PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Underhill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cooper
vs
Underhill

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Max Underhill!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Underhill. No joy for Cooper on that attempt.
Underhill misses the shot to the body.

Underhill closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cooper wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Underhill postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Underhill is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cooper has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cooper sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Underhill not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Underhill looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cooper trying to control but Underhill postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Underhill.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cooper fails with an attempt to clinch.

Underhill shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Underhill was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooper is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cooper blocking the ground and pound.
Underhill controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Underhill's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Cooper is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Underhill controlling the pace for now.
Cooper tries to lock up and control but Underhill gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cooper tries to hold on but Underhill postures up.
Cooper is working to get back to half guard.
Cooper is breathing heavily.
Underhill misses with a head shot.
Underhill thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Cooper manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four 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.
Underhill wants to control but Cooper is keeping him busy.

Cooper looking for submissions off his back.

Underhill decides to stand and escape the position.

Underhill gets a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Underhill breaks from the clinch.
Cooper has his takedown stuffed
and Underhill counters with a big head kick but Cooper shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Underhill dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Underhill clinches.

Underhill decides to pull guard.
Cooper trying to stand up but can't free himself from Underhill's guard.
Underhill throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Underhill working a defensive guard but Cooper manages to pass into side control anyway.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Underhill can do anything to dispel that myth.

Cooper is trying to get an arm triangle but Underhill is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Underhill sneaks back into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Underhill makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Underhill changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cooper looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Underhill prevents Cooper from escaping the position.
Underhill really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cooper. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
An elbow from Underhill crashes against the mat.
Underhill fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper parries the strikes from Underhill easily there. Underhill is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cooper to escape.
Cooper prevents Underhill from moving into mount.
Underhill prevents Cooper from escaping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Underhill shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Underhill showed some decent athleticism there.
Underhill wants to pass the guard but Cooper is defending well.
Underhill is trying to control the action in half guard but Cooper is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is trying to control but can't.
Cooper gets back to full guard.
Cooper trying to control the position.
Underhill must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Underhill trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Underhill shoots in and bounces Cooper off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cooper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cooper wants to stand but Underhill has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Underhill wants to get back to full guard.

Cooper is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Underhill is just riding it out for now. Cooper eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Underhill showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cooper fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Underhill is out of range.

Underhill closes the distance and clinches.

Underhill has hold of one of Cooper's legs. Cooper is fighting the takedown attempt but Underhill gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Underhill tries to free his leg and advance position but Cooper is retaining full guard.
Underhill content to stall in guard here.
Underhill won't allow Cooper to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Underhill controls from within his opponent's guard.
Underhill trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.
Cooper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Underhill throwing strikes but missing.
Cooper trying to strike off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cooper tries to land a leg kick but Underhill saw it coming and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Underhill looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cooper tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Underhill counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cooper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Underhill controls the pace.
Underhill stops Cooper from standing up.

Cooper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Underhill can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cooper keeping full guard, as Underhill tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Underhill trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cooper's guard.
Underhill throws and elbow that misses. Cooper uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Underhill's guard. Nice move by Cooper!
Cooper sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Underhill's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Underhill keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Cooper is keen to just control but Underhill is a slippery customer.

Underhill looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Underhill actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Underhill is looking to get back to full guard here but Cooper has managed to pass to side control instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Underhill comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Underhill 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Underhill!