PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riley Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Cooper
vs
Freeman

180 cm
25
183 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
158 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Cooper!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Riley Freeman!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooper is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Freeman lands a nice looking body shot.
Freeman misses with a low kick.
Cooper dodges the punch combination from Freeman.
Freeman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cooper counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cooper postures up in Freeman's guard and throws a big left but Freeman blocks it.
Cooper postures up and lands a big shot to Freeman's brow.
Freeman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cooper.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Cooper from controlling successfully.
Cooper scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cooper passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cooper tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Cooper lands an elbow.
The ground and pound from Cooper seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cooper scoring with punches from side control.
Freeman takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Cooper is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Freeman has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Cooper postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Freeman looks a forlorn figure.
Cooper lands a big shot there that rocks Freeman but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Cooper punishing his opponent with strikes.
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!

Cooper moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Freeman has worked his arm free - good work by Freeman!
Cooper throwing strikes but Freeman manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper wants to control but Freeman postures up.
Cooper manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cooper is trying to get back to full guard.
Freeman trying to control the action but Cooper is working from the bottom.
Cooper is looking to improve his position.
Freeman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cooper does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cooper has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Freeman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cooper knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Freeman is trying to control. Cooper wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Freeman is looking for a kimura but Cooper is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Freeman to get the leverage.

Cooper looking for submissions off his back.
Cooper has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Freeman is working away from the top position though.
Cooper tries to get to full guard but Freeman has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Cooper dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cooper drives through with a takedown into Freeman's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Cooper lands a couple of digs.
Freeman wants to sweep here but Cooper controlling him for the moment.
Cooper passes Freeman's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cooper wants to control but Freeman is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper wants to free his trapped foot but Freeman is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Cooper is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Freeman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cooper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper wants to pass to mount but Freeman is defending the position.
Cooper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Freeman keeps working.
Cooper prevents Freeman from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cooper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Freeman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Cooper is working for a kimura but Freeman is defending it quite comfortably.
Tom Cooper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Freeman is refusing to be controlled, as Cooper sits in half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Cooper is looking for a kimura but Freeman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cooper to get the leverage.
Cooper winds up and cracks Freeman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cooper throws a strike but Freeman avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper landing with the ground and pound.
Freeman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Freeman controls Cooper momentarily but Cooper frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Freeman falls off balance throwing a combination

and Cooper counters with a nice double leg into side control. Freeman won't be happy with that.
Cooper working the body and head with strikes.
Freeman manages to get back to half guard.
Cooper sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Freeman defending well though.

Cooper is working for a kimura but Freeman is defending it quite comfortably.
Cooper is looking to advance position but Freeman won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper wants to take a breather but Freeman is having none of it.
Cooper is really struggling to control Freeman but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Cooper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cooper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Freeman keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Cooper dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Freeman throws a leg kick

and Cooper counters with a shoot takedown. Freeman fights it but they end up in guard.

Cooper drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Freeman dives on top into guard.

Cooper trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Freeman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Freeman won't allow Cooper to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper is working hard here to advance position.

Freeman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cooper has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Freeman has managed to get both his arms back between Cooper's legs - danger averted.
Freeman trying to control the position from guard on top but Cooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper working a defensive guard but Freeman manages to pass into side control anyway.
Cooper is trying to get back to half guard.
Freeman trying to control the action but Cooper is working from the bottom.
Cooper manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper lands with a punch from half guard.
Cooper moves into full mount! Freeman won't be happy about that!
Cooper landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cooper looking to finish Freeman with some ground and pound. This is bad for Freeman!

Freeman is rocked!
Cooper softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Freeman is out cold! Cooper jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tom Cooper!
Tom Cooper retains his welterweight title!
After winning the bout, Tom Cooper thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.