PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Cohen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafa Bestia Bbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Cohen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cohen
vs
Bestia Bbs

217 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 9 - 0

197 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juan Cohen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rafa Bestia Bbs!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bbs has closed the distance and engaged Cohen in a clinch.
Cohen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bbs is defending well.
Cohen stalling in the clinch but Bbs improves position.
Bbs looking to slow down the pace here.
Bbs misses with an elbow over the top.
Cohen stalls.
Bbs tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cohen smiles and moves away.
Cohen avoids the head kick by Bbs.
Bbs tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cohen swivels and escapes.
Bbs moves to clinch but Cohen breaks away
and Cohen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bbs's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cohen moves into range and clinches up with Bbs.

Cohen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cohen scores with a head kick. Bbs tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Bbs is looking to clinch.
Cohen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bbs is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cohen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Juan Cohen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafa Bestia Bbs.
Bbs throws a push kick but Cohen slaps the foot to one side.
Cohen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bbs misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cohen fails with a takedown attempt.
Bbs darts in trying to clinch
and Cohen counters with a big head kick but Bbs shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cohen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bbs sprawls well. Bbs wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cohen gets slowly back to his feet.
Cohen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Cohen gets caught napping as Bbs dives in and scores a takedown. Cohen manages to retain guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cohen looking for a sweep. Not yet Cohen, not yet.
Bbs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cohen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bbs stopping the sweep attempt from Cohen.

Cohen has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Bbs is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cohen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bbs throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Bbs decides to stand back up.
Cohen throws a leg kick which misses Bbs's front leg but catches the back leg as Bbs tries to avoid it.
Bbs throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cohen's waist but Cohen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bbs off to one side.
Bbs lands a nice shot to the body.
Cohen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bbs.
Bbs looks winded!
Bbs is looking to clinch but Cohen is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cohen rushes Bbs and presses him up against the cage.
Bbs looking for a takedown.
Bbs working hard to break the clinch.
Bbs has Cohen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cohen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cohen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cohen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bbs is defending well.
Cohen misses with a knee to the head.
Cohen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bbs is trying to push Cohen away but Cohen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bbs looking for a takedown.
Bbs gets underhooks to prevent Cohen's takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rafa Bestia Bbs will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bbs tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cohen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bbs is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Bbs closes the distance and clinches.

Cohen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bbs shoots in for a takedown but Cohen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cohen misses with a two punch combination.
Bbs fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bbs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cohen.
Nice sprawl there from Bbs as Cohen shoots in.
Cohen avoids the head kick by Bbs.
Bbs throws a leg kick
and Cohen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Bbs shoots for a double leg takedown but Cohen sprawls well. He's pushed Bbs's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Juan Cohen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafa Bestia Bbs.
Bbs darts in looking for a takedown but Cohen gets double underhooks and turns Bbs into the cage.
Bbs is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cohen avoiding damage.
Cohen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bbs gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bbs looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cohen has Bbs pressed against the cage, preventing Bbs from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Cohen manages to break the clinch.
A head kick by Bbs misses

and Cohen counters by moving into the clinch.
Bbs tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cohen blocking some punches.
Bbs jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cohen walks away with a smile on his face. Bbs gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cohen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bbs paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bbs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cohen.

Bbs tries to keep at a distance but Cohen has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Bbs's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Cohen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bbs fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Cohen or perhaps it was just good defense by Bbs which made him look bad.
Horrible takedown by Cohen or perhaps it was just good defense by Bbs which made him look bad.
Bbs tries to close the distance and clinch but Cohen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bbs fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bbs has a takedown stuffed.

Cohen instigates a clinch.

Cohen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cohen avoids the head kick by Bbs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cohen.
Cohen dives in and grabs Bbs's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bbs pushes down on Cohen's head and hops out.
Bbs keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Cohen. No joy for Bbs on that attempt.
Cohen tries for a takedown but Bbs sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bbs tries a head kick but it misses.
Cohen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cohen shoots in and drives through. Bbs sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cohen wants to clinch up but Bbs keeps it at a distance.
Cohen pushes Bbs away with a front kick.
Bbs tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cohen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bbs somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Juan Cohen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bbs jabbing away but nothing is landing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cohen.
Juan Cohen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cohen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bbs manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bbs shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cohen counters by moving into the clinch.
Cohen goes for a takedown attempt but Bbs pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bbs shoots for a double leg takedown but Cohen sprawls well. He's pushed Bbs's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bbs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cohen misses with a head kick.
Bbs throws a right and a left that Cohen avoids nicely.
Bbs goes for a double leg but Cohen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cohen continues to drive forward.
Juan Cohen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafa Bestia Bbs.

Cohen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bbs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cohen.
Bbs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cohen as he jumps to the side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cohen.
Cohen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cohen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bbs changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bbs fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cohen scores with a head kick. Bbs tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Bbs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bbs shoots in but Cohen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cohen fails with the takedown.
Bbs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bbs misses with a kick to the body
and Cohen counters with a low kick, right behind Bbs 's knee.
Cohen scores with a jab to the body.
Cohen closes the distance and clinches up with Bbs, looking for a takedown. Cohen pushes Bbs against the cage but Bbs circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cohen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cohen wants it to stay on the feet.
Cohen throws a head kick that Bbs semi-blocks.
No luck for Cohen with that takedown attempt.

Bbs gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Bbs ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bbs no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Cohen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cohen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bbs as he jumps to the side.
Bbs has a takedown stuffed.
Juan Cohen is winning the standup battle so far.
Cohen tries to close the distance and clinch but Bbs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cohen shoots in looking for a takedown but Bbs manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cohen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bbs shoots in for a double leg but Cohen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cohen lands a leg kick that knocks Bbs off balance momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cohen avoids the head kick by Bbs.
Cohen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bbs is fending him off so far but Cohen persists. Nope, Bbs circles away and we're back to standing.

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 Juan Cohen.
I think Cohen 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Cohen!