PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between German Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hopin Illo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Cooper
vs
Illo

150 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

160 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, German Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hopin Illo!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cooper moves into range and clinches up with Illo.

Cooper ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cooper no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Illo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Illo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Illo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cooper is working an open guard so Illo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cooper closes the distance and clinches.
Illo missing with knees to the body.
Illo has Cooper pressed against the cage, preventing Cooper from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Illo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cooper is defending well for now.

Illo lands a takedown into guard.

Cooper looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Illo has picked Cooper up and slammed him! Cooper can't keep hold of the triangle and Illo manages to pass to side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Illo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
A lull in the action here.

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.
Illo looking to control but instead Cooper has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Cooper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Illo.
Illo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Illo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cooper sees it coming and defends easily.
Illo is controlling the pace.

Cooper looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cooper could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Illo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Illo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cooper did well to prevent Illo getting side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Illo is looking for a kimura here.
Illo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hopin Illo dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cooper shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Illo but Illo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hopin Illo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cooper enables Illo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cooper manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Cooper kicks Illo off and gets to his feet.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Illo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Illo tries to counter with a clinch but Cooper shakes him off and moves away.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Illo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Illo has managed to clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Cooper's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Illo is trying to trip Cooper. He has hold of a leg but Cooper is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Illo persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Cooper wants to get back to his feet but Illo passes into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cooper tries to get to full guard but Illo has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper taking some punishment here, with Illo in his half guard.

Illo stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Cooper avoids the head kick by Illo.
Cooper attempts a counter takedown but Illo avoids it well and moves away.

Illo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cooper to the mat! Cooper manages to get full guard.

Cooper looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Cooper throws his legs up looking for a submission but Illo uses it to pass to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Illo controls the position.
Illo lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Illo works to advance to full mount. Cooper defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
A nice elbow there by Illo.
Cooper knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Illo on the ground.
Illo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Cooper defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Illo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Illo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cooper can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Illo is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illo breaks from Cooper's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Illo controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper gives up his back whilst trying to strike.
Illo landing with strikes.

Illo is looking for the choke from the back position but Cooper is controlling his hands well.

Cooper preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Illo.
Illo really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Cooper.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hopin Illo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Illo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Illo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Illo is looking to take a break and control but Cooper is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Illo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Illo lands a few punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Illo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cooper has escaped the position, nice work there.
Illo tries to advance to mount but Cooper denies him.
Illo moves into full mount!
Illo raining down shots from the mount!
Illo working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Illo controlling from mount.
Cooper is trying to escape the mount.
Illo content just to control the position here.

Illo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Cooper is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper won't allow Illo to sweep him here.
Illo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Hopin Illo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Illo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cooper manages to get himself to full guard.

Cooper looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Illo passes into side control.
Illo working the ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Illo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Illo shoots in and bounces Cooper off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cooper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Illo controls the pace.

Illo stands up from guard. Let's bang!
German Cooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hopin Illo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Illo shoots in and bounces Cooper off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hopin Illo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Illo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hopin Illo!