PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Trager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Cottero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Trager comes to the cage accompanied by Bang Bang. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Trager
vs
Cottero

170 cm
37
155 lbs
21 - 9 - 1

170 cm
39
149 lbs
33 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

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 21 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Trager!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tommy Cottero!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cottero thumps Trager with a low kick.

Trager gets the takedown into side control.
Cottero can't do much from the bottom here.
Trager lands an elbow.
Cottero parries the strikes from Trager easily there. Trager is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cottero to escape.
Trager lands an elbow.
Trager in side control, throwing shots but Cottero defends.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cottero tries to bench press Trager off him but Trager keeps the position.
Trager tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Trager sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Cottero is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Cottero tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Trager wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Trager throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trager throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The strikes coming from Trager are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Cottero gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Trager missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Trager is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trager throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cottero wants to improve his position but Trager is controlling well.
Trager drops an elbow to the side of Cottero's head.
Cottero keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cottero is pressing down on Trager's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Trager throws a big right hand that misses.
Trager 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.
Trager content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cottero looking for a sweep. Not yet Cottero, not yet.
Trager is looking to work some ground and pound but Cottero has wrist control.
Trager throws a big elbow that misses.
Cottero looking to control.
Trager stopping the sweep attempt from Cottero.
Cottero looks winded!
Trager postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Trager throwing strikes from guard but Cottero blocks nicely.
Trager throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trager content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Trager with a flurry of punches that miss.
Trager throws a big elbow that misses.
Trager content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Trager missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Trager accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Trager is looking to work some ground and pound but Cottero has wrist control.
Cottero wants to sweep but no luck.
Trager postures up in Cottero's guard and throws a big left but Cottero blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Trager distracts Cottero with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cottero manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Trager manages to get himself to full guard.

Trager working for a triangle but Cottero defends it easily.

Cottero avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cottero looking to pass the guard.

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

Trager working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cottero doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cottero manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Cottero is sitting in close to Trager's body. Trager has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Cottero is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Cottero is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Trager.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Alex Trager!
Alex Trager seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.