PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickey Cobb (ranked 7456 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Hope (ranked 5866 p4p, 0 weight class). Rickey Cobb has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cobb
vs
Hope

177 cm
23
279 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Rickey Cobb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jason Hope!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hope shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Cobb has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hope is on him like a limpet, forcing Cobb back against the cage.
Hope slows down the pace here.

Hope decides to pull guard.
Hope looking for a sweep. Not yet Hope, not yet.
Cobb throws a big elbow that misses.
Hope wants to control the position but Cobb says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Cobb 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.
Hope trying to control here.
Hope tries to roll over but Cobb keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hope has his hands clasped together around Cobb's back. He's all about the action.
Cobb content to control rather than advance.
Hope wants to get back to full guard but Cobb has mounted him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cobb prevents Hope from getting the reversal.
Hope taking shots to the head.
Hope tries to reverse the position but Cobb maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobb dominating with strikes here.

Cobb is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hope to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hope shrugs it off.
Cobb scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hope?
Hope sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hope is refusing to be controlled, as Cobb sits in half guard.
Hope keeping hold of Cobb's head, controlling as best he can.
Cobb thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hope's head.
Cobb could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cobb is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hope wants to get back to full guard.
Cobb seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Cobb is thwarting Hope's attempts to control the position.

Hope actively working from the bottom here.

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.
Hope is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cobb's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cobb's back!
Cobb trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Cobb is trying to stand back up.

Cobb preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Hope.
Cobb rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cobb is looking to control Hope's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cobb avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickey Cobb dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cobb manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hope on his heels. He'll look to pass Hope's guard now, I'm sure.
Hope is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hope controls Cobb momentarily but Cobb frees himself.
Hope wants to sweep here but Cobb controlling him for the moment.
Cobb is looking to stand up but Hope won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cobb trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cobb lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobb postures up in Hope's guard and throws a big left but Hope blocks it.
Cobb is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hope can do to turn this around?
Hope is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cobb looking for submissions off his back.
Cobb trying to control here.
Cobb slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cobb is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cobb escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hope gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cobb looking to control.
Hope wants to control from the top but Cobb keeps moving.
Hope might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cobb haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Cobb has his hands on Hope's head, controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hope trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobb fails with a takedown attempt.
Hope misses with a few strikes there.

Hope drives through and clinches with Cobb against the cage.
Cobb throws a head punch that misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cobb.
Cobb tries to pull guard but Hope holds him up against the cage and eventually Cobb drops back down to his feet.
Cobb tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hope smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickey Cobb. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hope shoots in and gets a takedown into Cobb's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hope trying to control but Cobb is working from the bottom.

Cobb escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hope gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cobb pulls Hope in close to his closed guard and prevents Hope from doing any damage or advancing position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Hope showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Hope thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Cobb if he has to take too many more of those.
Hope circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hope counters with a three punch combo that has Cobb backing up. Cobb nods at Hope to acknowledge the strikes.

Hope closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cobb misses with a hook from the clinch.

Cobb is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hope is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Cobb to the mat. Cobb regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cobb trying to control the position here.
Cobb trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hope forces his way into half guard.
Cobb wants to control but Hope is keeping busy.
Cobb is not content to let Hope control the position.
Hope thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hope works his way into full mount!
Cobb regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobb is looking for a sweep. Hope is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hope missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cobb manages to get to full guard.
Cobb preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cobb might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Hope avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hope throwing strikes from guard but Cobb blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobb pulls Hope in to control the position.
Cobb manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hope manages to get himself to full guard.

Cobb postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cobb postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cobb with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cobb pushes down on Hope's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hope has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cobb is working away from the top position though.
Hope has a hand on Cobb's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Cobb takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cobb stands up from mount. Strange move.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jason Hope.
I think Hope has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Hope!