PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Cotto (ranked 197 p4p, 25 weight class) and Coke Montana (ranked 370 p4p, 56 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Cotto
vs
Montana

186 cm
28
215 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

190 cm
30
209 lbs
21 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Miguel Cotto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Coke Montana!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cotto scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Coke Montana has been cut.
Montana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cotto was well out of range. Poor timing from Montana.
Montana throws a leg kick that misses.
Cotto throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cotto uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Montana has time to react.
A left lands for Cotto.
Cotto looks to throw the jab but Montana is out of range.
Cotto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cotto misses with a lunging right hand
and Montana counters with a straight right hand.
Cotto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Montana misses with a hook. Cotto ducked under it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Cotto misses the target.
Montana moves out of range of the strikes.
Cotto scores with a hook to the body. Montana takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Miguel Cotto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice shot by Montana.
Montana throws a body kick that misses.
Montana punishes Cotto's body with a nice straight punch.
Cotto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cotto tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotto dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Montana. That did some damage!
Montana on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
The crowd cheers as Montana lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cotto doesn't seem phased though.
Cotto misses with a jab to the body
letting Montana counter with a right hand.
Montana keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cotto.
Montana lands a head shot.
Montana ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Montana closes the distance and clinches.
Montana throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cottos head.
Montana swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cotto blocking some punches.
Montana blocks a body shot from Cotto.
Montana blocks an uppercut.
Cotto working aggressively here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cotto lands a left hand.
Montana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cotto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cotto misses with a punch to the body.
Montana wants to get back to striking at distance but Cotto won't allow it.
I was talking to Cotto's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Montana fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Montana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Montana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Montana creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cotto tries a body shot but Montana blocks it.
Montana struggles to land a body shot inside as Cotto controls his hands.
Cotto lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cotto gets through Montana's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cotto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cotto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Cotto fails to land.
Montana prevents a body shot from Cotto.
Montana lands a shoulder strike.
Montana lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cotto backwards.
Cotto misses with a punch to the body.
Montana throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montana misses with some punches.
Montana lands an uppercut.
Montana lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cotto backwards.
Montana misses with some punches.
Montana blocking some punches.
Cotto lands a body shot.
Montana prevents a body shot from Cotto.
Cotto misses with the head strike.
Montana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Montana throws a head punch that misses.
Montana pushes Cotto back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cotto makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cotto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cotto presses Montana against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cotto struggles to land a body shot inside as Montana controls his hands.
Cotto misses with the head strike.
Cotto has a couple of punches blocked by Montana.
A right hand to the body from Montana.
Montana lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cotto backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Montana lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cotto.
Montana lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cotto misses with a punch on the inside.
Cotto throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Cotto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Montana lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cotto misses with a body punch.
Montana misses with a body punch.
Cotto throws a punch but it's blocked by Montana.
Cotto misses with a body punch.
Montana can't find room to land a body shot as Cotto controls the action.
Montana misses with some punches.
Montana struggles to land a body shot inside as Cotto controls his hands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Montana works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cotto misses with a punch on the inside.
Montana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Montana tries to throw a body punch but Cotto avoids it by throwing Montana back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Coke Montana will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Coke Montana's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cotto misses with a hook
and Montana counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Montana misses with a straight left.
Cotto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Cotto does it's job there.
A jab lands there for Cotto.
Cotto lands a really nice looking cross but Montana seems unphased.
Montana wants to clinch up but Cotto keeps it at a distance.
Montana on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Cotto feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Montanas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cotto lands a slapping body shot.
Montana has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Montana in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Montana just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from Cotto misses its intended target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Montana misses with a hook to the body
and Cotto counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Montana moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Montana stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cotto.
Cotto ducks under a wild hook from Montana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montana fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cotto.
A nice leg kick lands there from Montana.
Cotto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Montana sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cotto looks to land a left hand but Montana moved out of range nicely.
It seemed like Montana was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cotto scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cotto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Montana let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Cotto drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Jab from Montana.
A big right from Montana misses.
Cotto swinging wildly here.
Cotto defending well as Montana loads up on a big left hand.
Montana avoids the head kick by Cotto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotto throws a left and a right that both miss
and Montana counters with an outside leg kick.
Cotto checks the leg kick.
As Montana looks to move away, Cotto throws a big counter combo but Montana just gets out of the way.
Montana lands a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Montana avoids the body shot from Cotto.
Montana throws out a counter right but Cotto avoids it with no problem.
