PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ed Cooper (ranked 5531 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodolfo Canutero (ranked 4929 p4p, 0 weight class). Ed Cooper has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cooper
vs
Canutero

223 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 2 - 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, Rodolfo Canutero!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Canutero pushes Cooper up against the cage in a clinch.

Canutero manages to break the clinch.

Cooper has managed to clinch.

Canutero breaks from the clinch.

Canutero clinches with his opponent.
Cooper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Canutero's efforts to push away.
Cooper wants to take the fight to the mat but Canutero manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Canutero is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Canutero tries to land knees in the clinch but Cooper avoids the damage to the body.
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.
Canutero tries to break the clinch but Cooper is controlling the position.
Cooper jumps guard but Canutero stands there with Cooper around his waist. Cooper gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Cooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Come on Cooper - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper tries to stall but Canutero uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Cooper pulls Canutero into guard.
Cooper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cooper seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Canutero stands up from Cooper's guard - Canutero perhaps looking for a knockout.

Canutero closes the distance and clinches.

Canutero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Canutero pushes Cooper up against the cage in a clinch.

Canutero manages to break the clinch.

Canutero closes the distance and clinches.

Canutero breaks from the clinch.
Canutero moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Ed Cooper has been cut.
Canutero will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No joy there for Canutero, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Canutero manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cooper on his heels. He'll look to pass Cooper's guard now, I'm sure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cooper is pulling down on Canutero's head. It's preventing any offense from Canutero, at least for the moment.
Cooper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cooper pulls Canutero in to control the position.
Canutero has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cooper is proving hard to escape from.
Cooper trying to control the position here.
Canutero trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cooper's guard.
Cooper 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Canutero tries to stand but Cooper is controlling from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Cooper tries to keep at a distance but Canutero has taken the fight into the clinch.

Canutero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodolfo Canutero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Canutero looks to land a combination but Cooper avoids it well.
Cooper is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Canutero.

Cooper tries to keep at a distance but Canutero has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cooper tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Canutero just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cooper managing to block the knees to the body from Canutero.
Cooper lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Canutero.
Canutero has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Canutero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Canutero rushes Cooper and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Canutero breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Canutero clinches up with Cooper and pushes him back against the cage.
Cooper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Canutero's efforts to push away.
Cooper stalling in the clinch.
Canutero wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cooper is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Canutero pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Canutero wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cooper has him pressed against the cage.
Cooper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Canutero's efforts to push away.
Cooper on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Canutero stops a takedown attempt from Cooper.
Canutero is trying to force a seperation but Cooper has the dominant position.
Cooper keeps control of Canutero as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Canutero will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cooper up against the cage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cooper wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodolfo Canutero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ed Cooper's cut.
That's time! Cooper's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cooper moves into the clinch.

Canutero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cooper moves into the clinch.
Canutero wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cooper tries for a takedown but Canutero manages to get underhooks.
Cooper tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Canutero smiles and moves away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Canutero.

Canutero closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Canutero has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Canutero stands up and beckons Cooper to his feet.

Canutero changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cooper looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cooper wants to control but Canutero postures up.
Canutero wants to stand but Cooper has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cooper gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Canutero wants to stand up but Cooper has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Cooper is controlling Canutero's trapped leg to prevent Canutero from advancing to side control.
Cooper tries to roll over but Canutero keeps him under control.
Cooper is trying is best to control the position here.
Canutero wants to stand up but Cooper is controlling the position.
Cooper makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cooper.
Cooper has his hands on Canutero's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cooper wants to sweep but no luck.
Cooper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Canutero manages to get himself to full guard.

Cooper scoring with punches to the head and body.
Canutero wants to stand up but Cooper is controlling him.
Cooper lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cooper distracts Canutero with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper stops Canutero from standing up.

Canutero has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Cooper is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Canutero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Canutero closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cooper looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Cooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Canutero has had enough of the clinch but Cooper keeps him there for the moment.

Canutero breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cooper throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Canutero's waist but Canutero gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cooper off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Canutero throws a combination that misses

and Cooper holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Canutero is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Canutero gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cooper.
Canutero putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cooper in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Canutero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Canutero misses with a series of wild punches.

Canutero clinches up with Cooper and pushes him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cooper wants a takedown.
Canutero is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Canutero utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Canutero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Canutero stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Canutero misses with the combination.
Cooper is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Canutero.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodolfo Canutero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ed Cooper's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

Canutero closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cooper quickly recovers to half guard.
Canutero wants to stand up but Cooper is controlling the position.
Rodolfo Canutero has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cooper is trying to maintain the position but Canutero is very close to passing his half guard.

Canutero escapes and gets back to his feet.

Canutero closes the distance and clinches.
Cooper has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Canutero avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Canutero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Canutero is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cooper's half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Canutero is thwarting Cooper's attempts to control the position.
Canutero wants to stand up but Cooper is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Canutero is working away from the top position though.
Canutero tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Cooper.
Cooper is doing well to control the position and prevent Canutero from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Canutero tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Cooper.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

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

Cooper clinches up with Canutero and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Canutero gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cooper.

Canutero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cooper has Canutero up against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Canutero.

Canutero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Canutero moves into the clinch.

Cooper pulls Canutero into guard.
Cooper wants to sweep but no luck.
Cooper pulls Canutero in close to prevent any damage.
Cooper's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper continues to stall.
Canutero has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cooper is proving hard to escape from.
Cooper will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cooper pulls Canutero in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cooper moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Canutero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Canutero moves into the clinch.
Canutero is trying to force a seperation but Cooper has the dominant position.
Cooper tries to pull guard but Canutero won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Cooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooper is working for takedown but Canutero is calmly controlling the position for now.

Canutero breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Cooper gets tackled into the cage by Canutero. Canutero maintains the clinch.
Cooper wants a takedown but no success here.

Cooper is trying to trip Canutero. He has hold of a leg but Canutero is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cooper persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Canutero pushes Cooper off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Canutero lands with a hook. Cooper tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Canutero cracks Cooper with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ed Cooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rodolfo Canutero is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Cooper gets caught napping as Canutero dives in and scores a takedown. Cooper manages to retain guard.

Cooper kicks Canutero off and gets to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ed Cooper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Canutero has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodolfo Canutero!