PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richard Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artemio Akana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Cooper
vs
Akana

178 cm
22
160 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richard Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Artemio Akana!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akana misses with the combination.
Akana uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cooper.
Akana bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akana rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cooper moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cooper showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Akana.

Cooper feints and as Akana raises his hands in defense, Cooper changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cooper advances to half guard.
Cooper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Cooper wants to work for an arm triangle but Akana is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cooper throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cooper not landing any meaningful shots this time.
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.
Nice strikes from Cooper there.
Akana keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cooper missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Akana has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cooper is working away from the top position though.
Cooper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper thows a huge punch but Akana dodges it nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Akana checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cooper throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Akana will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cooper.
Cooper getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cooper tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Akana was well out of range. Poor timing from Cooper.
Akana misses with a straight right.

Cooper gets a takedown into half guard.
Cooper is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cooper throwing shots but Akana is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper thows a huge punch but Akana dodges it nicely.
Cooper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Akana is trying to stand back up but Cooper is controlling him
Cooper winds up and cracks Akana with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Akana is in trouble now - Cooper has advanced to mount!
Cooper in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Akana takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Akana swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Akana in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Akana can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cooper landing strikes from the mount and Akana is in trouble!

Cooper goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Akana is on top in guard.
Cooper looking for a sweep. Not yet Cooper, not yet.
Cooper is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is looking to sweep but instead, Akana has passed into half guard.
Cooper moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Akana loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Akana wants to control from the top but Cooper keeps moving.
Cooper trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cooper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Akana's guard.
Cooper with a flurry of punches that miss.
Akana will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Cooper lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cooper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akana swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cooper with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akana swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cooper missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Akana not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A clash of legs there as Akana blocks the low kick.
Cooper bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cooper thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cooper scores with a nice strike.
Akana connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Akana fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cooper manages to avoid it.
Cooper is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Akana.
Akana throws a right and a left that Cooper avoids nicely.
Cooper misses with an uppercut.
Cooper dodges the punch combination from Akana.
Cooper scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Cooper dominated that 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.

Akana connects with a jab.
Akana will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cooper lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Akana ducks under a wild hook from Cooper.
Cooper throws a looping overhand right but Akana ducks down to avoid it.
Cooper throws a sloppy body shot
and Akana counters with a left and a right that stings Cooper.
Cooper throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Richard Cooper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooper moves away from the strike by Akana.
Akana moves out of range of the body kick from Cooper.
Cooper avoids a punch combination nicely.
Akana moves out of range as Cooper strikes.
Cooper misses with a hook.
Cooper misses with a takedown attempt - Akana sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Akana on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Akana!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akana avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Akana swinging wilding here.

Cooper darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cooper not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Cooper stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Cooper misses with a hook. Akana ducked under it nicely.
Cooper throws a hook but Akana blocks it.
Artemio Akana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akana defending well as Cooper loads up on a big left hand.
Cooper shoots in and drives through. Akana sprawls well.
Cooper paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cooper throws a predictable looking body shot
and Akana cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cooper fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Akana checks it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akana throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Akana throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Akana steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cooper.
Nice sprawl there from Akana as Cooper shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Cooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooper dodges the punch combination from Akana.
Akana is breathing heavily.
Cooper misses with a looping left.
Akana lands a head shot.
Cooper looks for the body kick but Akana saw that one coming.

Cooper drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cooper accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Akana can't keep his opponent in guard - Cooper advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cooper drops an elbow to the side of Akana's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cooper is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Akana has managed to free his arm - good work.
Akana is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cooper scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cooper is looking for a kimura here.
Cooper throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Akana is trying to control but can't.
Cooper throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Akana blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cooper.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jab by Akana.
A combination from Akana does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A big right from Akana misses.
Akana takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cooper tries to work over Akana's front leg with a kick but Akana checks it.
Cooper throws a front kick aimed at Akana's knee but Akana avoids it well.
Akana looks to land a combination but Cooper avoids it well.
Akana pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Cooper scores with a takedown into Akana's guard.

Cooper has gone for a leg lock! Akana slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cooper's guard.
Cooper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Akana's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akana trying to control the position.
Akana might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cooper kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Artemio Akana will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Akana misses with a looping right.
Akana connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cooper gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cooper swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cooper walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cooper connects with a body shot.
A punch combination from Akana misses.
Cooper throws a leg kick
and Akana counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cooper waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Akana.
Artemio Akana seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cooper wants to land a leg kick but Akana is out of range.
Akana misses with a series of wild punches.
Cooper smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Akana takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Akana slips a straight right by Cooper.
A swing and a miss from Cooper.
Cooper shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Akana pinned against the cage. Akana gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper lands a right hook to the body.
Akana uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cooper.
Cooper pivots, looking for a leg kick but Akana is out of range and Cooper settles back down.
Akana connects with the punch.
Cooper connects with a crisp jab.
Akana throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cooper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Akana tries to avoid it but Cooper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Akana to the ground. Akana escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Akana blocks a jab.
Akana might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A punch combination from Cooper misses.
Cooper shoots in but Akana avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Cooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooper is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Akana.
Akana misses with a two punch combination.
Cooper misses with an uppercut. Akana saw that one coming.
Cooper fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akana uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cooper.
Cooper throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Akana uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cooper.
Cooper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Akana misses with a few strikes there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cooper.
Cooper has a takedown stuffed.
Cooper jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cooper dodges the punch combination from Akana.
Akana lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Akana.
Cooper has his takedown stuffed
and Cooper takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cooper jabs at Akana's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akana manages to avoid it.
Cooper throws a big shot that misses.
Akana bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cooper throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Cooper throws a leg kick that misses.
Cooper throws an overhand right that lands on Akana's shoulder, as Akana tries to avoid the shot.
Akana lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cooper circles away quickly and effectively.
Akana wants to slow Cooper down by chopping away at his legs.
Cooper throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Akana sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cooper fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Akana looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Akana ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cooper swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Akana counters by clinching up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cooper.

Cooper manages to break the clinch.
Jab, jab by Cooper - just one landing.
Cooper looking to land some kicks to the body 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.
Akana is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cooper shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Akana misses with a few strikes there.
A swing and a miss from Cooper.
Cooper misses with the combination.
Akana moves away from the strike by Cooper.

Cooper looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cooper keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Akana's head.
Akana preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Akana 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 throwing strikes but missing.
Cooper thows a big elbow that misses.
Cooper missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Artemio Akana.
I think Akana 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

The fight is ruled a majority draw!