PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cooper
vs
Pettis

180 cm
25
255 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

196 cm
20
275 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gilbert Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Lou da Vinci and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cooper shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Pettis is trying to defend but Cooper finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cooper is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pettis is trying to stand up here but Cooper is controlling him well.
Pettis is trying is best to control the position here.
Cooper working over Pettis with some ground and pound. Pettis looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pettis can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pettis is trying to stand.
Pettis is staying active underneath Cooper, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cooper lands a nice short elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pettis is refusing to be controlled, as Cooper sits in half guard.
Pettis trying to control from the bottom.
Cooper stops Pettis from getting back to his feet.
Cooper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Pettis trying to control but Cooper postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Cooper is thwarting Pettis's attempts to control the position.
Cooper scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cooper throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pettis trying to control but Cooper postures up.
Pettis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cooper's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cooper's back!
Cooper breaks Pettis's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Pettis looking for a sweep. Not yet Pettis, not yet.
Cooper looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Cooper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Pettis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cooper showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cooper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cooper is in close to Pettis's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pettis is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pettis wants to sweep but no luck.
Cooper advances position into side control!

Cooper tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cooper has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Pettis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cooper prevents Pettis from standing back up.
Cooper drops an elbow to the side of Pettis's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cooper slips a nice elbow through Pettis's hands, connecting with Pettis's forehead.
Cooper wants to control but Pettis is keeping him busy.
Cooper passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Pettis!
Pettis is in a horrible position here. Cooper smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Cooper is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Pettis is in a horrible position here. Cooper smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Pettis regains half guard.
Cooper has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Cooper is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pettis taking some punishment here, with Cooper in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is keen to just control but Pettis is a slippery customer.
Cooper throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cooper thows a huge punch but Pettis dodges it nicely.
Pettis is trying is best to control the position here.
Pettis is looking for a sweep. Cooper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pettis wants to control but Cooper is keeping busy.
Pettis is looking to improve his position.
Pettis pushes Cooper off looking to stand but Cooper dives back in and keeps control.

Pettis actively working from the bottom here.
Pettis wants to improve his position but Cooper is controlling well.
Pettis trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pettis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cooper counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Pettis thinking.

Cooper throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pettis was covering up waiting for the punch and Cooper finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Pettis trying to keep a closed guard but Cooper is proving a slippery customer.
Cooper scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cooper with a nice head shot there.
Pettis is trying to control the position but Cooper postures up.
Cooper passes Pettis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Cooper there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cooper wants to control but Pettis is keeping him busy.
Cooper slips a nice elbow through Pettis's hands, connecting with Pettis's forehead.
Cooper looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Pettis is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cooper wants to work for an arm triangle but Pettis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pettis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cooper landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Pettis looks like he's trying to stand up.
Pettis is refusing to be controlled, as Cooper sits in half guard.

Cooper is looking for a kimura but Pettis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cooper to get the leverage.

Cooper is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pettis looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cooper tries to stand and escape but Pettis is controlling the position.
Cooper is trying to control. Pettis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cooper throwing shots but Pettis is blocking nicely.
Cooper tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pettis knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cooper is trying to control. Pettis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Cooper here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Pettis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cooper but Cooper pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Cooper closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pettis quickly recovers to half guard.
Pettis is trying to stand back up but Cooper is controlling him
Cooper takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Pettis wants to stand back up but Cooper manages to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is not content to let Cooper control the position.
Pettis is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Cooper is looking to take a break and control but Pettis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cooper is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pettis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pettis is trying to improve his position.
Pettis pushes Cooper away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cooper gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cooper working the ground and pound.
Pettis wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Cooper lands an elbow.
Cooper lands a decent elbow from side control.
Cooper working the body and head with strikes.
Pettis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cooper in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Cooper landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Cooper scoring with punches from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pettis is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cooper asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Cooper dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cooper darts in and clinches Pettis up against the cage.
Pettis misses with a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cooper.
Pettis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cooper gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Cooper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cooper shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pettis defends it nicely.

Cooper moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper lands with a light punch inside.
Pettis takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Gilbert Pettis has been cut.
Cooper is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A bit of stalling here from Cooper.
Cooper softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis 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.
Ben Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Pettis.
Cooper prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pettis is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cooper pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from Cooper.

Cooper breaks from the clinch.

Cooper throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pettis tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cooper is in Pettis's guard.
Cooper wants to control from the top but Pettis keeps moving.
Pettis is trying to hold Cooper in close to prevent damage but Cooper has managed to pass into half guard.
Cooper working over Pettis with some ground and pound. Pettis looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cooper is nestled in close to Pettis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pettis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cooper is nestled in close to Pettis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cooper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ben Cooper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cooper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pettis tries to roll over but Cooper keeps him under control.
Cooper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cooper wants to take a breather but Pettis is having none of it.
Cooper is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pettis can do to turn this around?
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Pettis is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is trying to control the action in half guard but Pettis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Cooper seems content to control.
Pettis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cooper. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cooper is keen to just control but Pettis is a slippery customer.
Pettis pushes Cooper off looking to stand but Cooper dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cooper clinches up against the cage.

Cooper jumps guard and drags Pettis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cooper looking to control.
Pettis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pettis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cooper not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pettis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pettis wants to control from the top but Cooper keeps moving.

Cooper working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pettis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pettis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pettis wants to pass the guard but Cooper is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper keeping moving, preventing Pettis from controlling successfully.

Cooper throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pettis wants to pass the guard but Cooper is keeping the position.
Cooper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cooper trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben 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 30:26
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:26
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:26

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