PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sao Alela (ranked 640 p4p, 1760 weight class) and Akeen Coker (ranked 97 p4p, 229 weight class). Alela comes to the cage accompanied by Cryin' Like a Bitch. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Alela
vs
Coker

180 cm
38
160
28 - 20 - 0

180 cm
39
170
22 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Northern Zombie

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sao Alela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Akeen Coker!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Alela - just one landing.
Alela throws a head kick that misses.
Alela throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Coker lands a jab to the nose.
Alela has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Coker finds it's way round the side to connect with Alela's head.
Alela has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Alela there as he acknowledges the shot.
Coker's corner calls for a 1-2. Coker obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Coker.
Alela looks to land a right hand but Coker moved out of range.
Alela fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Coker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Coker throws the left hand but Alela avoids the punch easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Alela misses the target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab, jab by Coker - just one landing.
Coker takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Alela tries for a takedown but Coker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alela throws a lazy right hand but Coker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A punch lands to the side of Alela 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Alela ducks under a wild hook from Coker.
Coker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Alela.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Alela tries a head kick but it misses.
Alela dodges the punch combination from Coker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alela throws a leg kick but Coker sees it coming and moves out of range.
Alela will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alela throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Coker takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Coker scores with a jab. Alela acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Alela fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Coker checks it well.
A swing and a miss from Coker.
Alela uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Coker.
We've been informed that Coker has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Alela on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Alela takes one to the side of the head.
Coker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Alela.
Alela doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Coker darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Coker loads up on a big right hand but Alela slips the punch.
Alela waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Coker.
Coker moves out of range of the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Coker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alela.
Coker connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alela fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Coker manages to avoid it.
A big left from Coker misses.
Sao Alela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab lands there for Coker.
A big left from Coker misses.
Coker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alela scores with a push kick.
A jab from Alela does it's job there.
Coker cracks Alela with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Alela is looking to slow Coker down with leg kicks.
Alela displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Coker throws out the jab.
Alela tried to counter with a leg kick but Coker avoided it.
Alela throws a body shot but no joy.
Coker looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Akeen Coker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Coker throws an overhand right that lands on Alela's shoulder, as Alela tries to avoid the shot.
Alela with the inside leg kick.
Coker swings for the body but Alela moves out of range.
Alela lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Coker circles away quickly and effectively.
A nice leg kick from Alela, right into the meat of the thigh.
Coker jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alela takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Coker thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Alela if he has to take too many more of those.
Alela moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Alela throws a looping overhand right but Coker ducks down to avoid it.
It seemed like Coker was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Coker looks to land a right hand but Alela moved out of range.
Alela avoids the body shot from Coker.
Alela jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Alela tries a head kick but it misses.
Coker listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Alela throws a looping overhand right but Coker ducks down to avoid it.
Nice shot lands for Alela.
Coker scores with a sloppy right hand. Alela should have avoided that one.
Nice defenses there by Alela.
Alela swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Alela darts in looking for a takedown but Coker gets double underhooks and turns Alela into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sao Alela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Coker blocks an uppercut.
Alela is looking for a takedown.
Coker scores with a nice hook to the head.
Alela is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Coker pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Coker breaks the clinch.
Alela avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coker throws out a loose jab but Alela uses good head movement to avoid it.
A leg kick checked by Alela.
Alela throws a big shot that misses.

Coker closes the distance and clinches.
Alela softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Alela lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Coker backwards.
Alela wants to take the fight to the mat but Coker manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Alela swings wildly with an uppercut but Coker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alela lands with a light punch inside.
Alela working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Alela looking for a takedown.
Coker is working Alela over against the cage.

Coker manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Coker clobbers Alela with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Coker moves forwards but Alela connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Alela takes one to the chin there.
Alela throws a series of punches but Coker avoids them all with ease.
Alela swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alela moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Coker scores with a nice right hand.
Alela looks to score with a jab to the body but Coker is just out of range.
Coker fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Alela is out of range.
Alela slips under a jab from Coker.
Alela takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Coker cracks Alela with a right hand to the side of the head.
Alela's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Coker connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Alela scrambles back to his feet.
Coker connects with the punch.
Akeen Coker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Coker is looking to score with low kicks.
Alela was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Alela lands with a right hand.
Coker lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Alela throws a low kick but Coker avoids it.
Alela uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Coker.
Alela moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Alela swinging wildly here.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Coker! But no joy.
Alela shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Coker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coker slips under a jab from Alela.
Coker rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Alela counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Coker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Alela throws a series of punches but Coker avoids them all with ease.
Alela connects with a right hand. Coker shakes it off.
Alela misses with a double jab.
Coker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alela on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Alela tries to move into range but Coker moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Coker lands a jab.
Alela looks to land a combination but Coker avoids it well.
Coker lands the left hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Alela throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Coker staying out of range there.
Coker throws a solid leg kick but Alela takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Coker.
Coker lands a head shot.
Alela fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Coker is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alela misses with a takedown
and Coker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Coker lands with a straight right. Alela didn't see that one coming.
Alela looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Alela throws a looping overhand right but Coker ducks down to avoid it.
Alela throws a lazy right hand but Coker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A big left from Coker misses.
Alela tries a head kick but it misses.
Alela connects with an inside leg kick.
Alela has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Alela there as he acknowledges the shot.
Coker slips a jab from Alela.
Coker flicks out a counter leg kick but Alela steps away.
Alela throws a right and a left that both miss.

