PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Duncan Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robin Van Persie (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
Van Persie

172 cm
23
158 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Duncan Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robin Van Persie!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Kavanagh and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Cooper as Van Persie shoots in.

Cooper has taken the fight to the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cooper as Van Persie tries to tie him up.
Van Persie wants to break the clinch but can't.
A nice left hand lands by Cooper.
Van Persie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cooper fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Cooper moves into the clinch.
Cooper lands a shoulder strike.
A short right from Cooper on the inside.
Cooper lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Van Persie tries to pull guard but Cooper forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Duncan Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robin Van Persie.
Van Persie tries to circle away but Cooper has him pinned against the cage.
Van Persie jumps guard but Cooper turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cooper digs a right hand underneath Van Persie's ribcage. Van Persie let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Persie ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Van Persie no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Van Persie has a closed guard, preventing Cooper from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooper 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.
Cooper knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Van Persie on the ground.
Van Persie doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Van Persie throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cooper would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cooper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Van Persie is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper stopping the sweep attempt from Van Persie.
Van Persie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Van Persie is adopting a defensive guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Van Persie fails to land the takedown.
Van Persie throws a head kick but Cooper moves out of range.
Cooper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Van Persie has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cooper softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Cooper.
Van Persie is trying to pull guard but Cooper has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Cooper - that landed with a thud.
Van Persie looks winded!
A shot in the inside from Cooper.
Cooper stalling against the cage.
Cooper scores with a hook to the body.
Cooper lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cooper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Van Persie's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper pushes Van Persie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cooper.
Cooper lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cooper makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cooper lands a right hand.
Good body shot from Cooper.
Van Persie wants to get back to striking at distance but Cooper won't allow it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short uppercut from Cooper.
Cooper working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Van Persie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cooper lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Van Persie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cooper lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duncan Cooper dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cooper has Van Persie up against the cage in a clinch.
Cooper digs a right hand into Van Persie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Van Persie's gas tank.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooper.
Van Persie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cooper just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cooper lands a shoulder strike.
Cooper blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cooper makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Cooper.
Cooper lands a shoulder strike.
Van Persie is trying to break the clinch but Cooper is controlling him.
Van Persie is trying to pull guard but Cooper has him pressed against the cage.
Cooper lands a right hand that snaps the head of Van Persie backwards.
Nice body punch from Cooper - that landed with a thud.
Van Persie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Duncan Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robin Van Persie.
Van Persie is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Cooper.
A short right from Cooper on the inside.
Van Persie trying to stall but Cooper improves his position.
Cooper is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cooper works on Van Persie's body with a couple of short punches.
Cooper controlling the action here for a moment.
Cooper throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Van Persies head.
Cooper lands a left hand that snaps the head of Van Persie backwards.
Cooper scores with a nice hook to the head.
Van Persie 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.
A body shot lands from Cooper.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cooper lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cooper pushes Van Persie back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Persie stalling in the clinch but Cooper improves position.
A right handed body shot lands from Cooper.
Cooper is leaning against Van Persie and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooper lands a left hand.
Duncan Cooper has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cooper lands with a short shot to the head.
Cooper lands a hook that snaps the head of Van Persie backwards.
Cooper gets through Van Persie's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cooper.
Cooper lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cooper lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cooper lands a right hand.
Van Persie being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper lands a shot to the body.
Van Persie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cooper lands with a right to the head.
Cooper gets through Van Persie's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Van Persie is rocked!
Cooper lands a nice uppercut.
Van Persie is still on wobbly legs! Can Cooper finish him?
Van Persie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cooper to keep the fight standing.
Cooper lands a nice shot to the body.
Van Persie seems to have recovered his senses.
Cooper stalls.
A nice left hand lands by Cooper.
Cooper lands a right hand.
Cooper leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper pushes Van Persie back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Persie letting Cooper take a breather here.
Van Persie trying to stall but Cooper improves his position.
Cooper softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cooper lands a right hand.
Van Persie goes for a takedown attempt but Cooper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Van Persie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cooper gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cooper lands a left hand that snaps the head of Van Persie backwards.
Cooper prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duncan Cooper dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Van Persie moves into the clinch.
Van Persie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cooper's elbow.
Nice body punch from Cooper - that landed with a thud.
Van Persie wants to break free but Cooper has control.
Van Persie wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cooper has him pressed against the cage.
Van Persie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cooper pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cooper throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Cooper moves into the clinch successfully.
Van Persie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cooper creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cooper lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cooper throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Van Persies head.
Van Persie goes for a takedown attempt but Cooper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper lands an overhand right.

Cooper moves into the clinch successfully.
Cooper lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cooper effectively controlling the action here.
Van Persie has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cooper after a bit of a struggle.
Duncan Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robin Van Persie.
A shot in the inside from Cooper.
A nice left hand lands by Cooper.
Cooper lands a shot to the body.
Cooper slows down the pace here.
Cooper working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cooper lands with a right to the head.
Cooper taking a breather.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cooper.
Van Persie being controlled against the cage.
Cooper lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Van Persie backwards.
Cooper lands with a light punch inside.
Cooper lands a right hand that snaps the head of Van Persie backwards.
A short body shot lands from Cooper as the two fighters clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Persie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Cooper.
A short uppercut from Cooper.
Cooper slowing the pace effectively.
Cooper seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Cooper lands a hook that snaps the head of Van Persie backwards.
Van Persie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cooper smiles and moves away.
Robin Van Persie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooper slaps away a takedown attempt from Van Persie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cooper jabs Van Persie right on the nose. Van Persie blinks but takes it well.
Horrible takedown by Van Persie or perhaps it was just good defense by Cooper which made him look bad.
Cooper lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cooper moves into the clinch successfully.
Good body shot from Cooper.

Van Persie jumps guard and drags Cooper to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cooper trying to control but Van Persie is working from the bottom.
Cooper wants to get up but he can't break Van Persie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cooper has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Persie keeping moving, preventing Cooper from controlling successfully.
Robin Van Persie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Duncan Cooper wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cooper slips under a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Duncan Cooper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cooper 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

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