
30
178 lbs
21 - 21 - 2

184 cm
27
184 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

5th Round Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 21 - 2, fighting out of New York, Lawrence Cohen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dai Vernon!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vernon bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cohen's head backwards.
Cohen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vernon manages to avoid it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cohen checks a leg kick.
Cohen slips a jab and a cross from Vernon.
Vernon blocks a jab.
Vernon stuffs the takedown attempt from Cohen. Cohen gets slowly back to his feet.
Cohen keeps the fight on the outside.
Cohen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Vernon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vernon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vernon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cohen misses with a hook.
Vernon throws a body punch but Cohen moves out of range.
Vernon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vernon leaves Cohen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cohen moves out of range of the body kick from Vernon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cohen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vernon.
Cohen throws a big shot that misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Vernon.
Vernon throws a poor cross that misses
and Cohen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Vernon just misses with a punch to the body.
Dai Vernon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A solid body kick from Vernon.
Vernon tries to clinch up but Cohen circles away and keeps his distance.
Cohen moves in looking to clinch but Vernon pushes him off.
A big left from Cohen misses.
Vernon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cohen.
Donk. Vernon catches Cohen right on the button with a cross.

Vernon moves into the clinch.
Vernon lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Vernon.

Cohen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vernon is fighting to break Cohen's control of his arms but Cohen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cohen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cohen keeping moving, preventing Vernon from controlling successfully.
Vernon postures up in Cohen's guard and throws a big left but Cohen blocks it.
Vernon stopping the sweep attempt from Cohen.
Vernon working some strikes from top position.
Cohen wants to stand but Vernon is controlling the position.
Vernon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cohen keeping moving, preventing Vernon from controlling successfully.
Cohen pulls Vernon in close to his closed guard and prevents Vernon from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vernon wants to pass the guard but Cohen is keeping the position.
Cohen looking to control.
Cohen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vernon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vernon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vernon trying to control the position from guard on top but Cohen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vernon is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vernon thuds a left hand into Cohen's body.
A telegraphed right hand from Cohen misses the target.
Vernon thows a leg kick but Cohen checks it
and Cohen counters with a nice body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Vernon, as that shot connected.
A slapping leg kick lands for Vernon.
Vernon on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vernon moves in looking to clinch but Cohen pushes him off.
Vernon just misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vernon cracks Cohen with a good jab.
Dai Vernon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Vernon drives through and clinches with Cohen against the cage.
Vernon looking to throw knees to the head but Cohen is blocking nicely.
Vernon has a couple of punches blocked by Cohen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dai Vernon dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vernon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cohen defending well as Vernon loads up on a big left hand.
Dai Vernon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vernon lands a nice hook to Cohen's body. Cohen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cohen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cohen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nice body punch from Vernon.
Vernon is looking to slow Cohen down with leg kicks.
Cohen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Vernon scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A big left from Cohen misses.
Cohen shoots in for a double leg but Vernon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice jab there from Vernon.
Vernon throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vernon lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vernon just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon clobbers Cohen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vernon tried to score with a low kick but Cohen checks it.
Cohen slips a jab from Vernon.
A clash of legs there as Cohen blocks the low kick.
Vernon lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cohen throws a big shot that misses.
Vernon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cohen moves away.
Cohen keeps the fight on the outside.
Cohen misses with a low kick.
Vernon moves away from the strike by Cohen.

Cohen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Vernon on his heels. He'll look to pass Vernon's guard now, I'm sure.
Vernon seems keen to control Cohen's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vernon's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cohen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cohen tries to free his leg and advance position but Vernon is retaining full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cohen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cohen wants to control from the top but Vernon keeps moving.
Vernon has his hands on Cohen's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen wants to control from the top but Vernon keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cohen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cohen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Cohen loads up on a big right hand but Vernon slips the punch.
Vernon avoids the body shot from Cohen.
Vernon scores with a leg kick.
Vernon checks a leg kick nicely.
Cohen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vernon cracks a nice hook into Cohen's ribs.
Cohen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vernon throws the left hand but Cohen avoids the punch easily.

Vernon moves into the clinch.
Vernon landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vernon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cohen's elbow.
Vernon tries a body shot but Cohen blocks it.
Cohen misses with a body punch.
Vernon lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cohen backwards.
Cohen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vernon pulls his leg out and moves away.
Good shot there by Vernon.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vernon tries to clinch there but Cohen circles away.
Vernon throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dai Vernon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vernon lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Vernon tries to clinch but Cohen is having none of it.

Vernon forces Cohen back against the cage and clinches.
Vernon lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cohen backwards.
Vernon crunches a lovely knee into Cohen's ribcage.
Cohen goes for a takedown attempt but Vernon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cohen avoids the body shot from Vernon.
Vernon lands a high kick!
The fight stays on the outside here - Vernon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vernon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cohen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vernon connects with an inside leg kick.
Cohen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cohen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cohen misses with a looping left.
Vernon thows a body shot but no joy.
Vernon tries to clinch there but Cohen circles away.
Vernon misses with a low kick.
Cohen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Cohen misses with a low kick.
Vernon punishes Cohen's body with a nice straight punch.
Vernon swings for the body but Cohen moves out of range.
Vernon is looking to clinch but Cohen is avoiding it.
Vernon misses with a wild body shot.
Vernon scores with a leg kick.
Vernon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Cohen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Vernon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cohen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Vernon manages to get back to half guard.
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!
Cohen working over Vernon with some ground and pound. Vernon looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Vernon is trying to maintain the position but Cohen is very close to passing his half guard.

Vernon is defending against the submission attempts here by Cohen.

Cohen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen is pressing down on Vernon's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vernon is holding on for now.
Cohen prevents Vernon from standing back up.
Cohen wants to take a breather but Vernon is having none of it.

Vernon looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen trying to control from half guard but Vernon is working away.
Vernon moves into full guard.
Lawrence Cohen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vernon looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cohen puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cohen works his way into side control.
Lawrence Cohen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vernon tries to buck Cohen off but Cohen is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dai Vernon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vernon winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dai Vernon!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Dai Vernon made sure he mentioned Hellbent , along with how happy he was to win his fight.