Cotto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cotto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Montana throws out the jab.
Cotto swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Montana counters with a slapping leg kick.
Montana takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A big right from Cotto misses.
Cotto throws a jab but it's blocked by Montana.
Montana moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A slow jab from Montana misses its intended target.
Cotto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Montana throws a poor cross that misses
letting Cotto counter with a right hand.
Cotto avoids the head kick by Montana.
Cotto throwing a counter right hand but Montana manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Montana looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cotto misses with a body shot
and Montana counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A swing and a miss from Cotto.
Montana throws the kick towards the body but Cotto avoids it.
Cotto takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cotto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Montana takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cotto lands with an uppercut that bounces Montana off the cage and back into range.
Cotto ducks under a wild hook from Montana.
Montana throws a sloppy head kick and Cotto moves out of range easily.
Cotto swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Montana scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Montana throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Cotto moves away from the strike by Montana.
Cotto loads up on a big right hand but Montana slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cotto bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Montana's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Montana uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cotto has time to react.
Cotto scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Montana swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Montana misses with a low kick as Cotto jumps back.
Montana throws a leg kick but Cotto sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cotto connects with an inside leg kick.
Montana misses with a head kick.
Cotto lands with a hook. Montana tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Montana keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cotto backing away here, and Montana unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Cotto misses with an uppercut. Montana saw that one coming.
Montana throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cotto sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Cotto clinches up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Montana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cotto scores with a nice hook to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Miguel Cotto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Coke Montana's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Montana tries to land a front kick but Cotto steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cotto throws a hook but Montana blocks it.
Montana appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cotto throws a lazy right hand but Montana sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Montana looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cotto went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Montana avoids the head kick by Cotto.
Montana misses with a straight right.
Montana misses with an uppercut. Cotto saw that one coming.
Cotto scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Montana dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cotto. That did some damage!
Montana attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montana is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cotto misses with a kick to the body.
Montana takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cotto works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Miguel Cotto is winning the standup battle so far.
Cotto defending well as Montana loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montana drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cotto misses with a straight left.
Cotto jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cotto checks a low kick from Montana.
Cotto swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cotto misses with a left hand
letting Montana counter with a right hand.
Montana takes one to the side of the head.
Montana misses with a wild body shot.
Cotto throws a right and a left that both miss.
It seemed like Montana was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A thudding body kick lands there by Cotto!
Cotto scores with a head kick. Montana tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Montana lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cotto swings widly with a right hand
and Montana counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Montana throws a looping overhand right but Cotto ducks down to avoid it.
Some bone on bone action there as Montana checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cotto is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotto uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Montana lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Montana thows a leg kick but Cotto checks it
and Montana takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Montana has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Montana throws a shot from downtown. Cotto moves away and avoids it.
Montana misses with a straight right.
Cotto lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cotto changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cotto throws a big shot that misses.
Montana takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Montana moves away from the strike by Cotto.
Montana looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cotto misses with a straight left.
Montana swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cotto digs a good hook to Montana's body.
Cotto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Montana.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cotto moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Montana fails to land.
Cotto lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cotto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cotto pushes Montana back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Montana misses with the head strike.
Cotto misses with the head strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Montana creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Montana scores with a nice short uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Montana.
Montana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Cotto.
Montana takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cotto struggles to land a body shot inside as Montana controls his hands.
Cotto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cotto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cotto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Montana misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montana swings wildly with an uppercut but Cotto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Montana throws a punch but it's blocked by Cotto.

Cotto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cotto connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
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!
Montana moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Montana. Cotto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Montana misses with a looping right.
Cotto slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Montana throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Montana connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jab from Cotto.
Cotto misses with a looping left.
Nice body punch from Cotto.
Cotto's jab looks to have found its range, popping Montana under the eye.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miguel Cotto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cotto has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Miguel Cotto!
A very excited looking Miguel Cotto made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.