PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phillip Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brad Cooper has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Phillip Gardner's chin.

Gardner
vs
Cooper

191 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

220 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Phillip Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brad Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Steve Erwin and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cooper moves into the clinch successfully.

Cooper pulls Gardner into guard.
Gardner is looking to stand up but Cooper won't let him.
Cooper is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Cooper has his feet on Gardner's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Gardner clinches with his opponent.
Come on Cooper - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gardner has had enough of the clinch but Cooper keeps him there for the moment.
Gardner prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper is trying to pull guard but Gardner has him pressed against the cage.
Phillip Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Cooper.
Cooper throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gardner has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cooper avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Gardner pulls guard.

Gardner looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cooper trying to control but Gardner is working from the bottom.
Gardner striking off his back, scoring a few points.
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.

Gardner isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cooper stacks Gardner on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Cooper!
Cooper working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cooper wants to control but Gardner is keeping him busy.
Gardner is trying to control Cooper's posture but Cooper avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cooper decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gardner to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cooper shoots in for a takedown but Gardner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gardner tries to clinch there but Cooper circles away.
Cooper shoots in for a double leg but Gardner sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cooper misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper darts in trying to clinch
and Gardner counters with a head kick. That will keep Cooper thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Cooper clinches with his opponent.
Gardner looking for a takedown.
Cooper wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Come on Cooper - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Gardner gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Gardner looking to sit in guard and control but Cooper gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper passes Gardner's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cooper wants to free his trapped foot but Gardner is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cooper looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Let's hope that Cooper has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cooper is looking to advance position but Gardner won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gardner is not content to let Cooper control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gardner is looking to control Cooper's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gardner avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brad Cooper will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cooper shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gardner sprawls well. Gardner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cooper gets slowly back to his feet.
Cooper dives in for a single leg takedown but Gardner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Gardner is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Phillip Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Cooper.
Gardner wants to take the fight to the mat but Cooper manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cooper is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gardner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Gardner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Brad Cooper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Gardner moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner is working for takedown but Cooper is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gardner drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cooper tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gardner just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gardner trying to control the position but instead, Cooper has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gardner into the cage.
Gardner is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cooper pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cooper is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cooper is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner prevents Cooper from breaking the clinch.
Gardner goes for a takedown attempt but Cooper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Gardner tries to keep at a distance but Cooper has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cooper tries to circle away but Gardner has him pinned against the cage.
Gardner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cooper fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cooper looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gardner is fending him off so far but Cooper persists. Nope, Gardner circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper shoots in but no luck this time.

Cooper has Gardner up against the cage in a clinch.
Gardner is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cooper gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cooper is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gardner drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cooper pulls his leg out and moves away.

Cooper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper misses with an elbow over the top.
Gardner tries for a takedown but Cooper manages to get underhooks.
Gardner is trying to pull guard but Cooper has him pressed against the cage.
Cooper wants to take the fight to the mat but Gardner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gardner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cooper is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cooper tries to score a body lock takedown but Gardner shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cooper leaning his opponent against the cage.
Gardner taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brad Cooper will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cooper shoots for a takedown but Gardner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gardner as he jumps to the side.
Gardner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cooper.
Phillip Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Cooper.
Cooper closes the distance and clinches up with Gardner, looking for a takedown. Cooper pushes Gardner against the cage but Gardner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gardner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cooper.
Gardner throws a head kick but Cooper moves out of range.
Cooper shoots for a takedown but Gardner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gardner throws a head kick that misses.
Cooper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cooper tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gardner swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner tries to clinch up but Cooper circles away and keeps his distance.
Gardner tries to clinch but Cooper is having none of it.
The fighters circling - Cooper throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gardner tries to clinch but Cooper moves out of range.
Gardner fails with the takedown.
Gardner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gardner tries to clinch there but Cooper circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gardner fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gardner.
Cooper slips a straight right by Gardner.
Cooper fails with a takedown attempt.
Gardner scores with a head kick. Cooper tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Cooper circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper misses with a takedown attempt - Gardner sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cooper fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A head kick by Cooper misses
and Gardner counters with a big head kick but Cooper shrugs it off.
Gardner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cooper fails with a takedown attempt.
Phillip Gardner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cooper steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Gardner. That one must have hurt.
Gardner tries to clinch but Cooper is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gardner but Gardner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Gardner. Cooper shrugs it off though.
Gardner bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Gardner misses with a head kick.
Gardner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cooper manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cooper shoots in and drives through. Gardner sprawls well.
Cooper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Phillip Gardner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brad Cooper is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooper tries to clinch but Gardner is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phillip Gardner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cooper 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Cooper!