PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brayan Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Cottero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommy Cottero has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fernandez
vs
Cottero

225 cm
27
150 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
39
149 lbs
32 - 19 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brayan Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tommy Cottero!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fernandez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Fernandez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Fernandez wants to stand but Cottero has his arm trapped.
Fernandez trying to control the action but Cottero is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandez misses with the ground and pound.

Fernandez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cottero is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cottero is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cottero wants to control but Fernandez postures up.
Fernandez taking a breather here.
Fernandez trying to control the action but Cottero is working from the bottom.
Cottero tries to buck Fernandez off but Fernandez is having none of it.
Cottero is not content to let Fernandez control the 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.
The ground and pound from Fernandez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Fernandez trying to control the action but Cottero is working from the bottom.
Cottero isn't going anywhere.
Fernandez trying to control the action but Cottero is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fernandez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cottero.
As Cottero looks to move away, Fernandez throws a big counter combo bu Cottero just gets out of the way.
Cottero clobbers Fernandez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Fernandez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cottero scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Fernandez doesn't seem bothered though.
Cottero scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cottero goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cottero looks winded!
Cottero throws a leg kick which misses Fernandez's front leg but catches the back leg as Fernandez tries to avoid it.
Tommy Cottero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fernandez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fernandez tries a head kick but it misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cottero.
Cottero tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fernandez was well out of range. Poor timing from Cottero.

Fernandez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cottero quickly recovers to half guard.
Cottero wants to control but Fernandez is keeping busy.
Cottero is looking to escape.
Cottero regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cottero being controlled here, momentarily.
Cottero pulls Fernandez in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cottero is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fernandez is aware though and is defending well.
Fernandez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cottero's guard.
Fernandez trying to control but Cottero is working from the bottom.

Cottero has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Fernandez 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 Cottero.
Cottero is looking to regain half guard here but Fernandez keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fernandez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cottero knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brayan Fernandez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fernandez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Fernandez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cottero pulls Fernandez in close to prevent any damage.
Cottero controls Fernandez momentarily but Fernandez frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cottero seems keen to control Fernandez's posture.
Cottero keeping moving, preventing Fernandez from controlling successfully.
Cottero is breathing heavily.
Fernandez looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez preventing the sweep.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Cottero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cottero is pulling down on Fernandez's head to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cottero keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Fernandez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cottero's guard.

Cottero manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Cottero as the two fighters clinch.
Cottero has Fernandez pushed against the cage.

Fernandez jumps into guard, dragging Cottero to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez 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.
Fernandez is working hard here to advance position.
Cottero controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cottero won't allow Fernandez to sweep him here.
Cottero not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Brayan Fernandez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cottero's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Fernandez tries to close the distance and clinch but Cottero swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cottero lands a nice looking body shot.
Fernandez throws a nice looking combination but Cottero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Fernandez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cottero manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cottero lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cottero seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cottero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fernandez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cottero content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cottero has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fernandez is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fernandez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cottero looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cottero tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fernandez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cottero is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fernandez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Fernandez wants to take a breather but Cottero is having none of it.
Fernandez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cottero is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Cottero is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernandez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cottero keeps working.
Cottero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cottero is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Fernandez jumps into side control!

Fernandez stands up and beckons Cottero to his feet.
Cottero throws an overhand right that lands on Fernandez's shoulder, as Fernandez tries to avoid the shot.

Fernandez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cottero napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Cottero throws Fernandez to one side and escapes!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cottero lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Fernandez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Fernandez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A swing and a miss from Cottero.

Fernandez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fernandez prevents Cottero from improving his position.
Fernandez wants to take a breather but Cottero is having none of it.
Cottero tries to get to full guard but Fernandez has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fernandez wants to control but Cottero is keeping him busy.
Cottero is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fernandez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fernandez's back!
Cottero really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Fernandez.
Fernandez can't escape the position.

Cottero is looking for the choke from the back position but Fernandez is controlling his hands well.
Cottero is not going to allow Fernandez to sit and survive in this position.
Well, with Cottero on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Fernandez is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cottero controls the position.
Cottero not allowing Fernandez to control his hands.
Cottero controlling the position well here. Fernandez rolled but Cottero kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Fernandez defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cottero's arms.
Cottero biding his time, looking for the opening.
Fernandez is trying to stand back up.

Cottero working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Fernandez is doing well to defend. Cottero seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Fernandez is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tommy Cottero!
Tommy Cottero thanked the fans post fight for their support.