PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kratos Esparta (ranked 3160 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Cohen (ranked 4397 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Esparta
vs
Cohen

150 cm
24
138 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kratos Esparta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Cohen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cohen scores with a one two! Esparta had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Cohen throws a front kick that sends Esparta stumbling back into the cage.

Esparta pushes Cohen up against the cage in a clinch.
Cohen is trying to pull guard but Esparta turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Esparta breaks the clinch.

Esparta gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Esparta - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Esparta jumps guard but Cohen stands there with Esparta around his waist. Esparta gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Esparta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cohen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Esparta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cohen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Esparta sprawls well initially but Cohen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cohen prevents Esparta from standing back up.
Cohen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cohen prevents Esparta from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cohen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cohen is nestled in close to Esparta, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cohen wants to take a breather but Esparta is having none of it.
Cohen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Esparta regains full guard. Nicely done.
Esparta not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cohen wants to stand but Esparta is controlling his posture from full guard.

Cohen gets to his feet. Esparta looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cohen fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cohen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Esparta counters with a three punch combo that has Cohen backing up. Cohen nods at Esparta to acknowledge the strikes.
Kratos Esparta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Cohen.
Esparta tries for a takedown but Cohen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cohen.
Cohen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A lazy left from Esparta finds it's target.

Esparta closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esparta has picked Cohen up - he's going for a ride! Esparta dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Esparta thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cohen's head.
Esparta blocks the strikes from Cohen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esparta wants to control but Cohen is keeping him busy.
Esparta is controlling the pace.
Cohen pushes Esparta off looking to stand but Esparta dives back in and keeps control.
Esparta trying to pass the guard but Cohen defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esparta throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cohen works over Esparta's head and body with a nice combination.
Cohen stuffs the takedown.
Esparta connects with a nice looking jab.

Esparta instigates a clinch.
Cohen jumps guard but Esparta turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cohen wants a takedown.
Esparta tries to pull guard but Cohen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Cohen breaks the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esparta misses with a wild body shot.
Cohen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cohen throws a nice looking combination but Esparta bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kratos Esparta dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cohen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cohen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Esparta sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cohen somewhat.

Esparta closes the distance and clinches.

Esparta manages to break the clinch.

Esparta clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cohen looking to throw knees to the head but Esparta is blocking nicely.
Esparta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cohen can do to turn this around?
Esparta displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cohen up against the cage.
Cohen tries to pull guard but Esparta holds him up against the cage and eventually Cohen drops back down to his feet.
Kratos Esparta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Cohen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esparta works on Cohen's body with a couple of short punches.

Esparta breaks from the clinch.
Cohen moves out of range of the body kick from Esparta.
Kratos Esparta is winning the standup battle so far.
Esparta tries to clinch but Cohen moves out of range.
Kratos Esparta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Esparta instigates a clinch.

Cohen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Esparta takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Esparta misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cohen chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Cohen tries to keep at a distance but Esparta has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cohen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Esparta is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cohen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cohen tries to clinch up but Esparta circles away and keeps his distance.

Esparta clinches.

Esparta breaks from the clinch.
Esparta scores with a head kick.

It looks like Michael Cohen has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esparta takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Cohen misses with a low kick as Esparta jumps back.
Esparta stalks Cohen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cohen's face. Cohen staggers backwards, shaken.

Cohen darts in and clinches Esparta up against the cage.
Esparta stalling the fight.

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

Esparta rushes Cohen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen trying to stall but Esparta improves his position.

Cohen breaks the clinch.
Cohen tries a head kick but it misses.
Esparta fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Cohen drives through and clinches with Esparta against the cage.
Cohen is trying to pull guard but Esparta has him pressed against the cage.
Cohen is breathing heavily.

Cohen breaks the clinch.
Cohen avoids the head kick by Esparta.

Esparta gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cohen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Esparta avoids it.
Cohen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Esparta pulls his leg out and moves away.
Esparta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cohen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cohen counters with a body kick.
Cohen throws a head kick that Esparta semi-blocks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen blocks a head kick by Esparta.
Cohen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Esparta gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Esparta tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cohen just stands there and leans against the cage.

Esparta manages to break the clinch.
Esparta throws a right and a left that Cohen avoids nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Esparta throws a head kick but Cohen moves out of range.
And Cohen responds with a good body kick, but Esparta manages to step out the way in time.
Esparta tries to close the distance and clinch but Cohen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Esparta clinches up against the cage.
Cohen looking to stall.
Cohen looking to throw knees to the head but Esparta is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kratos Esparta dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Cohen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Esparta is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Esparta.
A thudding body kick lands there by Cohen!
Cohen tries to clinch but Esparta is having none of it.
Esparta swats away the attempt to clinch by Cohen.
Cohen 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.
Cohen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cohen wants to clinch up but Esparta keeps it at a distance.
As Cohen looks to move away, Esparta throws a big counter combo but Cohen just gets out of the way.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esparta will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cohen up against the cage.
Cohen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Esparta smiles and moves away.

Esparta closes the distance and pushes Cohen back into the cage.
Esparta's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Esparta stalls.
Esparta seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Esparta pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's two 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.
Cohen looking to throw knees to the head but Esparta is blocking nicely.

Esparta manages to break the clinch.

Esparta gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cohen is trying to pull guard but Esparta has him pressed against the cage.

Cohen manages to break the clinch.
Esparta tries to clinch up but Cohen circles away and keeps his distance.
Esparta misses with the combination.
Cohen throws a counter combo.
Esparta connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esparta connects with a solid leg kick.
Esparta fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cohen is out of range.
Cohen doesn't manage to clinch there - Esparta circles away.
Esparta fails in his attempt to clinch.

Cohen tries to sprawl but Esparta drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Cohen actively working from the bottom here.
Esparta passes into side control, despite Cohen's attempt to control the position.

Esparta stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cohen tries to clinch but Esparta moves out of range.
Cohen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch combination from Cohen misses.
Cohen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Esparta rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cohen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Cohen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Esparta throws Cohen to one side and escapes!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Esparta wants to clinch up but Cohen keeps it at a distance.
Michael Cohen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Esparta fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kratos Esparta showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Esparta 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kratos Esparta!