PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Cotto (ranked 199 p4p, 31 weight class) and Jericho Hill (ranked 70 p4p, 9 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cotto
vs
Hill

186 cm
29
215 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

180 cm
32
208 lbs
23 - 14 - 4

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Bullet Proof System
Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Miguel Cotto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 4, fighting out of New York, Jericho Hill!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cotto has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hill.
Jericho Hill seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hill lands an overhand right.
Cotto wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cotto throws a shot from downtown. Hill moves away and avoids it.
Cotto thows a body kick. Hill tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Cotto looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A jab from Cotto misses.
Cotto misses with a body shot
and Hill counters with a nice body kick.
Hill avoids the body shot from Cotto.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cotto.
Cotto thuds his right hand into Hill's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cotto throws a body shot but no joy.
Hill staying out of range there.
Cotto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cotto throws a leg kick but Hill sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cotto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hill lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hill throws a series of strikes that have Cotto backpedaling.
Hill moves out of range of the strikes.
Cotto lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hill takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hill checks the leg kick.
Cotto lands a nice hook to Hill's body. Hill takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hill takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hill misses with a body kick.
Hill is looking to land body kicks.
Cotto throws a chopping leg kick but Hill manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cotto is looking to wear down Hill with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cotto connects with a leg kick. Hill looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hill ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A swing and a miss from Cotto.
Hill fails to land with a series of punches.
Cotto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cotto lands with a kick to the temple. Hill shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Hill closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cotto lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cotto makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Cotto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotto misses with a kick to the body.
A jab from Cotto misses.
Hill takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hill takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hill scores with a spinning back kick!
Cotto checks a low kick from Hill.
A little feinted left hand from Cotto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hill lands a front kick.
Hill swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hill scores with a decent looking hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cotto. Hill does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hill keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cotto.
Nice body kick there by Cotto.
Hill throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hill misses with an uppercut.
Cotto is looking to counter punch.
Cotto bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hill tries to clinch up.
A little feinted left hand from Cotto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cotto throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A big left from Cotto misses.
A good leg kick by Hill.
Cotto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hill was well out of range. Poor timing from Cotto.
Hill defending well as Cotto loads up on a big left hand.
Hill scores with a spinning back kick!
Cotto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hill.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Cotto crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hill - the referee stops the clock and Cotto gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hill. Cotto manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Cotto finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hill lands with a nice body kick.
Cotto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hill.
Hill lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hill struggles to land a body shot inside as Cotto controls his hands.
Cotto scores with a shot to the side of Hill's head.

Cotto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hill misses with a low kick.
Hill tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hill moves away from the strike by Cotto.
Nice uppercut there from Cotto.
Hill lands a leg kick that knocks Cotto off balance momentarily.
Hill checks a leg kick.
Hill is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hill.
Cotto will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Good leg kick by Hill there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cotto looks to land a left hand but Hill moved out of range nicely.
Cotto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hill.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hill tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cotto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hill looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cotto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cotto digs a good body shot into Hill's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Cotto 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.

Hill misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hill gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hill displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cotto throws out the jab.
It seemed like Hill was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cotto looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hill tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cotto scores with a nice hook to the head.
A hook to the body from Cotto.
Cotto lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hill blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hill misses with a punch on the inside.
Cotto misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotto scores with a shoulder strike.
Cotto lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hill gets through Cotto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hill blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cotto tries a body shot but Hill blocks it.
Cotto tries to work over Hill's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cotto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cotto.
Hill can't find room to land a body shot as Cotto controls the action.
Hill misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hill can't find room to land a body shot as Cotto controls the action.
Cotto works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hill stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Cotto tries to work over Hill's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cotto working aggressively here.
Hill blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hill misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Cotto.
Hill lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hill blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hill struggles to land a body shot inside as Cotto controls his hands.
Hill tries to throw a body punch but Cotto avoids it by throwing Hill back against the cage.
Cotto lands with a short shot to the head.

Hill has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Cotto is trying to keep an underhook but Hill manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Cotto kicks Hill off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cotto moves out of range of the body kick from Hill.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cotto.
A combination from Hill does no damage.
Cotto ducks under a wild hook from Hill.
Hill ducks right into an uppercut from Cotto.
Cotto is looking to score with low kicks.
Hill thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cotto lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hill slips a straight right by Cotto.
Cotto misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hill tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hill goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cotto blocks the body kick.
The fighters circling - Cotto throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hill feints the counter takedown.
Hill looks for the body kick but Cotto saw that one coming.
Cotto is looking for a counter combo.
Hill keeps Cotto at a distance using the push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Cotto throws a body punch but Hill moves out of range.
Cotto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hill was well out of range. Poor timing from Cotto.

Cotto gets caught flat footed, as Hill shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hill throwing strikes but missing.
Cotto keeping moving, preventing Hill from controlling successfully.
Hill might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cotto haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hill postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cotto wants to control but Hill passes easily into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hill lands a nice short elbow.
Cotto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hill thows a huge punch but Cotto dodges it nicely.
Hill missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cotto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hill.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cotto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hill.
Cotto is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Miguel Cotto will probably get the nod.
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!

A slapping leg kick lands for Hill.
Cotto throws a body shot but no joy.
Cotto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And Hill tries to counter it with a takedown but Cotto pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hill misses with a combination
and Cotto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hill lands a lovely overhand right.
Hill is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cotto lands with an uppercut that bounces Hill off the cage and back into range.
Cotto blocks the body kick.
Hill lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hill connects with a jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hill, right into the meat.
Cotto just misses with a punch to the body.
Cotto misses with a body shot.
Cotto is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cotto throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotto thuds a left hand into Hill's body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hill. That's going to slow Cotto down.
Hill misses with a hook.
As Hill backs away, Cotto returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Hill slips under a jab.
Hill chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cotto can pounce on him.
Hill throws a body shot but no joy.
Cotto works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Hill has managed to clinch.
Cotto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hill lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hill throws a punch but it's blocked by Cotto.
Cotto lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Cotto scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cotto lands with a short shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hill.
Cotto is trying to break the clinch but Hill has him pressed against the cage.
Hill has a couple of punches blocked by Cotto.
Hill scores with a shoulder strike.
Jericho Hill has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotto lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hill backwards.
Hill works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice left hand lands by Hill.
Hill lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hill misses with a knee to the head.
A short left from Hill.
A shot in the inside from Hill.
Hill blocks a body shot from Cotto.
Hill has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Cotto seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Hill can turn it around.
Hill looking to stall.
Cotto tries to work over Hill's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cotto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cotto lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cotto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A nice right hand lands inside from Cotto.
Cotto swings wildly with an uppercut but Hill uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hill lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Cotto fails to land.
Cotto throws a punch but it's blocked by Hill.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill lands an uppercut.

Hill is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Cotto can't fight it off and eventually Hill manages to take the fight to the floor. Cotto looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hill sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hill throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hill trying to control but Cotto is working from the bottom.
Jericho Hill has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hill postures up in Cotto's guard and throws a big left but Cotto blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill throwing strikes from guard but Cotto blocks nicely.
Hill throws a big elbow that misses.
Cotto can't keep his opponent in guard - Hill advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hill not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hill not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jericho Hill.
I think Cotto has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Cotto!
A very excited looking Miguel Cotto made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.