PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isaiah Cooley (ranked 2339 p4p, 344 weight class) and Spencer Rubenstein (ranked 2762 p4p, 386 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cooley
vs
Rubenstein

187 cm
20
212 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

191 cm
21
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Cooley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Spencer Rubenstein!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Ron Honeybunn and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rubenstein walks into a jab.
Rubenstein tries to close the distance and clinch but Cooley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rubenstein takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cooley lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rubenstein is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cooley throws a leg kick
and Rubenstein counters with a straight right hand.
Cooley takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

It looks like Isaiah Cooley has been cut.

Rubenstein has closed the distance and engaged Cooley in a clinch.
Cooley misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rubenstein.
Rubenstein swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rubenstein can't find room to land a body shot as Cooley controls the action.
Rubenstein lands a hook that snaps the head of Cooley backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cooley.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rubenstein makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cooley takes a shot to the head.
Rubenstein goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rubenstein prevents a body shot from Cooley.
Rubenstein struggles to land a body shot inside as Cooley controls his hands.
Rubenstein swings wildly with an uppercut but Cooley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cooley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rubensteins head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooley misses with a punch to the body.
Rubenstein swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rubenstein.
Cooley blocks an uppercut.
Cooley blocking some punches.
Rubenstein misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rubenstein lands a shoulder strike.
Rubenstein keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cooley's efforts to push away.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rubenstein.
Cooley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rubensteins head.
A left hand lands to the body for Cooley.
Cooley stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Cooley tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rubenstein's elbow.
Cooley lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rubenstein misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rubenstein lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cooley misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cooley.
A short right from Cooley on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cooley lands with a short shot to the head.
Cooley misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooley misses with a body punch.
Cooley misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cooley misses with a punch on the inside.
Rubenstein misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cooley tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rubenstein's elbow.
Rubenstein struggles to land a body shot inside as Cooley controls his hands.
Rubenstein lands a hook to the side of the head.
I was talking to Cooley's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A head punch on the inside from Cooley fails to land.
Cooley swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cooley lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rubenstein misses with a punch to the body.
Cooley blocking some punches.
Rubenstein swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cooley throws a punch but it's blocked by Rubenstein.
Cooley lands with a left to the head.
Cooley prevents a body shot from Rubenstein.
Cooley blocks a body shot from Rubenstein.
Rubenstein takes a shot to the head.
Cooley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cooley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rubenstein swings wildly with an uppercut but Cooley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cooley blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubenstein fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cooley scores with a hook to the body.
Rubenstein can't find room to land a body shot as Cooley controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooley.
Cooley lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rubenstein backwards.
Rubenstein tries a body shot but Cooley blocks it.
Cooley blocking some punches.
Cooley tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good body shot from Cooley.
Rubenstein blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cooley scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cooley throws a head punch that misses.
Rubenstein takes a shot to the head.
Cooley fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cooley misses with a punch to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rubenstein.
Rubenstein misses with a body punch.
Cooley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rubenstein misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cooley has a couple of punches blocked by Rubenstein.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rubenstein creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
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!
Cooley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cooley lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooley misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Cooley on the inside.
Cooley digs a right hand underneath Rubenstein's ribcage. Rubenstein let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rubenstein looks winded!
Cooley lands a right hand.
Cooley lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cooley has a couple of punches blocked by Rubenstein.

Cooley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cooley throws an overhand right that lands on Rubenstein's shoulder, as Rubenstein tries to avoid the shot.
Cooley tries to land a leg kick but Rubenstein saw it coming and moves away.
Cooley sets himself, and Rubenstein steps forward looking for the clinch! Cooley avoids it this time.
Rubenstein on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Rubenstein clinches.
Rubenstein throws a punch but it's blocked by Cooley.
Rubenstein misses with a punch to the body.
Cooley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rubenstein lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cooley backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cooley.
Rubenstein misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cooley can't find room to land a body shot as Rubenstein controls the action.
Rubenstein throws a punch but it's blocked by Cooley.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cooley.
Rubenstein works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Isaiah Cooley will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Isaiah Cooley's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cooley connects with the punch.

Rubenstein has Cooley up against the cage in a clinch.
Cooley lands a left hand.
Cooley throws a punch but it's blocked by Rubenstein.
Rubenstein tries to throw a body punch but Cooley avoids it by throwing Rubenstein back against the cage.
Cooley lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooley.
Cooley scores with a shot to the side of Rubenstein's head.

Cooley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cooley swinging wildly here.
Rubenstein steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cooley.
Cooley tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rubenstein was well out of range. Poor timing from Cooley.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Rubenstein in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooley swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cooley.

Rubenstein drives through and clinches with Cooley against the cage.
Cooley misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooley blocks an uppercut.
Cooley tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rubenstein scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubenstein blocking some punches.
Rubenstein throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cooleys head.
Cooley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rubenstein blocks an uppercut.
Cooley lands a hook that snaps the head of Rubenstein backwards.
Rubenstein scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rubenstein creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rubenstein misses with a body punch.
Cooley lands with a short shot to the head.
Rubenstein misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rubenstein blocks a body shot from Cooley.
Rubenstein misses with some punches.
Cooley working aggressively here.
Cooley has had enough of the clinch but Rubenstein keeps him there for the moment.
Rubenstein misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rubenstein throws a punch but it's blocked by Cooley.
Rubenstein blocking some punches.
Rubenstein throws a punch but it's blocked by Cooley.
Rubenstein lands a right hand.

