PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pete Sproles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Perry Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sproles kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is can't be touched -Roy Jones Jr. Perry Cox has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sproles
vs
Cox

174 cm
19
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

169 cm
22
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Pete Sproles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Perry Cox!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cox fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Cox gets the takedown into side control.
Cox just content to control the position.
Sproles pushes Cox away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cox gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Sproles is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Sproles is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Sproles is looking to control Cox's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sproles avoid being mounted?
Sproles preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Sproles has one foot on Cox's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Sproles looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox misses with the combination.

Cox gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cox wants a takedown but no success here.

Sproles has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cox uses from the top position.
Cox trying to control the position from guard on top but Sproles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cox stopping the sweep attempt from Sproles.
Cox trying to control the position from guard on top but Sproles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sproles is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cox is controlling him.
Cox trying to control the position from guard on top but Sproles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cox pushing down on Sproles's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox is trying to control the action in half guard but Sproles is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cox thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sproles looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cox is fending him off so far but Sproles persists. Nope, Cox circles away and we're back to standing.

Cox drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cox throws an elbow but Sproles slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sproles wants to get back to his feet but Cox drags him back down.
Cox working away.

Cox decides to stand back up.
Sproles wants to clinch up but Cox keeps it at a distance.
Sproles misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Cox takes the fight into the clinch.
Sproles landing knees to the body.

Sproles breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cox stuffs the takedown attempt from Sproles. Sproles gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pete Sproles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sproles is breathing heavily.
Cox throws a sloppy head kick and Sproles moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sproles tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Cox paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sproles gets caught flat footed, as Cox shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sproles is looking to stand up but Cox isn't so interested in that idea.
Cox missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sproles tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sproles working for a triangle but Cox defends it easily.
Cox prevents Sproles from getting back to his feet.
Sproles trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Cox seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sproles is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sproles throws a right and a left that both miss.

Cox scores a takedown into full mount!
Sproles is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sproles tries to lock up and control but Cox gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cox scoring with strikes but Sproles is staying in there.
Sproles tries to lock up and control but Cox gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cox dominating with strikes here.
Sproles regains half guard.
Cox is pressing down on Sproles's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sproles is holding on for now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cox trying to control from half guard but Sproles is working away.
Cox is thwarting Sproles's attempts to control the position.
Sproles wants to get back to his feet.
Cox really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sproles. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sproles is looking for a sweep. Cox is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cox wants to free his trapped foot but Sproles is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cox is keen to just control but Sproles is a slippery customer.
Cox prevents Sproles from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sproles shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cox counters with a single leg into guard. Sproles didn't expect that.
Cox must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Cox distracts Sproles with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cox lands a couple of elbows.
Cox wants to control from the top but Sproles keeps moving.
Sproles 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.
Cox content to stall in guard here.
Sproles wants to stand and escape but Cox is having none of it.

Sproles had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Cox is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Sproles Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Cox's back instead.
Cox can't escape the position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Sproles working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Sproles misses with punches from the back.
Sproles scores with punches and elbows.
Sproles keeps control of the position as Cox tries to break free.
Sproles slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Cox is keeping busy.
Sproles is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cox is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sproles lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Sproles.
Sproles is looking to control Cox but Cox is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Sproles punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sproles controlling well, preventing Cox from escaping the position.
Cox trying to control the hands but Sproles breaks the grip.
Cox is really stuck here.
Sproles slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Sproles is looking to control Cox but Cox is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Sproles scores with strikes from the back.
Sproles trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Cox doesn't escape.
Cox tries to roll but Sproles sticks to his back.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Even with his hooks in, Sproles manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Sproles trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Sproles is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Sproles is looking to control Cox but Cox is wriggling around and keeping busy.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Pete Sproles just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Sproles doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cox counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sproles thinking.
Sproles misses with a takedown attempt - Cox sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cox misses with a head kick.
Sproles looks to clinch

and Cox counters by moving into the clinch.
Sproles avoiding damage as Cox throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Perry Cox dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cox bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cox wants to control but Sproles is keeping him busy.
Cox in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Cox tries to advance to mount but can't.
Sproles struggling a bit here.
Sproles pushes Cox away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cox gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Sproles manages to get back to half guard.

