PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Fuca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Cooper
vs
Fuca

180 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mathew Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Junior Fuca!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fuca looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cooper throws a right hand that Fuca ducks under and follows up with a left that Fuca also avoids with ease.
Cooper throws a series of punches but Fuca moves out of range.
Cooper throws a right hand that Fuca ducks under and follows up with a left that Fuca also avoids with ease.
Fuca closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cooper circles away.
Fuca misses with a takedown attempt - Cooper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fuca closes the distance and clinches up with Cooper, looking for a takedown. Fuca pushes Cooper against the cage but Cooper circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mathew Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Fuca.
Cooper misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fuca misses with a double jab
and Cooper counters with a left and a right that stings Fuca.
Cooper throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fuca tries to clinch up but Cooper circles away and keeps his distance.
Fuca tries to clinch up
and Cooper counters with a left and a right that stings Fuca.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cooper throws a series of punches but Fuca moves out of range.
Fuca swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cooper counters with a series of strikes. Fuca will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cooper moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fuca closes the distance but Cooper moves to the side
and Cooper counters with a series of strikes. Fuca will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fuca looks gassed!
Cooper throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fuca has his takedown stuffed
and Cooper counters with a one-two to the body.
Cooper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cooper is working the combinations to good effect here.
Cooper misses with a two punch combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cooper!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cooper lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fuca circles away quickly and effectively.
Cooper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper throws a left and a right that both miss

and Fuca counters by moving into the clinch.
Fuca prevents the takedown attempt.
Fuca gets underhooks to prevent Cooper's takedown attempt.
Cooper tries to score a body lock takedown but Fuca shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cooper has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fuca is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fuca tries to pull guard but Cooper holds him up against the cage and eventually Fuca drops back down to his feet.
Cooper is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fuca gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Fuca misses with an elbow over the top.
Fuca misses with a knee to the head.
Cooper tries for a takedown. No joy.
Fuca is trying to break the clinch but Cooper is controlling him.
Fuca is trying to force a seperation but Cooper has the dominant position.
Cooper is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fuca gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuca looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fuca prevents the takedown attempt.
Fuca is trying to drag Cooper to the mat but Cooper just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Fuca tries to land knees in the clinch but Cooper avoids the damage to the body.

Cooper has clasped his hands together around Fuca's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Fuca struggling a bit here.
Cooper controls the position.
Fuca prevents Cooper from improving position.
Fuca wants to control but Cooper postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuca is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Fuca wants to get back to his feet.
Fuca is trying to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cooper misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Cooper dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fuca is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cooper.
Mathew Cooper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fuca with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cooper counters with a two punch combo.
Fuca closes the distance but Cooper moves to the side
and Cooper counters with a one-two to the body.
Cooper looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cooper looks to land a combination. Fuca sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cooper will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cooper throws a right hand that Fuca ducks under and follows up with a left that Fuca also avoids with ease.
Cooper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cooper throws a nice looking combination but Fuca bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Junior Fuca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fuca darts in trying to clinch
and Cooper counters with a series of strikes. Fuca will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Cooper misses with a few strikes there.
Cooper throws a right and a left that Fuca avoids nicely.
Cooper stalks Fuca and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fuca's face. Fuca staggers backwards, shaken.
Fuca avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cooper looks to land a combination but Fuca avoids it well.
Cooper misses with a series of wild punches.
Cooper rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fuca moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cooper throws a nice looking combination but Fuca bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fuca circles away quickly and effectively.
Fuca avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cooper throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mathew Cooper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cooper swinging wildly here.
Fuca showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cooper.
Cooper throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cooper misses with the combination.
Cooper scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fuca.
Fuca showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cooper.
Cooper fails to land with a series of punches.
A left and a right from Cooper both land. Nice combination.
Cooper rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fuca moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cooper will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cooper throws a nice looking combination but Fuca bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cooper throws a series of strikes that have Fuca backpedaling.
Fuca showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cooper.
Fuca is trying desperately to land a takedown but Cooper is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Fuca.
Cooper throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cooper misses with a few strikes there.
Fuca showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cooper.
No joy there for Cooper, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cooper lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fuca backs up against the cage.
A combination from Cooper does no damage.
Cooper throws a right and a left that Fuca avoids nicely.
Cooper goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Fuca tries to clinch up
and Cooper counters with a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Cooper dominated that second round.
That's time! Cooper's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

Fuca avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cooper throws a nice looking combination but Fuca bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fuca has his takedown stuffed
and Cooper counters with a left and a right that stings Fuca.
Fuca with a poor takedown
and Cooper counters with a three punch combo that has Fuca backing up. Fuca nods at Cooper to acknowledge the strikes.
Cooper fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fuca darts in trying to clinch
and Cooper counters with a left and a right that stings Fuca.
Fuca has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cooper throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fuca.
Cooper throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cooper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper throws a combination. Fuca tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cooper fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cooper tries to bum rush Fuca with a series of wild strikes but Fuca uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cooper!
Mathew Cooper is winning the standup battle so far.
Cooper throws a one two combo.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cooper!
Cooper lands a two punch combo.
Danga de danga de dang - Cooper scores with a four punch combination!
Cooper misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fuca takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A combination from Cooper does no damage.
Cooper goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Cooper misses.
Fuca tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cooper counters with a left and a right that stings Fuca.
Cooper throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cooper misses with a wild combination.
Cooper moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fuca tries for a takedown but Cooper circles away easily
and Cooper counters with a series of strikes. Fuca will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mathew Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Fuca.
Cooper throws a right and a left that Fuca avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuca throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cooper counters with a series of strikes. Fuca will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fuca avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cooper goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cooper lands with a nice combination. Fuca backs away looking to recover.
Cooper stalks Fuca and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fuca's face. Fuca staggers backwards, shaken.
Fuca has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fuca tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cooper counters with a two punch combo.
Cooper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fuca looks to clinch
and Cooper counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A punch combination from Cooper misses.
Cooper keeps the fight on the outside.

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.
Fuca doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cooper counters with a three punch combo that has Fuca backing up. Fuca nods at Cooper to acknowledge the strikes.
Fuca slips a jab and a cross from Cooper.
Cooper circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cooper counters with a series of strikes. Fuca will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fuca misses with a takedown
and Cooper counters with a left and a right that stings Fuca.
Fuca wants to clinch
and Cooper counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Junior Fuca has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mathew Cooper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cooper looks to land a combination but Fuca avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mathew Cooper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cooper, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mathew Cooper!