Isaiah Cooley's cut is getting worse.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rubenstein misses with a punch on the inside.
Rubenstein misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooley.
Cooley misses with a punch on the inside.
Rubenstein throws a punch but it's blocked by Cooley.
Rubenstein blocks an uppercut.
Rubenstein lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Spencer Rubenstein seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cooley misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooley.
Rubenstein lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rubenstein lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rubenstein misses with the head strike.
Rubenstein tries a body shot but Cooley blocks it.
Cooley is working Rubenstein over against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rubenstein.
Cooley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cooley blocks an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Cooley scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rubenstein tries to work over Cooley's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cooley lands a shot to the body.
A short uppercut from Rubenstein.
Cooley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooley can't find room to land a body shot as Rubenstein controls the action.
A short right from Cooley on the inside.
Cooley wants to break free but Rubenstein has control.
Cooley scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rubenstein.
A body shot lands from Cooley.
Rubenstein digs a right hand underneath Cooley's ribcage. Cooley let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short right from Rubenstein.
Cooley struggles to land a body shot inside as Rubenstein controls his hands.
Rubenstein lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cooley backwards.
Cooley has a couple of punches blocked by Rubenstein.
Cooley softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cooley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cooley doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rubenstein lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cooley blocking some punches.
Rubenstein lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
Cooley tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cooley lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rubenstein backwards.
Cooley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rubensteins head.
Cooley swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubenstein blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rubenstein has a couple of punches blocked by Cooley.
Rubenstein swings wildly with an uppercut but Cooley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rubenstein misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cooley lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rubenstein working aggressively here.
Cooley tries to throw a body punch but Rubenstein avoids it by throwing Cooley back against the cage.
Rubenstein can't find room to land a body shot as Cooley controls the action.

Cooley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rubenstein is looking to clinch.
Cooley feints and then cracks Rubenstein's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rubenstein down.
Cooley just misses with a punch to the body.
Isaiah Cooley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooley swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rubenstein counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooley.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooley tries to throw a body punch but Rubenstein avoids it by throwing Cooley back against the cage.
Rubenstein takes a shot to the head.
Cooley misses with some punches.
A short left from Cooley.
Cooley swings away with an uppercut that misses.
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 Isaiah Cooley will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Isaiah Cooley's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rubenstein closes the distance and pushes Cooley back into the cage.
Cooley pushes Rubenstein back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cooley lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rubenstein swings wildly with an uppercut but Cooley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cooley lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rubenstein backwards.
Cooley tries a body shot but Rubenstein blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Rubenstein fails to land.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cooley creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cooley lands a left hand.
Rubenstein lands a hook that snaps the head of Cooley backwards.
Rubenstein doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rubenstein swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cooley misses with some punches.
Rubenstein goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cooley lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rubenstein misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Rubenstein scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cooley swings wildly with an uppercut but Rubenstein uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rubenstein tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rubenstein misses with a punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Cooley.
Rubenstein blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cooley blocking some punches.
Rubenstein scores with a hook to the body.
Rubenstein fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rubenstein can't find room to land a body shot as Cooley controls the action.
Cooley lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rubenstein tries a body shot but Cooley blocks it.
Rubenstein scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rubenstein misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rubenstein.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rubenstein.
Cooley working aggressively here.
Rubenstein lands a right hand.
Rubenstein blocks a body shot from Cooley.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rubenstein.
Rubenstein misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooley.
Cooley tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubenstein fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rubenstein throws a punch but it's blocked by Cooley.
Rubenstein misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Rubenstein fails to land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch on the inside from Rubenstein fails to land.
Rubenstein lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Rubenstein fails to land.
Rubenstein misses with a punch on the inside.
Cooley scores with a shoulder strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Cooley.
Rubenstein blocks a body shot from Cooley.
Cooley throws a head punch that misses.
Cooley pushes Rubenstein back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rubenstein working aggressively here.
Cooley lands with a right to the head.
Rubenstein takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cooley has a couple of punches blocked by Rubenstein.
Cooley blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Rubenstein.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rubenstein.
A nice left hand lands by Cooley.
Cooley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rubensteins head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cooley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rubenstein closes the distance and pushes Cooley back into the cage.

Cooley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rubenstein tries to clinch but Cooley is having none of it.
Cooley keeps the fight on the outside.
Cooley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rubenstein connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Rubenstein clinches up against the cage.
Cooley blocks an uppercut.
Rubenstein tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rubenstein misses with the head strike.
Cooley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rubenstein has him pressed against the cage.
Rubenstein misses with a punch on the inside.
Rubenstein has a couple of punches blocked by Cooley.
Rubenstein blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Spencer Rubenstein has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Rubenstein fails to land.
Cooley lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cooley misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rubenstein.
A right handed body shot lands from Cooley.
Cooley pushes Rubenstein back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rubenstein works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cooley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rubenstein misses with some punches.
Cooley misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cooley fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Cooley fails to land.
Cooley has a couple of punches blocked by Rubenstein.
A right handed body shot lands from Cooley.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rubenstein.
Cooley misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rubenstein tries to throw a body punch but Cooley avoids it by throwing Rubenstein back against the cage.
A short right from Cooley on the inside.
Rubenstein lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rubenstein misses with some punches.
Rubenstein has a couple of punches blocked by Cooley.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Isaiah Cooley.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cooley, 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Isaiah Cooley!
A relieved looking Isaiah Cooley thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.