PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Cotto (ranked 14923 p4p, 1073 weight class) and Monte Zuma (ranked 573 p4p, 17 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cotto
vs
Zuma

186 cm
42
215
41 - 26 - 2

190 cm
43
255
37 - 23 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Hardcore Alchemy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 41 - 26 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Miguel Cotto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Monte Zuma!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zuma shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cotto defends it nicely.
Cotto throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zuma looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cotto stuffs the takedown attempt from Zuma. Zuma gets slowly back to his feet.
Cotto attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Zuma closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cotto to the mat! Cotto manages to get full guard.
Cotto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zuma on the ground.
Zuma's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuma stopping the sweep attempt from Cotto.
Zuma is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zuma tries to free his leg and advance position but Cotto is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cotto keeping full guard, as Zuma tries to pass.
Zuma engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zuma fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Miguel Cotto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monte Zuma.
Cotto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cotto connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zuma looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cotto is fending him off so far but Zuma persists. Nope, Cotto circles away and we're back to standing.

Zuma shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cotto manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zuma pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cotto is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuma being controlled here momentarily.
Zuma controlling from the top position.
Let's hope that Zuma has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuma advances to half guard.

Zuma is working for a submission of some sort.
Zuma performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Zuma wants to free his trapped foot but Cotto is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Zuma perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Zuma.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zuma's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zuma.
Zuma fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zuma changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cotto tries to avoid it but Zuma manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cotto to the ground. Cotto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Zuma looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cotto being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zuma passes Cotto's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Zuma dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Zuma shoots for a takedown but Cotto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zuma closes the distance and clinches up with Cotto, looking for a takedown. Zuma pushes Cotto against the cage but Cotto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cotto misses with a leg kick.
Zuma gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cotto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Miguel Cotto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monte Zuma.
Zuma misses with a takedown attempt
and Cotto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zuma looks for a takedown but Cotto sprawls well.
Cotto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zuma ducks under a wild hook from Cotto.
Zuma shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cotto as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zuma shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cotto manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zuma controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotto keeping full guard, as Zuma tries to pass.
Zuma slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zuma is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Cotto's shoulder. That is not cool.
Zuma wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cotto keeps working.

Zuma tries for a kimura but Cotto is defending well.
Monte Zuma has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zuma staying calm.

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.

Zuma is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cotto knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yet more stalling tactics from Zuma.
Zuma working away.
Zuma trying to control the position but Cotto is working away.
Zuma controls the position.

Zuma tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Zuma is continuing to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Zuma tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cotto defends well and Zuma ends up having to push Cotto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zuma on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cotto. Cotto obviously looking to wear him down.
Zuma doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cotto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cotto fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zuma checks it well.
Zuma goes for a double leg but Cotto avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cotto continues to drive forward.
A little feinted left hand from Cotto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cotto.
Zuma fails with a takedown attempt.
Zuma blocks a head kick by Cotto.
A telegraphed right hand from Cotto misses the target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zuma with a poor takedown
and Zuma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Zuma closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zuma is looking to advance position but Cotto won't allow it.
Zuma wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cotto keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Cotto dominated that second round.
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!

Cotto throws a series of punches but Zuma avoids them all with ease.
Cotto throws a jab when Zuma was well out of range.
Cotto misses with a straight left.
Zuma shoots and misses
and Cotto counters with a straight right hand.
Zuma with a poor takedown
enabling Cotto to counter with a crisp jab.
No luck for Zuma with that takedown attempt.
Miguel Cotto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monte Zuma.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cotto.
Cotto throws the kick towards the body but Zuma avoids it.
Cotto throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuma shoots for a takedown but Cotto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Cotto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zuma has a takedown stuffed.
Zuma shoots in but Cotto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zuma changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cotto tries to avoid it but Zuma manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cotto to the ground. Cotto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cotto is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuma shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cotto as he avoids it easily.
Cotto swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zuma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zuma fails with a takedown attempt.
Zuma on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cotto connects with a solid leg kick.
Zuma keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cotto looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cotto with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Zuma looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zuma is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotto keeping moving, preventing Zuma from controlling successfully.
Cotto keeping full guard, as Zuma tries to pass.
Cotto being controlled here, momentarily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuma has his takedown stuffed
and Cotto counters with a straight right hand.
Zuma is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cotto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zuma fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cotto stuffs the takedown attempt from Zuma. Zuma gets slowly back to his feet.
Miguel Cotto is winning the standup battle so far.

Zuma closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cotto's guard.

Cotto scrambles and gets back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zuma.

Zuma darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zuma tries to pass to full mount but Cotto defends it.
Zuma wants to take a breather but Cotto is having none of it.
Zuma is looking to stall here but Cotto recovers full guard.
Zuma trying to control but Cotto is working from the bottom.
Cotto is trying to control the position but Zuma postures up.
Zuma is looking to pass into half guard but Cotto pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cotto is in guard.

Cotto stopping the sweep attempt from Zuma.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miguel Cotto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cotto has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Cotto!
After winning the bout, Miguel Cotto thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.