PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom McGettigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charlie Cooper 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!

McGettigan
vs
Cooper

190 cm
21
253 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

197 cm
19
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tom McGettigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Charlie Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooper takes a swing at McGettigan's ribcage but misses.
McGettigan moves in looking to clinch but Cooper pushes him off.
A decent looking cross lands there for McGettigan.

Cooper closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. McGettigan did well to prevent Cooper getting side control.
McGettigan is looking to escape.
Cooper content to control rather than advance.
Cooper wants to free his trapped foot but McGettigan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
McGettigan is trying to maintain the position but Cooper is very close to passing his half guard.

Cooper decides to return to a standing position.
Cooper slaps away a takedown attempt from McGettigan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McGettigan cracks Cooper with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cooper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McGettigan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Cooper turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
You can see the frustration on McGettigan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
McGettigan is not content to let Cooper control the position.

Cooper stands up and beckons McGettigan to his feet.
McGettigan jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGettigan connects with a single shot there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cooper throws a head kick that half lands.
Cooper throws a head kick that misses.
McGettigan wants to clinch but Cooper slips to the side

and Cooper counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
McGettigan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McGettigan is trying to force a seperation but Cooper has the dominant position.
Cooper has McGettigan pushed against the cage.
Cooper lands a good knee to the midsection. McGettigan won't want to take too many of those.
McGettigan is breathing heavily.

Cooper manages to pull guard.
McGettigan wants to control from the top but Cooper keeps moving.
Cooper preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGettigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Cooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McGettigan sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cooper has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tom McGettigan just wasn't active enough.
McGettigan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cooper is out of range and McGettigan settles back down.
McGettigan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tom McGettigan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooper lands a head kick!
McGettigan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGettigan looks to land a right hand but Cooper moved out of range.
McGettigan throws a looping overhand right but Cooper ducks down to avoid it.
McGettigan leaves Cooper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McGettigan shoots for a double leg takedown but Cooper sprawls well. He's pushed McGettigan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Decent striking displayed by McGettigan there.

Cooper instigates a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cooper pulls guard successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McGettigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Cooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McGettigan stops Cooper from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Charlie Cooper will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

McGettigan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
McGettigan scores with a jab.
McGettigan with a hook.
McGettigan avoids the body shot from Cooper.
McGettigan could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

A jab-cross combination lands for McGettigan and sends Cooper crashing to the mat! McGettigan follows him down to the mat - Cooper regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Cooper is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cooper is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McGettigan pulls his head out easily.
Cooper is still in real trouble! Can McGettigan finish him?
McGettigan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cooper does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cooper seems to have recovered his senses.
McGettigan controlling the action here.
Cooper is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tom McGettigan wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Donk. McGettigan catches Cooper right on the button with a cross.
McGettigan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cooper shoots for a double leg takedown but McGettigan sprawls well. He's pushed Cooper's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cooper gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McGettigan.
McGettigan is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
McGettigan lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
McGettigan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McGettigan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cooper takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McGettigan tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A lazy left from McGettigan finds it's target.
Decent striking displayed by McGettigan there.
Cooper walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for McGettigan.
Cooper takes one to the chin there.
McGettigan scores with a jab.
McGettigan cracks Cooper with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
McGettigan connects with a nice looking jab.
McGettigan tries to close the distance and clinch but Cooper swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cooper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McGettigan misses with a low kick.
McGettigan misses with a double jab.
Cooper walks into a stiff left hand from McGettigan.
Nice shot lands for McGettigan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McGettigan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cooper takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cooper looks for a takedown but McGettigan sprawls well.
Cooper shoots for a takedown but McGettigan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tom McGettigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charlie Cooper.
A jab from McGettigan finds it's way through Cooper's defenses.
McGettigan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
No luck for Cooper with that takedown attempt.
McGettigan lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
McGettigan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McGettigan stuns Cooper with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McGettigan connects with a body shot that sends Cooper's belly button to the back.
Cooper walks into a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGettigan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
McGettigan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cooper manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McGettigan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
McGettigan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cooper momentarily.
Tom McGettigan is winning the standup battle so far.
Horrible takedown by Cooper or perhaps it was just good defense by McGettigan which made him look bad.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McGettigan tried to score with a low kick but Cooper checks it.
A right-left combo lands from McGettigan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom McGettigan dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

McGettigan lands a lovely overhand right.
Cooper misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A jab lands there for McGettigan.
Cooper has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
McGettigan throws a poor cross that misses
and Cooper counters with a low kick, right behind McGettigan 's knee.
McGettigan misses with a two punch combination.
Cooper fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McGettigan manages to avoid it.
Cooper fails with the takedown.
Charlie Cooper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cooper pushes McGettigan up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good body shot from Cooper.

Cooper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cooper shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McGettigan defends it nicely.
Tom McGettigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charlie Cooper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGettigan lands with a straight right. Cooper didn't see that one coming.
McGettigan lands with a good body shot.
Cooper takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A jab from McGettigan finds it's way through Cooper's defenses.
McGettigan jabs Cooper right on the nose. Cooper blinks but takes it well.
McGettigan scores with the left hand. Cooper knows he should have avoided that one.
A left and a right from McGettigan both land. Nice combination.
McGettigan sizes up Cooper with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cooper pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A decent looking cross lands there for McGettigan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGettigan throws a right and a left that both miss.

Cooper shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McGettigan napping and manages to drive through into side control!
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!
Cooper tries to move into full mount but can't pass McGettigan's legs.
McGettigan is pushing Cooper's head away, looking to escape. Cooper manages to hold on to the position though.
Cooper wants to control but McGettigan is keeping him busy.
McGettigan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cooper works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cooper decides to stand back up.
McGettigan clobbers Cooper with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cooper takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Cooper shoots in looking for a takedown. McGettigan tries to sprawl out of it but Cooper keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McGettigan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McGettigan wants to clinch up but Cooper keeps it at a distance.
Cooper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cooper takes one to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McGettigan tries to keep at a distance but Cooper has taken the fight into the clinch.
Come on Cooper - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
McGettigan is trying to break the clinch but Cooper has him pressed against the cage.
Cooper landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cooper wants to take the fight to the mat but McGettigan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
McGettigan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McGettigan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cooper fights it off and pushes away nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cooper misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

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 Tom McGettigan.
I think McGettigan 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:27

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