PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darwin France (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Cottero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). France comes into the arena with bring me to life blaring out of the sound system. Tommy Cottero has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

France
vs
Cottero

185 cm
28
158 lbs
22 - 7 - 0

170 cm
33
149 lbs
23 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darwin France!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tommy Cottero!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Cottero.
The fighters circling - Cottero throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
France throws a predictable looking body shot
and Cottero counters with a good, hard body kick but France shrugs it off.
France scoring well with a low kick there.
Cottero connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Cottero closes the distance and clinches.
Cottero tries to work over France's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

France manages to pull guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cottero trying to control the position from guard on top but France is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cottero content to stall in guard here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cottero postures up.
France will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

France is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cottero defends well.
This has been an exciting period of action!

France is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cottero wants to pass the guard but France is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cottero passes France's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cottero wants to lay and pray for a moment but France keeps working.
France tries to get to full guard but Cottero has control of the leg.
Cottero slows the pace down in half guard.
France trying to hold on to Cottero's head to control him but Cottero postures up.
France is not content to let Cottero control the position.
We've been hearing good reports from France's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Tommy Cottero has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Cottero lands a front kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
France walks forward, straight into a front kick from Cottero.
France tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cottero was well out of range. Poor timing from France.
France throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cottero with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cottero tries to land a front kick but France steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cottero keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from France.
An inside leg kick lands from Cottero.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cottero works France's body with a nice hook.
France throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
France misses with an uppercut
and Cottero makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cottero throws a low kick, looking for France's leg but France calmly moves out of range.
France shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cottero but Cottero pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cottero connects with a body shot that sends France's belly button to the back.
France throws a head kick that misses.
Cottero throws a sloppy head kick and France moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cottero cracks a nice hook into France's ribs.
France moves out of range of the body kick from Cottero.
France takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
France throws a poor cross that misses
and Cottero counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
France misses with an uppercut.
Cottero lands a nice hook to France's body. France takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cottero misses with a low kick.
Tommy Cottero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
France displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cottero throws out the jab.
Cottero leaves France with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cottero misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from France.
France throws a head kick but Cottero moves out of range.
Cottero lands with a right hand.
France misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
France throws an off balance right hand
and Cottero counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cottero cracks France with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
France lands an overhand right.
Cottero misses with a body shot.
France fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cottero checks it well.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cottero.
A cross from Cottero lands.
A head kick misses from Cottero.
France blocks the body kick.
France fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cottero manages to avoid it.
France swings away with a leg kick that misses.
France takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

France is rocked!
Cottero misses with a straight left.
Oh France is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cottero connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
France seems to have got his legs back now.
France misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A big left from Cottero misses.
Nice sprawl there from Cottero as France shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Cottero dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

France avoids the body shot from Cottero.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cottero. That's going to slow France down.
France shoots in looking for a takedown but Cottero manages to keep the fight standing, pushing France's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cottero takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cottero scores with a nice right hand.
Cottero tries to work over France's front leg with a kick but France checks it.
Cottero lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Tommy Cottero seems to be getting the better of the standup.
France goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cottero throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cottero lands a straight punch to the body, keeping France at a distance.
Cottero looks to throw the jab but France is out of range.
France really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cottero scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
France throws a sloppy head kick and Cottero moves out of range easily.
France throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cottero scores with a push kick.
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!
France misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cottero takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
France bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
France walks forward, straight into a front kick from Cottero.
Cottero defends well against a solid takedown attempt from France.
Cottero moves away from the strike by France.
A left lands for Cottero.
Cottero dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on France. That did some damage!
France gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Cottero defending well as France loads up on a big left hand.
France checks a low kick from Cottero.
A slow jab from France misses its intended target.
France avoids a punch combination nicely.
France throws a hook to the side of Cottero's head but Cottero sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cottero throws a poor cross that misses
and Cottero takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

France closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cottero did well to prevent France getting side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cottero works his way to full guard. Good work.
France is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cottero lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for France!
Cottero avoids the attempt from France to control.
France keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cottero with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Cottero controlling from mount.
Cottero prevents France from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
France is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Cottero has taken his back.
Cottero biding his time, looking for the opening.
France wants to control his opponent's hands but Cottero gets his hands free.
France tries to roll but Cottero sticks to his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
France is working hard here to advance position.
Cottero keeps control of the position easily here as France tries to buck him off.
France trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
France rolls, trying to escape but Cottero keeps control of the position.
Cottero struggling to keep hold of the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cottero biding his time, looking for the opening.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tommy Cottero was stalling too much, according to the referee.
France shoots in and drives through. Cottero sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darwin France. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
France takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
France swings away with a body shot that misses
and Cottero counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps France thinking.
Cottero scores with a leg kick.
France misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Cottero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cottero pulls out of a head kick attempt.
France throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cottero sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cottero gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
France lands a body shot.

Cottero closes the distance and clinches.
France working aggressively here.
France tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cottero's elbow.
Cottero lands a left hand.
Cottero lands a body punch in the clinch.

Cottero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cottero scores with a kick to the midsection.
France scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cottero looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cottero avoids the body shot from France.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cottero tries to move into range but France moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
France shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
France throws an off balance right hand
and Cottero counters with a nice body kick.
France is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
France avoids a kick to the body.
France blocks the body kick.
A slow jab from France misses its intended target.
Cottero lands with a nice body punch.
Cottero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
France takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cottero thuds his right hand into France's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
France shoots in for a takedown but Cottero shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cottero digs a good body shot into France's ribs.
The fighters circling - Cottero throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
France takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from France.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darwin France. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cottero swings away with a body shot that misses
and France counters with a head kick.
France fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cottero scores with a leg kick.
Cottero throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Cottero scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cottero moves into range and connects with a jab.
France shoots in for a double leg but Cottero sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cottero uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cottero chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cottero cracks France on the jaw with a powerful right hand and France falls backwards against the cage. Cottero follows up with more strikes that drop France to his knees. Cottero keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save France! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tommy Cottero!
Our winner, Tommy Cottero, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.