PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cottoneye Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alistar Astyages (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe comes to the cage accompanied by Cottoneye Joe. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Joe
vs
Astyages

175 cm
22
158 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
165 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cottoneye Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alistar Astyages!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Columbo Gatti and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joe is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Astyages's half guard.
Astyages tries to get to full guard but Joe has control of the leg.

Astyages looking for submissions off his back.
Astyages wants to control but Joe is keeping busy.
Joe thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Astyages to regain full guard.
Joe is working Astyages over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Joe throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joe is fighting to break Astyages's control of his arms but Astyages is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Joe wants to control from the top but Astyages keeps moving.
Astyages controls Joe momentarily but Joe frees himself.
Joe wants to control from the top but Astyages keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Astyages looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Astyages keeping full guard, as Joe tries to pass.
Joe scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joe wants to pass the guard but Astyages is keeping the position.
Joe works over Astyages with some ground and pound from guard.
Astyages thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Astyages is on top in guard.

Astyages is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Joe is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Joe has escaped and now he's on top!
Joe preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Joe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Astyages has his foot on Joe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Joe works his way back into a safe position though.
Joe looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Astyages has his foot on Joe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Joe works his way back into a safe position though.
Joe seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Joe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Astyages's head.
Joe trying to control the position from guard on top but Astyages is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joe scoring with punches to the head and body.
Joe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Astyages working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Joe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Joe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Astyages looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joe is working Astyages over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Joe cracks Astyages with a solid left hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Joe's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Astyages manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Astyages trying to control but Joe is having none of it.
Joe keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Joe sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe trying to control here.

Astyages is looking for a kimura but Joe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Astyages to get the leverage.

Joe is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Astyages pulls his head out easily.
Astyages wants to free his trapped foot but Joe is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Astyages is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Joe is just riding it out for now. Astyages eventually gives up the hold.

Astyages is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cottoneye Joe dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Joe lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Joe tries to score with a low kick but Astyages moves his leg out of the way.
Astyages clobbers Joe with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Astyages steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Joe.
Astyages throws a hook but Joe avoids it easily.
Astyages looks to score with a jab to the body but Joe is just out of range.
Joe lands a body shot.
Joe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Astyages pinned against the cage. Astyages gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A combination from Joe does no damage.
Astyages shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Joe defends it nicely.
Astyages closes the distance and clinches up with Joe, looking for a takedown. Astyages pushes Joe against the cage but Joe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe throws a hook but Astyages avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Astyages.
Joe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Joe connects with a single shot there.
Astyages throws out a powerful jab.
Joe throws a series of strikes that have Astyages backpedaling.
Cottoneye Joe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Joe closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Joe lands in his opponent's guard.
Joe postures up.
Joe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joe wants to control from the top but Astyages keeps moving.
Astyages pulls Joe in close to his closed guard and prevents Joe from doing any damage or advancing position.
Joe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Astyages works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Astyages trying to keep a closed guard but Joe is proving a slippery customer.
Joe pushing down on Astyages's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Joe lands strikes from half guard.
Joe wants to take a breather but Astyages is having none of it.
Joe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Astyages pushes Joe off looking to stand but Joe dives back in and keeps control.
Joe is keen to just control but Astyages is a slippery customer.
Astyages tries to roll over but Joe keeps him under control.
Astyages is breathing heavily.
Joe is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Joe avoids the body shot from Astyages.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Astyages moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Good shot there by Joe.
Astyages steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Joe.
Joe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Astyages misses with a takedown attempt - Joe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cottoneye Joe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alistar Astyages.
Joe throws a looping overhand right but Astyages ducks down to avoid it.
Joe thuds his right hand into Astyages's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Astyages blocks a jab.

Joe closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Astyages keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Astyages is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Joe with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Joe is trying to work for a kimura but Astyages is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe is controlling the pace.
Astyages gets back to full guard.
Joe wants to control from the top but Astyages keeps moving.

Astyages had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Joe defends it easily.
Astyages trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cottoneye Joe dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Joe scores with a punch to the head.
Astyages has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Astyages there as he acknowledges the shot.
Joe connects with a right hand. Astyages shakes it off.
Astyages scores with a jab to the jaw.
Joe misses the jab.
Joe stuns Astyages with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Joe throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Astyages was covering up waiting for the punch and Joe finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Joe wants to control from the top but Astyages keeps moving.
Astyages wants to sweep here but Joe controlling him for the moment.
Astyages manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Joe manages to get himself to full guard.

Astyages is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Joe is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Joe has escaped and now he's on top!
Astyages takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe postures up.
Cottoneye Joe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Astyages has his foot on Joe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Joe works his way back into a safe position though.
Joe distracts Astyages with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Astyages utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Joe wants to control from the top but Astyages keeps moving.
Joe scoring with some ground and pound.
Joe distracts Astyages with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Joe wants to control from the top but Astyages keeps moving.

Joe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Joe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Joe postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Joe stopping the sweep attempt from Astyages.
Joe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Astyages tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Joe wants to pass the guard but Astyages is keeping the position.
Astyages keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.
Astyages utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Joe looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe with a nice head shot there.
Astyages looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice defenses there by Astyages.
Joe throws a jab but it's blocked by Astyages.
Joe connects with a crisp jab.
A swing and a miss from Astyages.
Astyages misses with an uppercut. Joe saw that one coming.
Joe swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Astyages.

Joe shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Astyages's guard.

Astyages is looking for a triangle but Joe pushes his legs off easily.
Astyages pulls Joe in to control the position.
Joe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Astyages looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Joe passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Astyages wants to control but Joe is keeping busy.
Alistar Astyages has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Joe connects with a nice short shot to Astyages's temple.
Astyages is trying to control but can't.
Astyages keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Joe is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Joe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cottoneye Joe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Joe has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cottoneye Joe!