PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ed Cooper (ranked 5210 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldinho Gaucho (ranked 5253 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cooper
vs
Gaucho

223 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ed Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronaldinho Gaucho!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gaucho looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cooper preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Cooper slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cooper will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cooper is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gaucho is controlling him.
Cooper looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaucho wants to pass the guard but Cooper is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cooper keeping moving, preventing Gaucho from controlling successfully.
Gaucho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gaucho controls the pace.
Gaucho being controlled here momentarily.
Cooper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cooper seems keen to control Gaucho's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Cooper feints and as Gaucho raises his hands in defense, Cooper changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gaucho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cooper is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper distracts Gaucho with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cooper stands up over Gaucho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cooper won't allow Gaucho to sweep him here.
Cooper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cooper keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gaucho's head.
Cooper scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cooper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cooper keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gaucho's head.
Gaucho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cooper really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Cooper stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Gaucho shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cooper is trying to defend but Gaucho finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gaucho looks winded!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cooper is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper continues to stall.
Cooper wants to improve his position but Gaucho is controlling well.
Cooper controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
More hug and hope from Cooper.
Cooper manages to get to full guard.
Cooper 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cooper controlling Gaucho's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cooper is on top in guard.

Cooper keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gaucho's head.
Cooper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaucho is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gaucho 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gaucho looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Cooper dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gaucho looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cooper!
Cooper gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gaucho wants to pass the guard but Cooper is defending well.
Cooper keeping hold of Gaucho's head, controlling as best he can.
Cooper has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Gaucho wants to free his trapped foot but Cooper is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
It looks like Gaucho is going to stand back up.
Cooper works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gaucho is fighting to break Cooper's control of his arms but Cooper is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gaucho wants to control from the top but Cooper keeps moving.
Cooper is adopting a defensive guard.
Cooper being controlled here, momentarily.
Cooper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gaucho's guard.

Cooper lands a couple of elbows.
Cooper scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gaucho is breathing heavily.
Cooper lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is working Gaucho over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cooper lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cooper lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cooper is in close to Gaucho's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ed Cooper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cooper working some strikes from top position.

Gaucho is rocked!
Cooper lands a couple of elbows.
Gaucho is still in real trouble! Can Cooper finish him?
Cooper is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cooper content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cooper landing some decent shots from guard.
Cooper scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooper with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gaucho seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper cracks Gaucho with a solid left hand.
Cooper scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gaucho has momentary wrist control but Cooper slips an elbow through the middle.
Cooper content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cooper scoring with some ground and pound.
Cooper postures up and lands a big shot to Gaucho's brow.
Cooper lands a couple of elbows.
Cooper is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gaucho can do to turn this around?
Cooper working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gaucho's head.
Cooper with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cooper distracts Gaucho with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cooper postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cooper landing some decent shots from guard.
Cooper is in close to Gaucho's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cooper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cooper scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gaucho trying to control the position.
Cooper working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gaucho's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cooper working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gaucho's head.

Gaucho looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gaucho has momentary wrist control but Cooper slips an elbow through the middle.
Cooper scoring with some ground and pound.
Cooper landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Cooper dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gaucho gets tackled into the cage by Cooper. Cooper maintains the clinch.

Cooper has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gaucho uses from the top position.
Cooper lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cooper is working Gaucho over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Gaucho throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cooper keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gaucho's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper working some strikes from top position.
Gaucho takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cooper chips away with some ground and pound.
Cooper content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cooper postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cooper stands up over Gaucho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cooper working some strikes from top position.
Cooper keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gaucho's head.

Gaucho is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cooper defends well.
Cooper scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cooper is working Gaucho over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gaucho has momentary wrist control but Cooper slips an elbow through the middle.
Cooper makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cooper stands up over Gaucho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cooper landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is working Gaucho over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cooper postures up and lands a big shot to Gaucho's brow.
Cooper stands up over Gaucho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cooper stands up over Gaucho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cooper is in close to Gaucho's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cooper is in close to Gaucho's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Cooper decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gaucho, up you get!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cooper scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cooper drops an elbow to the side of Gaucho's head.
Nice strikes from Cooper there.
Cooper drops an elbow to the side of Gaucho's head.
Gaucho is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Gaucho is defending against the submission attempts here by Cooper.
Cooper working the head and body with strikes.
Cooper drops an elbow to the side of Gaucho's head.
Cooper lands with a punch from half guard.
Ground and pound from Cooper.
Cooper is nestled in close to Gaucho, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cooper slips a nice elbow through Gaucho's hands, connecting with Gaucho's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaucho is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cooper scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cooper working the head and body with strikes.
Cooper working over Gaucho with some ground and pound. Gaucho looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cooper lands with a punch from half guard.
Cooper scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Cooper decides to stand and escape the position.

Cooper drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gaucho can't do much from the bottom here.
Cooper lands a decent elbow from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ed Cooper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cooper has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ed Cooper!