PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shissi Aren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Cocoa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aren's entrance music is The Hood by Dead Prez. A fine choice. Nick Cocoa told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Aren
vs
Cocoa

175 cm
25
218 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

182 cm
27
218 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Milwaukee's Best 159's - $75

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shissi Aren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Cocoa!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aren slips under a jab.
Cocoa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aren.
Aren wants to land a leg kick but Cocoa is out of range.
Cocoa takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Aren stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aren wants it to stay on the feet.
Cocoa blocks a leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cocoa.
A punch combination from Aren misses.
Aren misses with a low kick as Cocoa jumps back.

Cocoa closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cocoa looking to stall.
Aren misses with a short punch on the inside.
Aren tries a body shot but Cocoa blocks it.
Aren misses with some punches.
Aren wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Aren tries to work over Cocoa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cocoa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right from Aren on the inside.
Cocoa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Aren's elbow.
Aren working aggressively here.
Aren throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aren is trying to break the clinch but Cocoa is controlling him.
Aren tries to work over Cocoa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Aren is looking to control Cocoa's arms but Cocoa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Aren has his back to the cage.
A right hand to the body from Aren.
Aren has had enough of the clinch but Cocoa keeps him there for the moment.
Aren tries a body shot but Cocoa blocks it.
Aren misses with a punch on the inside.
Aren swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cocoa works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Aren blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cocoa taking a breather.
Cocoa can't get the takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cocoa blocks an uppercut.
Aren tries to work over Cocoa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Aren wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Aren can't find room to land a body shot as Cocoa controls the action.
Cocoa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cocoa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch on the inside from Aren fails to land.
Stalling in the clinch from Aren.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cocoa prevents a body shot from Aren.
Cocoa stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Aren misses with a knee strike.
Cocoa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Aren tries to circle away but Cocoa has him pinned against the cage.
Aren is trying to break free.
Aren tries to break the clinch but Cocoa is controlling the position.
Cocoa throws a head punch that misses.
Aren misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Aren misses with a punch on the inside.
Aren can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aren throws a head punch that misses.
Aren has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Aren trying to land knees to the body.
Cocoa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cocoa avoiding damage as Aren throws knees to the body.
Cocoa lands a right hand that snaps the head of Aren backwards.
Aren wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cocoa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Aren misses with some punches.
Aren takes a shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cocoa scores with a hook to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aren lands a nice shot to the body.
Aren throws an elbow that misses.

Cocoa successfully pulls guard.

Cocoa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
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 Shissi Aren will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cocoa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cocoa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aren.
Aren keeps the fight on the outside.
Aren keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cocoa lands with a nice body punch.
Aren misses with a lunging right hand
and Cocoa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A swing and a miss from Aren.
Aren tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cocoa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cocoa shoots in looking for a takedown. Aren tries to sprawl out of it but Cocoa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aren manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cocoa blocks a low kick nicely.
Cocoa misses with a two punch combination.
Aren lands a glancing blow to the side of Cocoa's head.
Aren misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cocoa clinches.
Aren pressing his opponent against the cage.
Cocoa lands with a light punch inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cocoa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Aren has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cocoa blocks a body shot from Aren.
Cocoa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Aren looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cocoa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Aren struggles to land a body shot inside as Cocoa controls his hands.
Aren taking a breather.
Aren lands an elbow that stopped Cocoa in his tracks for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aren throws an elbow but it misses.

Cocoa pulls guard.
Cocoa wants to sweep here but Aren controlling him for the moment.

Cocoa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aren can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cocoa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Aren passes into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aren is looking to take a break and control but Cocoa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aren tries to pass to full mount but Cocoa defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cocoa looking for submissions off his back.
Cocoa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Aren's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Aren's back!
Aren breaks Cocoa's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Aren works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Cocoa wants to get back to full guard.
Aren wants to take a breather but Cocoa is having none of it.
Aren prevents Cocoa from improving his position.
Cocoa is staying active underneath Aren, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Aren is pressing down on Cocoa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cocoa is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aren prevents Cocoa from improving his position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Aren stops Cocoa from getting back to his feet.
Cocoa tries to roll over but Aren keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cocoa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aren pulls his head out easily.

Cocoa actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Aren is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Aren prevents Cocoa from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nick Cocoa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Aren scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cocoa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aren throws a hook to the side of Cocoa's head but Cocoa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aren jabs Cocoa right on the nose. Cocoa blinks but takes it well.
Shissi Aren is winning the standup battle so far.
Aren fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cocoa.
Cocoa dodges the punch combination from Aren.
Aren swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cocoa.
Cocoa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aren swivels and escapes.
Shissi Aren is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aren lands a jab to the head.
Aren tries a low kick but Cocoa avoids it.
Aren tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cocoa scores with the left hand. Aren knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cocoa shoots in but Aren avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cocoa moves in looking to clinch but Aren pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cocoa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aren paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cocoa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cocoa lands a nice hook to Aren's body. Aren takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cocoa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cocoa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aren as he jumps to the side.
Shissi Aren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Cocoa.
Aren doesn't manage to clinch there - Cocoa circles away.
Aren tries to close the distance and clinch but Cocoa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aren throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cocoa on the side of the head.
Aren swats away the attempt to clinch by Cocoa.
Cocoa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Aren finds it's way round the side to connect with Cocoa's head.
Aren throws a quick inside leg kick.

Aren gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Aren fails to land.
Cocoa is pushing Aren up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice left hand lands by Aren.
Cocoa has Aren pressed against the cage.

Aren manages to break the clinch.
Cocoa tries to bum rush Aren with a series of wild strikes but Aren uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Aren keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cocoa.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cocoa is defended easily by Aren.
Cocoa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Aren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cocoa manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cocoa tries to keep at a distance but Aren has taken the fight into the clinch.
Aren wants to stall.
Cocoa blocks an elbow strike.
Aren has a couple of punches blocked by Cocoa.
Aren has a couple of punches blocked by Cocoa.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Aren.
Aren tries to work over Cocoa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cocoa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Aren backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Aren.
A short left from Cocoa.
Cocoa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aren tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cocoa's elbow.
Aren lands a nice uppercut.
Aren wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cocoa has him pressed against the cage.
Aren is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cocoa is defending well for now.
A frustrated look appears on Aren's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Aren is trying to break the clinch but Cocoa has him pressed against the cage.
Shissi Aren has scored more points in the clinch so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aren misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Aren slows down the pace here.
Good body shot from Cocoa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cocoa.
Cocoa wants to break the clinch but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shissi Aren showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aren 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shissi Aren!
Shissi Aren was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.