Coker drives through and clinches with Alela against the cage.
Coker blocking some punches.
Coker stops a takedown attempt from Alela.
Coker misses with some punches.
Coker misses with a punch on the inside.

Coker breaks from the clinch.
Alela looks to throw the jab but Coker is out of range.
Coker connects with a right hand. Alela shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alela throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alela takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Alela lands a nice hook to Coker's body. Coker takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Alela staying out of range there.
Coker connects with a right hand. Alela shakes it off.
Coker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alela moves away.
Some bone on bone action there as Alela checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A nice inside leg kick there by Coker. That's going to slow Alela down.
Alela paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Coker misses with a looping left.
Coker scores with a punch to the head.
Jab, jab by Alela - just one landing.
The fighters circling - Coker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Coker.
Coker looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A cross from Coker lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A swing and a miss from Alela.
Coker throws a good cross that connects.
That kick from Coker tenderised Alela's leg. Alela is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alela takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Coker on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Alela. Alela obviously looking to wear him down.
Coker throws a hook to the side of Alela's head but Alela sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Alela walks into a left hand.
Coker lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Coker lands a glancing blow to the side of Alela's head.
Alela has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Coker finds it's way round the side to connect with Alela's head.
Alela looks to land a body kick but Coker moved away.
Coker throws out a counter right but Alela avoids it with no problem.
Alela scores with a hook.
Coker lands an overhand right.
Alela moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Alela misses with a straight right.

Coker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alela, pushing him back against the cage.
Alela softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Coker lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Alela has a couple of punches blocked by Coker.
Alela misses with some punches.
Alela lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akeen Coker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Coker keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Coker lands a jab.
Coker misses with an uppercut.
Coker tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Coker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alela.
Coker swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Alela throws a leg kick which misses Coker's front leg but catches the back leg as Coker tries to avoid it.
Coker looks to land a left hand but Alela moved out of range nicely.
Alela seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A nice inside leg kick there by Alela. That's going to slow Coker down.
Alela misses with a low kick as Coker jumps back.
Coker throws a big shot that misses.
Alela looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Alela looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alela. Coker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alela is looking to score with low kicks.
Coker tests Alela's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Alela walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alela lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Coker circles away quickly and effectively.
Coker throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Coker tries to score with a low kick but Alela moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coker moves out of range as Alela strikes.
Coker only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Coker lands with a cross.
Coker cracks Alela with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Coker blocks a leg kick.
Coker throws out a loose jab but Alela uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alela with a nice calf kick.
Alela checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
The fighters circle momentarily. Alela darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Coker moves out of range of the strikes.
Coker fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Alela.
Alela uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Coker.
A big left from Coker misses.
Alela was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Coker with a hook.
Coker jabs Alela right on the nose. Alela blinks but takes it well.
Coker lands with a hook. Alela tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Coker lands with a hook. Alela tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Alela's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Alela duly obliges.
Coker is looking to clinch.
Alela attempts a counter takedown but Coker avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alela moves forwards but Coker connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Alela misses with an attempted mid kick.
Alela uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Coker.
Alela takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Coker jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Coker uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Alela is rocked!
Alela throws out a loose jab but Coker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Coker's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Alela moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Oh Alela is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Coker.
Coker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alela avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alela seems to have got his legs back now.
Coker takes a swing at Alela's ribcage but misses.
Nice body punch from Alela.
Alela rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Coker counters with a series of strikes. Alela will be more careful next time no doubt.

Alela fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Coker sprawls well initially but Alela persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Coker is defending against the submission attempts here by Alela.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coker tries to get to full guard but Alela has control of the leg.
Alela is trying to control the action in half guard but Coker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Coker manages to get to full guard.
Alela wants to control from the top but Coker keeps moving.
Coker keeping full guard, as Alela tries to pass.

Coker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Alela defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Coker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alela doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alela manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Coker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sao Alela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akeen Coker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Coker trying to keep a closed guard but Alela is proving a slippery customer.

Coker throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Alela escapes and throws Coker's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Alela working the head with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akeen Coker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Coker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akeen Coker!
An out of breath Akeen Coker thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.