PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Conner Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tihema Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Steven
vs
Cooper

165 cm
22
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

169 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Conner Steven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tihema Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steven circles away from the clinch attempt.
A combination from Cooper does no damage.
Steven throws a sloppy head kick and Cooper moves out of range easily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cooper enables Steven to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cooper manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cooper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Steven controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steven trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.
Steven has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cooper is proving hard to escape from.

Conner Steven has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Steven tries to clinch up but Cooper circles away and keeps his distance.
Steven displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cooper.
Cooper tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steven was well out of range. Poor timing from Cooper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven misses with a few strikes there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cooper.
Steven goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cooper shoots in but no luck this time.
Cooper fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Conner Steven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tihema Cooper.
Steven tries to clinch but Cooper is having none of it.
Cooper is looking to clinch.
Steven shoots in looking for a takedown but Cooper manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Steven's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Steven shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cooper won't allow Steven to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steven stands up out of the half guard.
Cooper blocks the body kick.
Steven misses with a low kick.

Steven shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Steven showed some decent athleticism there.
Steven is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steven content to control rather than advance.
Steven not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cooper has hold of Steven's hands but Steven slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cooper trying to hold on to Steven's head to control him but Steven postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is looking to improve his position.
Steven thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cooper is trying to stand back up but Steven is controlling him
Steven wants to control but Cooper is keeping him busy.
Steven has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cooper is looking to control Steven's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cooper avoid being mounted?
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Still in half guard, Steven seems content to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cooper tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Steven bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cooper is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steven staying calm.

Steven tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Steven lands a nice forearm strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cooper wants to control but Steven postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooper tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Steven wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conner Steven dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cooper fails in his attempt to clinch.
Steven has a takedown stuffed.

Cooper gets caught flat footed, as Steven shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Steven trying to control the position from guard on top but Cooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cooper wants to stand but Steven is controlling the position.
Steven trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.
Cooper is trying to control the position but Steven postures up.
Cooper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steven.
Cooper preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Steven stands up over Cooper, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cooper controls Steven momentarily but Steven frees himself.
Cooper wants to sweep but no luck.
Cooper is breathing heavily.
Cooper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steven.
Steven content to stall in guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Steven manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cooper on his heels. He'll look to pass Cooper's guard now, I'm sure.
Conner Steven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steven postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven trying to control the position from guard on top but Cooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steven sitting in guard here, content to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Conner Steven wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Steven stalks Cooper and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cooper's face. Cooper staggers backwards, shaken.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Steven closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cooper's guard.
Cooper tries to strike from the bottom.
Cooper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Steven controls the pace.
Cooper trying to keep a closed guard but Steven is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steven working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Steven postures up and lands a big shot to Cooper's brow.
Steven sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Steven gets to his feet. Cooper looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Steven pushes Cooper up against the cage in a clinch.

Steven ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Steven no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Steven wants to sweep but no luck.
Cooper trying to control the position from guard on top but Steven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steven is trying to keep Cooper in close.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Steven is on top in guard.
Cooper keeping moving, preventing Steven from controlling successfully.
Steven sitting in guard here, content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steven content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steven is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conner Steven dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cooper throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Steven's waist but Steven gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cooper off to one side.

Steven clinches.
Steven prevents the takedown attempt.
Steven tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cooper avoiding damage as Steven throws knees to the body.

Cooper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cooper enables Steven to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cooper manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Steven is looking to work some ground and pound but Cooper has wrist control.
Cooper controls Steven momentarily but Steven frees himself.
Cooper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steven wants to control from the top but Cooper keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Steven trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Steven landing some decent shots from guard.
Cooper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Steven controls from within his opponent's guard.
Steven keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cooper's head.
Steven controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Steven trying to control the position from guard on top but Cooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steven is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cooper can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Conner Steven.
Steven looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cooper is fending him off so far but Steven persists. Nope, Cooper circles away and we're back to standing.
Steven shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cooper but Cooper pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Steven throws a series of punches but Cooper avoids them all with ease.

Cooper darts in and clinches Steven up against the cage.
Cooper has Steven pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Steven manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Conner Steven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tihema Cooper.
Cooper tries to pull guard but Steven forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steven tries to pull guard but Cooper won't allow it.
Steven keeps control of Cooper as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cooper is trying to pull guard but Steven has him pressed against the cage.

Cooper manages to break the clinch.
Cooper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Steven darts in and clinches Cooper up against the cage.
Cooper wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Steven has him pressed against the cage.

Steven pulls guard.
Steven throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Steven looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cooper is one step ahead there.
Steven controls Cooper momentarily but Cooper frees himself.
Conner Steven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steven can't keep his opponent in guard - Cooper advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Steven is trying to stand back up but Cooper is controlling him
Cooper takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Steven is looking to control Cooper's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steven avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steven is trying to stand back up but Cooper is controlling him
Tihema Cooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cooper looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conner Steven showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Steven 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conner Steven!
Conner Steven thanked the fans post fight for their support.