PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Bruso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Kooch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruso comes into the arena with Helena blaring out of the sound system. Kooch is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Rusko - Tru Powwa. Thomas Bruso has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bruso
vs
Kooch

194 cm
28
275 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

194 cm
29
255 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Brute

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 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Bruso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Kooch!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kooch swings widly with a right hand
and Bruso counters with a head kick.
Bruso shoots in for a takedown but Kooch shows good takedown defense.
Kooch fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bruso avoids it really well and circles away.
Good leg kick by Bruso there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Bruso gets caught napping as Kooch dives in and scores a takedown. Bruso manages to retain guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Kooch drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kooch jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bruso looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kooch is one step ahead there.
Kooch postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bruso looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kooch wants to pass the guard but Bruso is keeping the position.

Kooch thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kooch wants to control from the top but Bruso keeps moving.

Kooch is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kooch trying to control but Bruso is working from the bottom.
Bruso bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kooch's guard.
Kooch keeping moving, preventing Bruso from controlling successfully.

Kooch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bruso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruso working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kooch's head.
Bruso is in close to Kooch's body, working some short punches and elbows.
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!
Bruso trying to control but Kooch is working from the bottom.

Kooch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bruso doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bruso manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bruso wants to pass the guard but Kooch is keeping the position.
Bruso distracts Kooch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Kooch has his foot on Bruso's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bruso works his way back into a safe position though.

Kooch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bruso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kooch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bruso defends it easily.
Kooch looks gassed!
Bruso slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruso passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kooch!
Kooch is working to get back to half guard.
Kooch is in a horrible position here. Bruso smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kooch tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kooch is bucking up trying to escape but Bruso cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kooch is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bruso landing punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kooch tries to lock up and control but Bruso gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bruso wants to control the pace but Kooch is squirming around nicely.

Bruso looking to secure an arm triangle but Kooch defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruso sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bruso landing strikes from the mount and Kooch is in trouble!
Kooch is trying desperately to improve position.
Kooch sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kooch is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kooch taking some punishment here, with Bruso in his half guard.
Bruso scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bruso dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bruso shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kooch defends it nicely.
Bruso pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A big left from Bruso misses.
Bruso looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kooch with a poor takedown

so Bruso counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Kooch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bruso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bruso working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruso looking to pass the guard.

Kooch throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bruso escapes and throws Kooch's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Bruso grinds an elbow into Kooch's temple.
Bruso is looking to take a break and control but Kooch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bruso landing a few strikes.
Kooch regains half guard.
Kooch is refusing to be controlled, as Bruso sits in half guard.
Bruso tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kooch knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bruso slips a nice elbow through Kooch's hands, connecting with Kooch's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kooch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nice strikes from Bruso there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bruso looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kooch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bruso.
Kooch slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Kooch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bruso doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bruso manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bruso postures up and lands a big shot to Kooch's brow.
Bruso stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kooch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kooch keeping moving, preventing Bruso from controlling successfully.
Bruso wants to pass the guard but Kooch is keeping the position.

Bruso avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kooch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bruso defends it easily.
Thomas Bruso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kooch is breathing heavily.
Bruso pushes down on Kooch's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Bruso is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kooch defends it well.
Kooch is refusing to be controlled, as Bruso sits in half guard.
Bruso looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kooch with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kooch trying to control from the bottom.

Bruso is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bruso working Kooch over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bruso lands a nice short elbow.
Kooch is trying to maintain the position but Bruso is very close to passing his half guard.
Bruso throwing shots but Kooch is blocking nicely.

Kooch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kooch actively working from the bottom here.
Kooch wants to get back to full guard but Bruso has passed into side control.
Bruso grinds an elbow into Kooch's temple.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bruso wants to control but Kooch is keeping him busy.
Kooch is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bruso's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Bruso looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kooch with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bruso dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Bruso tries for a takedown but Kooch sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No luck for Bruso with that takedown attempt.
Bruso tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kooch sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bruso somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Bruso. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bruso looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Bruso is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Kooch has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Bruso is looking to defend but Kooch has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Bruso! Kooch pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Bruso taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Mike Kooch!