Sproles pushes Cox off and gets back to his feet.
Sproles connects with the punch.
Sproles takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Good work by Sproles as he checks the leg kick.
Sproles works Cox's body with a nice hook.

Sproles clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sproles lands a body punch.
Cox prevents the takedown attempt.
Sproles lands an elbow just above Cox 's eye.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sproles.
Sproles lands an elbow inside that Cox shrugs off.

Sproles drags the fight down to the ground.
Sproles doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sproles is looking to stand up but Cox isn't so interested in that idea.
Sproles controls Cox momentarily but Cox frees himself.
Cox tries to free his leg and advance position but Sproles is retaining full guard.
Sproles is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cox shoots in for a double leg but Sproles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox circles away from the clinch attempt

and Cox moves into the clinch.

Sproles breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sproles tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Cox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice body punch from Sproles.
Sproles fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cox shoots in for a double leg but Sproles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sproles fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sproles lands a nice shot that snaps Cox's head back.
Sproles tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sproles tries to close the distance and clinch but Cox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sproles tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cox sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sproles somewhat.

Cox scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cox is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sproles trying to control from the bottom.
Sproles is trying to stand up here but Cox is controlling him well.
Sproles wants to improve his position but Cox is controlling well.
Nice strikes from Cox there.
Sproles trying to hold on to Cox's head to control him but Cox postures up.
Sproles is trying to stand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Cox scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sproles is trying to control Cox's posture but Cox avoids it.
Cox wants to control for a moment but Sproles uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sproles decides to stand up.
Pete Sproles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sproles fails to land with a series of punches.
Cox stalks Sproles and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sproles's face. Sproles staggers backwards, shaken.
Sproles tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Cox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sproles tries to close the distance and clinch but Cox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sproles tries to clinch but Cox is having none of it.
Nice sprawl there from Cox as Sproles shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pete Sproles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cox keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Cox feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sproles throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Perry Cox has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sproles pulls Cox in close to prevent any damage.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sproles not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cox trying to control but Sproles is working from the bottom.
Sproles is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sproles wants to get back to his feet but Cox is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cox sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sproles looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's six 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.
Cox shoots for a double leg takedown but Sproles sprawls well. He's pushed Cox's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cox takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
No joy there for Sproles, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sproles tries to clinch but Cox is having none of it.
Cox shoots in for a takedown but Sproles shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sproles wants to clinch up but Cox keeps it at a distance.
Sproles tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cox swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cox fails to land with a series of punches.
Sproles shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sproles is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cox.

Cox scores a takedown into full mount!
Sproles tries to lock up and control but Cox gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cox pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sproles sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Sproles is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cox's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cox's back!
Cox covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Cox trying to control the hands but Sproles breaks the grip.
Sproles just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Cox rolls, trying to escape but Sproles keeps control of the position.

Sproles looking for the choke but no joy.
Cox trying to control the action but Sproles just sinks the hooks in.
Sproles throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Sproles tries to get the hooks in deep but Cox pushed the leg off.

That's eight 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.
Sproles controlling the position well here. Cox rolled but Sproles kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Sproles'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.
Sproles scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Sproles tries to get the hooks in deep but Cox pushed the leg off.
Cox is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Cox tries to roll but Sproles sticks to his back.
Cox wants to control his opponent's hands but Sproles gets his hands free.
Cox is keeping busy.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Pete Sproles just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Cox takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cox stuffs the takedown.

Cox shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sproles's guard.
Sproles controls Cox momentarily but Cox frees himself.
Sproles is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cox is controlling him.
Cox trying to control but Sproles is working from the bottom.
Sproles is trying to keep Cox in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pete Sproles.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Perry Cox!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Perry Cox!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Perry Cox!

Perry Cox wins by unanimous decision!