PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hector Cotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sufjan Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevens is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by They Are Zombies. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cotto
vs
Stevens

168 cm
22
140 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

176 cm
24
143 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

St. Paul's Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hector Cotto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sufjan Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cotto looks to land a combination. Stevens sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Sufjan Stevens has been cut.
Cotto throws a hook to the side of Stevens's head but Stevens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stevens moves forwards but Cotto connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cotto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cotto keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Cotto misses with a hook. Stevens ducked under it nicely.
Cotto misses with a wild body shot.
Stevens throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cotto.
Cotto throws a lazy right hand but Stevens sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cotto misses with a double jab.
A jab from Cotto does it's job there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cotto throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cotto scores with a nice right hand.
Stevens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cotto.
Cotto throws a hook but Stevens avoids it easily.

Stevens bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Stevens are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cotto to see if he's OK.
Stevens works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Cotto can't do much from the bottom here.
Stevens grinds an elbow into Cotto's temple.
Cotto is trying to improve his position.
Stevens throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Cotto tries to improve position but can't.
The ground and pound from Stevens seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cotto tries to bench press Stevens off him but Stevens keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotto is not content to let Stevens control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cotto misses with the combination.
Stevens loads up on a big right hand but Cotto slips the punch.
Cotto blocks a head kick by Stevens.
Hector Cotto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cotto looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Cotto lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Stevens backs up against the cage.
Hector Cotto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cotto.

Stevens pushes Cotto up against the cage in a clinch.
Stevens prevents Cotto from breaking the clinch.
Stevens tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stevens stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the head but Cotto blocks with his arms.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Cotto avoids the damage to the body.
Cotto wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cotto leaning his opponent against the cage.

Stevens has picked Cotto up - he's going for a ride! Stevens dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Stevens misses with a head shot. Cotto uses the momentum to regain guard.
Stevens throws a big right hand that misses.
Stevens throws and elbow that misses. Cotto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stevens's guard. Nice move by Cotto!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cotto postures up in Stevens's guard and throws a big left but Stevens blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cotto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cotto stands and throws Stevens's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stevens takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The ground and pound from Cotto seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Cotto working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Cotto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stevens has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cotto is breathing heavily.
Stevens struggling a bit here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cotto 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.

Hector Cotto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sufjan Stevens's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A combination from Cotto does no damage.
Stevens avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cotto misses with a series of wild punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevens dodges the punch combination from Cotto.
Stevens misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotto swinging wilding here.
No joy there for Cotto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cotto misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cotto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stevens sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cotto lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cotto lands a really nice looking cross but Stevens seems unphased.
Stevens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cotto.
Hector Cotto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens scores with a push kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevens looks for the body kick but Cotto saw that one coming.
Cotto throws an overhand right that lands on Stevens's shoulder, as Stevens tries to avoid the shot.
Cotto looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Cotto.
Stevens misses with a kick to the body.
Stevens dodges the punch combination from Cotto.

Stevens scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Cotto dodges the ground and pound from Stevens.
Stevens working the body and head with strikes.
Stevens looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cotto is avoiding damage well.

Stevens tries for a kimura but Cotto is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cotto takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Cotto is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cotto holding on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotto wants to control but Stevens postures up.
Stevens working the strikes but Cotto uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Stevens is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Stevens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Stevens drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cotto dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cotto wants to stand but Stevens has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stevens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cotto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stevens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stevens manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Stevens with good strikes from the mount here!
Stevens sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sufjan Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sufjan Stevens'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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stevens throws a sloppy head kick and Cotto moves out of range easily.
Cotto cracks Stevens with a good jab.
Stevens shoots in and drives through. Cotto sprawls well.
Cotto loads up on a big right hand but Stevens slips the punch.
Hector Cotto is winning the standup battle so far.
Cotto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stevens was well out of range. Poor timing from Cotto.
A head kick misses from Stevens.
Cotto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stevens was well out of range. Poor timing from Cotto.
Stevens showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cotto.
Cotto waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Stevens.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stevens shoots for a takedown but Cotto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cotto moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cotto's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Cotto duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotto misses with a hook. Stevens ducked under it nicely.
Cotto misses with a few strikes there.
Cotto misses with a looping left.
Cotto lands a jab to the nose.
Stevens misses with a looping left.
Stevens looks for a takedown but Cotto sprawls well.
Hector Cotto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sufjan Stevens.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cotto misses with a two punch combination.
Cotto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stevens.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cotto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cotto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevens circles away quickly and effectively.
Cotto cracks Stevens with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cotto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stevens moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.
Cotto tries to bum rush Stevens with a series of wild strikes but Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cotto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stevens tries to clinch up but Cotto circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevens moves out of range of the strikes.
Cotto throws a nice looking combination but Stevens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cotto sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cotto misses with a double jab.
Cotto looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.
Stevens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cotto pinned against the cage. Cotto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cotto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stevens sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotto throws a big shot that misses.
Stevens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cotto.
Cotto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stevens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cotto.
Stevens closes the distance and clinches up with Cotto, looking for a takedown. Stevens pushes Cotto against the cage but Cotto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stevens walks into a straight right hand from Cotto.
Good exchange - Cotto coming out on top.
Cotto throws out a loose jab but Stevens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.
Cotto misses with a two punch combination.
Cotto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cotto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cotto throws a nice looking combination but Stevens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cotto misses with a few strikes there.
Cotto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cotto swats away the attempt to clinch by Stevens.
Stevens tries to land a front kick but Cotto steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A left and a right from Cotto both land. Nice combination.
Cotto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cotto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stevens.

Stevens is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cotto's half guard.
Cotto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stevens.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Cotto showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Reed Andrews scores the fight for Hector Cotto!
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight for Hector Cotto!
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Hector Cotto!

Hector Cotto wins by unanimous decision!