PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Firnanda Talha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Cox
vs
Talha

167 cm
24
155 lbs
9 - 2 - 1

170 cm
37
154 lbs
22 - 25 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 9 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Steve Cox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 25 - 0, fighting out of London, Firnanda Talha!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Talha rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cox moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cox looks to throw the jab but Talha is out of range.
Cox throws a looping overhand right but Talha ducks down to avoid it.
Cox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Talha fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Cox fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Talha sprawls well initially but Cox persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Talha tries to get to full guard but Cox has control of the leg.
Talha misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Cox is trying to control. Talha wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Talha has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talha missing with punches from the bottom.
Talha tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Still in half guard, Cox seems content to control.
Cox uses his free foot to push down on Talha's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Talha.
Talha swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox blocks Talha's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Talha throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cox lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Talha hang on?
Cox blocks Talha's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Cox looking to control but Talha is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cox is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Talha swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Cox content just to control the position here.
Talha is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Talha swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Cox is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Talha is surviving well by controlling Cox's body position as best he can.
Talha swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Cox landing punches.
Talha regains half guard.
Cox missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox blocks the strikes from Talha.
Cox thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Talha's head.
Cox winds up and cracks Talha with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Talha striking from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cox connects with a nice short shot to Talha's temple.
We've been hearing good reports from Cox'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.
Cox takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cox not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Talha felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Talha flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cox blocks the strikes from Talha.
Talha slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Talha trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cox is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Talha lands some strikes from the bottom.
Talha thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Talha tries to strike from the bottom.
Cox is working Talha over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cox scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox wants to pass the guard but Talha is keeping the position.
Talha looking for a sweep. Not yet Talha, not yet.
Talha throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Talha strikes from his own guard.
Cox missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cox trying to control but Talha is working from the bottom.
Cox scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Talha throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cox passes into half guard.
Talha tries to get to full guard but Cox has control of the leg.
Talha is staying active underneath Cox, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Talha has hold of Cox's hands but Cox slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cox lands strikes from half guard.
Cox trying to pass the guard but Talha defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talha keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Talha missing with punches from the bottom.
Cox is keen to just control but Talha is a slippery customer.

Cox is working for a kimura but Talha is defending it quite comfortably.
Talha avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cox.
Talha misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Talha tries to get to full guard but Cox has control of the leg.
Cox is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Talha flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cox scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Talha tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cox wants to free his trapped foot but Talha is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cox dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Talha throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cox's waist but Cox gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Talha off to one side.
Cox is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Talha can do to turn this around?

Cox rushes Talha and presses him up against the cage.
Talha throws a head punch that misses.
Talha lands with a left to the head.
Talha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Talha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Cox gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Talha landing strikes from the bottom.
Cox is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cox is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cox connects with a nice short shot to Talha's temple.
Cox is looking to take a break and control but Talha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Talha lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Talha tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Cox is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cox is trying to control. Talha wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Talha is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talha misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Talha punching from the bottom.
Talha wants to get back to full guard.
Talha landing strikes from the bottom.
Talha slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cox is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Cox stands and steps away. Talha gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cox's jab looks to have found its range, popping Talha under the eye.
Cox looks to throw the jab but Talha is out of range.

Cox changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Talha looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Talha throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Talha sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Steve Cox overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Talha throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Talha punching from the bottom.
Talha wants to sweep but Cox has passed to side control!
Talha tries to strike but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talha on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Talha misses with a strike from the bottom.
Talha throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Talha on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cox is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Talha will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Cox scoring with punches from side control.
Talha throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Talha tries to improve position but can't.
Cox wants to lay and pray for a moment but Talha keeps working.
Cox cracks Talha with a big elbow.

Cox looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cox working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox scoring with punches and elbows.
Talha manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cox blocks the strikes from Talha.
Talha tries to roll over but Cox keeps him under control.
Cox takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Talha tries to roll over but Cox keeps him under control.
Cox tries to pass to full mount but Talha defends it.

Cox is working for a submission of some sort.
Talha tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox trying to control from half guard but Talha is working away.
Talha punching from the bottom.
Cox blocks the strikes from Talha.
Cox trying to control from half guard but Talha is working away.
Cox blocks the strikes from Talha.
Cox is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cox blocks the strikes from Talha.
Talha throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cox is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Talha.
Cox throws a body punch but Talha moves out of range.
Cox misses with a hook. Talha ducked under it nicely.
Talha has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cox dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Talha fails with the takedown.
Cox swings for the body but Talha moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Cox as Talha shoots in.
Cox throws a body punch but Talha moves out of range.
Talha darts in looking for a takedown but Cox gets double underhooks and turns Talha into the cage.
Steve Cox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Firnanda Talha.
Talha looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Talha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Cox rushes Talha and presses him up against the cage.
Cox goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Talha misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cox blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Cox pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Talha tries to keep at a distance but Cox has taken the fight into the clinch.
Talha throws a punch but it's blocked by Cox.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox blocks an uppercut.
Cox pressing his opponent against the cage.
Talha swings wildly with an uppercut but Cox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cox stalls.

Cox escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cox paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cox throws out a loose jab but Talha uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cox throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Cox shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Talha throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talha tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Cox is looking for a kimura but Talha is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cox to get the leverage.
Talha scores with a few weak punches.
Talha connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Talha is pressing down on Cox's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cox wants to control from the top but Talha keeps moving.
Cox won't allow Talha to sweep him here.
Talha scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Talha preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cox content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Talha throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cox engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Talha trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talha throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Talha striking off his back but it's not causing Cox any problems.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Talha keeping moving, preventing Cox from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cox throws a looping overhand right but Talha ducks down to avoid it.
Cox throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cox misses with a wild body shot.
Cox throws a big shot that misses.
Talha is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cox connects with the punch.

Cox instigates a clinch.
Cox leaning his opponent against the cage.
Steve Cox is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Talha throws a punch but it's blocked by Cox.
Talha throws a head punch that misses.
Talha swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox has Talha pressed against the cage.
Talha throws a head punch that misses.
Talha throws a head punch that misses.

Cox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cox showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Talha.

Cox clinches up with Talha and pushes him back against the cage.
Cox blocks an uppercut.
Cox goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Talha throws a punch but it's blocked by Cox.
Firnanda Talha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Talha swings wildly with an uppercut but Cox uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Cox showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cox, 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Cox!
An out of breath Steve Cox thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.