PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derek B. Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaito Saruwatari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cooper and Kaito Saruwatari. Cooper comes to the cage accompanied by Cult Of Personality - Living Colour. Saruwatari has chosen PRIDE FC - Opening Theme as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

B. Cooper
vs
Saruwatari

193 cm
26
215 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

186 cm
30
214 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Derek B. Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kaito Saruwatari!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saruwatari pushes Cooper away with a front kick.
Saruwatari scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Saruwatari connects with an inside leg kick.

Cooper fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Saruwatari sprawls well initially but Cooper persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cooper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cooper moves nicely into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saruwatari manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Saruwatari wants to get back to full guard.
Saruwatari trying to hold on to Cooper's head to control him but Cooper postures up.
Saruwatari might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cooper haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cooper is looking to take a break and control but Saruwatari is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cooper slows the pace down in half guard.
Cooper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saruwatari keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saruwatari rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Cooper decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Saruwatari's guard.
Saruwatari working a defensive guard here.
Cooper slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cooper looking to pass the guard.
Cooper works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Saruwatari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saruwatari is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Saruwatari is looking to control Cooper's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Saruwatari avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Cooper passes to side control.
Saruwatari is not content to let Cooper control the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Cooper wants to control but Saruwatari is keeping him busy.
Saruwatari tries to bench press Cooper off him but Cooper keeps the position.
I wouldn't like to be where Saruwatari is right now.
Cooper throws an elbow but Saruwatari slips to the side and avoids it well.
Cooper taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saruwatari keeps working.

Derek B. Cooper has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A good leg kick by Saruwatari.
Saruwatari looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Saruwatari smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
An inside leg kick from Saruwatari misses.
Cooper throws out a leg kick but Saruwatari moves out of range and Cooper only half commits.
Saruwatari throws a head kick that misses.
Saruwatari tries to clinch but Cooper is having none of it.
A slow jab from Cooper misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari checks a low kick from Cooper.
Cooper thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Saruwatari if he has to take too many more of those.
A clash of legs there as Cooper blocks the low kick.
Cooper fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Saruwatari checks it well.
Nice uppercut there from Cooper.
Saruwatari tries to clinch but Cooper is having none of it.
Cooper keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
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!
A low kick from Saruwatari is predictable there

and Cooper counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Saruwatari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cooper engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cooper trying to control but Saruwatari is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek B. Cooper dominated that round.
That's time! Cooper's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Saruwatari tries a low kick but Cooper avoids it.
Cooper shoots in looking for a takedown but Saruwatari manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cooper's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cooper looks for a takedown but Saruwatari sprawls well.
Saruwatari scores with a kick to the body.
Saruwatari connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cooper avoids a kick to the body.
Kaito Saruwatari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saruwatari is looking to land body kicks.
Cooper will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Saruwatari scores with a punch to the head.
Saruwatari doesn't manage to clinch there - Cooper circles away.
Cooper tries to clinch there but Saruwatari circles away.
Saruwatari is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper throws out a powerful jab.

It looks like Kaito Saruwatari has been cut.
Cooper steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Saruwatari.
Kaito Saruwatari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cooper blocks a leg kick.
Saruwatari scores with a kick to the midsection.
Saruwatari throws a sloppy head kick and Cooper moves out of range easily.
Saruwatari looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Cooper clinches up with Saruwatari and pushes him back against the cage.
Cooper blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saruwatari lands a body punch in the clinch.
Saruwatari can't break the clinch.
Saruwatari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cooper wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derek B. Cooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saruwatari misses with a body punch.
Good body shot from Saruwatari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saruwatari throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saruwatari throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Saruwatari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saruwatari lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Saruwatari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saruwatari tries to work over Cooper's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cooper's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cooper is looking to take this one to the mat.
Saruwatari tries a body shot but Cooper blocks it.
Saruwatari tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cooper's elbow.
Saruwatari tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cooper's elbow.
Cooper tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cooper wants to take the fight to the mat but Saruwatari manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cooper changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Saruwatari fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Saruwatari.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Saruwatari lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A head kick misses from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Saruwatari throws a shot to the body.
Saruwatari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cooper sees it coming and avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick from Saruwatari misses.
Saruwatari throws a low kick but Cooper moves out of range easily.
Cooper misses with a looping right.
Cooper checks a low kick from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari stuffs the takedown attempt from Cooper. Cooper gets slowly back to his feet.
Saruwatari scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari is looking to chop away at Cooper's legs.
Saruwatari thows a body shot but no joy.
Saruwatari throws a head kick that half lands.
Saruwatari throws a half hearted mid kick.
Saruwatari throws a head kick that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saruwatari throws a low kick but Cooper avoids it.
Cooper throws a front kick aimed at Saruwatari's knee but Saruwatari avoids it well.
Saruwatari throws a leg kick but Cooper checks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saruwatari throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Saruwatari has taken the fight to the clinch.

Cooper works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaito Saruwatari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kaito Saruwatari's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Saruwatari misses with a low kick.
Saruwatari throws a leg kick that misses.
Cooper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saruwatari.
Saruwatari moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Cooper wants to clinch up but Saruwatari keeps it at a distance.
Cooper takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cooper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saruwatari.
Cooper moves in looking to clinch but Saruwatari pushes him off.
Saruwatari is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cooper rather than just go for the knockout.
Saruwatari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Saruwatari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cooper.
Jab, jab by Saruwatari - just one landing.
Saruwatari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Cooper blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saruwatari manages to avoid it.
Cooper shoots in for a double leg but Saruwatari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saruwatari scores with a hook.
Saruwatari throws a head kick that Cooper semi-blocks.
Cooper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saruwatari throws a body kick that misses

and Cooper counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Saruwatari trying to hold on to Cooper's head to control him but Cooper postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saruwatari wants to improve his position but Cooper is controlling well.
Cooper trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Cooper is looking to advance position but Saruwatari won't allow it.
Cooper throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Saruwatari trying to control but Cooper postures up.
Cooper trying to control from half guard but Saruwatari is working away.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Cooper is pressing down on Saruwatari's thigh, looking to free his foot. Saruwatari is holding on for now.
Cooper is controlling the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Saruwatari cracks the inside of Cooper's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saruwatari throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Saruwatari cracks the inside of Cooper's front leg.
Cooper thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cooper avoids a kick to the body.
Saruwatari circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saruwatari misses with a low kick.
Saruwatari moves in looking to clinch but Cooper pushes him off.
Cooper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cooper fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saruwatari manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Saruwatari misses.
Saruwatari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Saruwatari misses with a low kick.
Cooper is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cooper checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Saruwatari scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Saruwatari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Saruwatari misses.
Cooper doesn't manage to clinch there - Saruwatari circles away.
Saruwatari throws a nice inside leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saruwatari throws a wild body kick that Cooper sees coming a mile off.
Cooper listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
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!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Saruwatari.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaito Saruwatari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saruwatari has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaito Saruwatari!
In his post fight interview, Kaito Saruwatari gave a big smile as he said 'I want to thank Chad and Fernando for the opportunity to fight for NGF in my last fight. I had a wonderful run and i'm calling it a career. I want to thank my fans from the bottom of my heart for all the support. You guys are the best!'.