PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between George Pedro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Coath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Coath is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by For Heavy Metal we will die!. George Pedro could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Chris Coath's chin.

Pedro
vs
Coath

176 cm
32
202 lbs
36 - 12 - 2

175 cm
33
189 lbs
24 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Sully's Bar & Grill

Aspire Clothing
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Pedro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Coath!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coath changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Coath will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Coath ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pedro moves away.
Coath lands a leg kick that knocks Pedro off balance momentarily.
Pedro tries to clinch up but Coath circles away and keeps his distance.
Coath misses the jab.

Coath gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Pedro fails to land.
A right hook to the body lands for Coath.
Coath fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pedro lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Coath throws a head punch that misses.
Coath misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Coath works on Pedro's body with a couple of short punches.
Coath misses with some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pedro.
Pedro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Coath prevents a body shot from Pedro.
Pedro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Coath working aggressively here.
Pedro lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pedro works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pedro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Coath looking to control.
Coath tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pedro scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pedro preventing the sweep.
Pedro stands up over Coath, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pedro distracts Coath with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pedro's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pedro chips away with some ground and pound.
Coath is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pedro distracts Coath with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coath looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pedro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Coath works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Coath avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pedro working some strikes from top position.
Coath looking to control.
Pedro 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.
Pedro trying to control the position from guard on top but Coath is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pedro's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Coath trying to keep a closed guard but Pedro is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coath has momentary wrist control but Pedro slips an elbow through the middle.
Coath controls Pedro momentarily but Pedro frees himself.

Coath throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pedro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pedro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Coath is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Coath looking for subs off his back but Pedro has passed one foot through into half guard.
Coath felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Pedro.
Pedro is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Coath wants to sweep but Pedro has passed to side control!
Pedro connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Coath some visible discomfort.
Coath tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pedro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pedro scores with a couple of short elbows.
Pedro creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Pedro dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Coath getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A combination from Pedro does no damage.
Coath connects with a jab.
Pedro catches Coath with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Coath walks into a left hand.

Pedro fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Coath sprawls well initially but Pedro persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Coath moves into full guard.
Coath bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pedro's guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Coath missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Coath throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pedro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pedro working a defensive guard here.
Coath passes Pedro's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Pedro wants to improve his position but Coath is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coath is keen to just control but Pedro is a slippery customer.
Coath not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Coath thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pedro's head.
Coath seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pedro manages to get to full guard.
Coath throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Coath is looking to work some ground and pound but Pedro has wrist control.
Coath postures up.

Pedro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Coath defends well.
Pedro 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coath throwing strikes but missing.
Coath won't allow Pedro to sweep him here.
Coath postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Coath throws a big elbow that misses.
Coath tries to free his leg and advance position but Pedro is retaining full guard.
Coath missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pedro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pedro keeping moving, preventing Coath from controlling successfully.
Pedro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coath postures up in Pedro's guard and throws a big left but Pedro blocks it.
Pedro is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Coath bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pedro's head backwards.
Pedro misses the jab.
Coath throws a nice outside leg kick.
Coath staying out of range there.
Coath misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pedro.
Pedro scores with a three punch combo!
A clash of legs there as Coath blocks the low kick.
Coath throws a sloppy head kick and Pedro moves out of range easily.
Coath slips under a jab.
Coath rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pedro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Coath avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pedro throws a hook but Coath blocks it.
Pedro with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Coath to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pedro looks to clinch
and Coath counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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!
A thudding body kick lands there by Pedro!
Coath tries to clinch up.
A good leg kick by Coath.
Coath throws a hook but Pedro avoids it easily.
Chris Coath seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Coath misses with a body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
No joy there for Pedro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pedro doesn't manage to clinch there - Coath circles away.
Coath needs to keep his hands up - Pedro had a free shot at his head there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pedro. That's going to slow Coath down.
Pedro catches Coath with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Pedro takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Pedro scoring well with a low kick there.
Pedro throws a shot from downtown. Coath moves away and avoids it.
Pedro looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Coath scores with a hook.
Coath misses with an uppercut. Pedro saw that one coming.
George Pedro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body punch from Coath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chris Coath will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Coath connects with an inside leg kick.
Coath misses the shot to the body.
Pedro throws a hook but Coath avoids it easily.
Coath throws a right hand that Pedro ducks under and follows up with a left that Pedro also avoids with ease.
Coath swats away the attempt to clinch by Pedro.
A looping hook to the body misses from Coath. Pedro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pedro shoots in for a takedown but Coath shows good takedown defense.
Pedro misses with an uppercut. Coath saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Coath! But no joy.
Coath takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Coath misses with a looping right.
Coath takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pedro misses with a leg kick
and Coath counters with an outside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coath looks to score with a jab to the body but Pedro is just out of range.
Pedro swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Coath misses with a jab to the body
and Pedro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pedro doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pedro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pedro shoots in looking for a takedown. Coath tries to sprawl out of it but Pedro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Coath manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coath lands with a nice body punch.
Pedro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pedro tries to clinch up but Coath circles away and keeps his distance.
Chris Coath is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice uppercut there from Coath.
Coath lands a jab to the nose.
Pedro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pedro defending well as Coath loads up on a big left hand.
Coath misses with a body shot.
Pedro looks for a takedown but Coath sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Pedro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Coath throws out a loose jab but Pedro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pedro chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Coath can pounce on him.
Pedro is looking to clinch.
Pedro misses with a takedown
and Coath counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coath looks to score with a jab to the body but Pedro is just out of range.
Coath throws a solid leg kick but Pedro takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Coath.
Coath fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Pedro on the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Coath moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Coath takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Pedro throws a nice outside leg kick.
Pedro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Coath fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pedro manages to avoid it.
Coath moves out of range of the body kick from Pedro.
Pedro wants to land a leg kick but Coath is out of range.
Pedro drops his hands momentarily and Coath takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Pedro clinches with his opponent.
Coath lands a body punch.
Coath can't find room to land a body shot as Pedro controls the action.
Coath misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pedro wants a takedown.
Pedro throws a punch but it's blocked by Coath.
Coath throws a punch but it's blocked by Pedro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coath lands with a light punch inside.
Coath misses with a short punch on the inside.
Coath misses with some punches.
Pedro prevents a body shot from Coath.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Coath.
Pedro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Coath can't find room to land a body shot as Pedro controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pedro.
Pedro has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Coath is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Still in the clinch, Coath scores with a nice short uppercut.
Coath misses with a short punch on the inside.
Coath struggles to land a body shot inside as Pedro controls his hands.
Pedro is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Coath pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Coath misses with some punches.
I was talking to Pedro's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Coath throws a punch but it's blocked by Pedro.
Coath digs a right hand into Pedro's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pedro's gas tank.
Pedro misses with the head strike.
Coath throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pedro is looking to take this one to the mat.
Coath lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pedro.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head punch on the inside from Coath fails to land.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Coath creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Coath lands an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pedro lands a shoulder strike.
Coath throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Coath misses with a punch to the body.
Coath blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Coath has a couple of punches blocked by Pedro.
Pedro working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Coath lands a left hand.
A right hook to the body lands for Pedro.
Pedro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Coath misses with a hook to the ribs.
Coath tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pedro has a couple of punches blocked by Coath.
Pedro can't find room to land a body shot as Coath controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Coath comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Coath 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Chris Coath!
Chris Coath decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.