PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Moshe Hopper (ranked 25838 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Cohen (ranked 5919 p4p, 578 weight class). Nathan Cohen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hopper
vs
Cohen

154 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

181 cm
23
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Moshe Hopper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nathan Cohen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, John Mangel and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Cohen misses.

Cohen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cohen lands in his opponent's guard.
Cohen trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hopper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cohen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Cohen is looking to stand up but Hopper won't let him.

Hopper is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hopper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cohen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cohen won't allow Hopper to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cohen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hopper, up you get!
Jab from Hopper.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hopper jumps guard and drags Cohen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cohen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cohen content to stall in guard here.
Cohen stops Hopper from standing up.
Cohen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Cohen works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopper slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hopper wants to improve his position but instead Cohen has moved into half guard.
Cohen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hopper does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cohen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hopper is looking to improve his position.

Cohen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cohen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hopper moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cohen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hopper enables Cohen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hopper manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hopper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cohen controls the pace.
Cohen passes Hopper's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hopper is staying active underneath Cohen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hopper gets full guard.
Cohen passes Hopper's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hopper on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cohen is looking to take a break and control but Hopper is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hopper is looking for a sweep. Cohen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen is controlling the pace.

Cohen decides to return to a standing position.

Cohen clinches up with Hopper and pushes him back against the cage.

Hopper ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hopper no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Hopper throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cohen connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cohen stands up and waves to Hopper to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Cohen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

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

Hopper scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Cohen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Cohen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hopper is trying to keep Cohen in close.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hopper had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cohen defends it easily.
Cohen prevents Hopper from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cohen lands a couple of elbows.
Cohen wants to control from the top but Hopper keeps moving.
Hopper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cohen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hopper could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Cohen stands and steps away. Hopper gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Cohen has closed the distance and engaged Hopper in a clinch.
Hopper throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cohen blocks it with crossed arms.
Cohen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cohen blocks an elbow strike.

Cohen manages to break the clinch.
Nathan Cohen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cohen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hopper gets full guard.
Cohen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hopper keeping moving, preventing Cohen from controlling successfully.
Hopper is looking to sweep but instead, Cohen has passed into half guard.
Cohen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
It looks like Cohen is going to stand back up.

Cohen is working for a kimura but Hopper is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopper is looking to improve his position.
Cohen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cohen prevents Hopper from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cohen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hopper tries to get to full guard but Cohen has control of the leg.

Cohen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hopper doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cohen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cohen wants to stand up but Hopper has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Hopper has hold of Cohen's hands but Cohen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hopper wants to get back to full guard.
Cohen controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cohen trying to control from half guard but Hopper is working away.
Hopper makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hopper.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Cohen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Cohen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Cohen trying to control the pace.
Cohen trying to control the action but Hopper is working from the bottom.
Hopper slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cohen is one step ahead there.
Hopper keeping moving, preventing Cohen from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopper lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cohen has his foot on Hopper's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hopper works his way back into a safe position though.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Cohen manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Cohen gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Cohen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cohen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hopper does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cohen is nestled in close to Hopper, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hopper moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cohen preventing the sweep.

Cohen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hopper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cohen's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopper wants to stand but Cohen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cohen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopper trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cohen's guard.
Hopper is looking to work some ground and pound but Cohen has wrist control.
Cohen has a closed guard, preventing Hopper from standing up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cohen holds on and takes a little breather.
Hopper with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cohen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hopper stands and steps away. Cohen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cohen rushes Hopper and presses him up against the cage.

Cohen has hold of one of Hopper's legs. Hopper is fighting the takedown attempt but Cohen gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Cohen trying to control but Hopper is working from the bottom.

Hopper working for a triangle but Cohen defends it easily.
Hopper throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Hopper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cohen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cohen stands and throws Hopper's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Cohen has control of an arm but Hopper manages to advance to Cohen's back!
Cohen trying to control the action but Hopper just sinks the hooks in.

Hopper has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Hopper has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cohen turns into Hopper and is now in his guard.
Moshe Hopper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nathan Cohen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hopper looking for a guillotine here but Cohen defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nathan Cohen.
I've got Cohen 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Cohen!