PBP Commentary

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

Cooper
vs
Blagojevic

185 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
138 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Smithson Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nikola Blagojevic!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Roberts and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blagojevic misses with a hook. Cooper ducked under it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cooper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Blagojevic scores with a takedown into Cooper's guard.
Blagojevic wants to control from the top but Cooper keeps moving.
Blagojevic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cooper wants to improve his position but instead Blagojevic has moved into half guard.
Blagojevic takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nikola Blagojevic was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cooper closes the distance but Blagojevic moves to the side

and Blagojevic counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper jumps guard but Blagojevic turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cooper goes for a takedown in the clinch but Blagojevic prevents it.
Cooper tries to pull guard but Blagojevic won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Smithson Cooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Blagojevic gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Blagojevic controlling the action here.
Blagojevic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cooper defending well though.

Cooper looking for submissions off his back.
Blagojevic takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cooper gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blagojevic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Cooper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blagojevic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cooper throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Blagojevic controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Cooper working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blagojevic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blagojevic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cooper is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cooper is breathing heavily.
Blagojevic lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cooper keeping moving, preventing Blagojevic from controlling successfully.

Cooper looking for a guillotine here but Blagojevic defends easily.
Cooper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cooper keeping moving, preventing Blagojevic from controlling successfully.
Blagojevic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blagojevic wants to control from the top but Cooper keeps moving.

Cooper throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Blagojevic escapes and throws Cooper's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Blagojevic takes a little break here. Cooper wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Cooper really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cooper is looking for a sweep.

Blagojevic is working to tighten is grip on Cooper's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Cooper has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Blagojevic is really squeezing tight and eventually Cooper passes out! Blagojevic breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Nikola Blagojevic!