PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Meat Shield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Cotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Shield
vs
Cotto

175 cm
23
153 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

167 cm
22
145 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Meat Shield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Miguel Cotto!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Summer Carpenter and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cotto checks the leg kick.
Cotto tries to clinch but Shield moves out of range.
Cotto throws a hook but Shield avoids it easily.
Cotto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Shield manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shield uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cotto.
Shield on the wrong end of a nice jab.
An inside leg kick from Shield misses.
Cotto lands a slapping body shot.
A punch combination from Shield misses.
Cotto blocks a leg kick.
Shield uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cotto.
Shield connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cotto's hands.
Shield misses with a straight left.
Shield motions for Cotto to come forward. Shield throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Shield misses with a wild combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cotto. Shield does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cotto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shield looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cotto swings for the body but Shield moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Cotto.
Shield cracks Cotto with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield throws a right hand that Cotto ducks under and follows up with a left that Cotto also avoids with ease.
Cotto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shield manages to avoid it.
A combination from Shield does no damage.
Sloppy strikes from Shield. Those never looked like landing.
Cotto looks to score with a jab to the body but Shield is just out of range.
Cotto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shield connects with the punch.
Shield jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shield uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cotto.
Shield throws a series of punches but Cotto moves out of range.
Shield swinging wildly here.
Shield lands with a nice body punch.
Good shot there by Cotto.
Cotto throws a hook but Shield blocks it.
Shield scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Cotto misses the jab.
Shield fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cotto has closed the distance and engaged Shield in a clinch.

Cotto breaks the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cotto takes a swing at Shield's ribcage but misses.
Cotto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shield moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shield smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Cotto misses with an uppercut. Shield saw that one coming.
Shield connects with a jab.
Cotto scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shield in his tracks.
Shield misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cotto scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cotto throws a big shot that misses.
Shield looks to land a combination but Cotto avoids it well.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shield lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cotto has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cotto and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Shield looks to land a combination but Cotto avoids it well.
Shield is breathing heavily.
A nice combination there by Shield.
Cotto throws an overhand right that lands on Shield's shoulder, as Shield tries to avoid the shot.
A slow jab from Cotto misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotto takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cotto is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shield.
Cotto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cotto with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Shield tests Cotto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shield gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Miguel Cotto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cotto throws a body punch but Shield moves out of range.
Cotto looks to land a left hand but Shield moved out of range nicely.
Some wild striking there from Shield.
Cotto scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cotto dodges the punch combination from Shield.
Cotto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shield misses with a hook. Cotto ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cotto closes the distance and clinches.
Cotto scores with a shot to the side of Shield's head.

Shield breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cotto throws a hook but Shield avoids it easily.
Cotto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shield.
Cotto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shield.
Shield needs to keep his hands up - Cotto had a free shot at his head there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shield defending well as Cotto loads up on a big left hand.
Shield misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cotto.
Shield throws a jab when Cotto was well out of range.
Cotto throws a right and a left that Shield avoids nicely.
Shield slips under a jab from Cotto.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shield throws a nice looking combination but Cotto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shield takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Shield lands with an uppercut that bounces Cotto off the cage and back into range.
Cotto takes a swing at Shield's ribcage but misses.
Shield throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Miguel Cotto will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cotto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shield will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cotto dodges the punch combination from Shield.
Cotto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Shield manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cotto looks to throw the jab but Shield is out of range.
The fighters circling - Shield throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shield looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cotto misses with a double jab.
A shot to the liver by Cotto. Beautiful body shot.
Shield just misses with a punch to the body.
Shield is looking to score with low kicks.
Shield misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut there from Cotto.
Shield has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Cotto jabs Shield right on the nose. Shield blinks but takes it well.
Shield looks to land a right hand but Cotto moved out of range.
Cotto is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield throws a low kick but Cotto moves out of range easily.
Cotto lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big right from Shield misses.
Cotto misses with an uppercut.
Cotto cracks Shield with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Shield closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Cotto takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cotto takes a swing at Shield's ribcage but misses.
Shield needs to keep his hands up - Cotto had a free shot at his head there.
Cotto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cotto misses with a hook.
Shield throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shield misses with a low kick.
Cotto scores with a jab to the body.
Shield swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shield avoids the body shot from Cotto.
Meat Shield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cotto wants to clinch up but Shield keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cotto sizes up Shield with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cotto throws a lazy uppercut
and Shield counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shield walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Cotto checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Cotto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shield was well out of range. Poor timing from Cotto.

Cotto darts in and clinches Shield up against the cage.
Shield wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cotto has him pressed against the cage.
Cotto working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cotto lands a nice shot to the body.
Cotto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shield is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short right from Cotto on the inside.

Cotto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Miguel Cotto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cotto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shield was well out of range. Poor timing from Cotto.
Cotto with a jab.
Shield misses with a wild combination.
Shield circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotto misses with a wild body shot.
Shield ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cotto throws a right hand that Shield ducks under and follows up with a left that Shield also avoids with ease.
Shield is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Shield slips a jab from Cotto.
Cotto throws a looping overhand right but Shield ducks down to avoid it.
Cotto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cotto drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cotto looks to score with a jab to the body but Shield is just out of range.
Cotto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shield.
Cotto throws a body punch but Shield moves out of range.
Shield is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Cotto throws a poor cross that misses
and Shield counters with a three punch combo that has Cotto backing up. Cotto nods at Shield to acknowledge the strikes.
Cotto throws a body punch but Shield moves out of range.
Shield misses with the combination.
Cotto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cotto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cotto bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Shield's head.
Shield lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cotto circles away quickly and effectively.
Cotto missing with a left hand there. Shield was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Cotto pushes Shield up against the cage in a clinch.
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!
Cotto tries a body shot but Shield blocks it.
Cotto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shield looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shield is trying to break free.
Cotto displaying some good clinch control by pressing Shield up against the cage.
Cotto landing knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cotto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shield tries to break the clinch but Cotto is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Cotto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Shield swats away the attempt to clinch by Cotto.
Cotto throws a hook but Shield blocks it.
Cotto misses with a looping left.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shield lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cotto has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cotto and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Shield rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cotto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cotto with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Shield to score with a decent uppercut.
Shield throws a combination. Cotto tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cotto misses with a looping left.
Cotto throws a big shot that misses.
Shield tries to bum rush Cotto with a series of wild strikes but Cotto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cotto tries to close the distance and clinch but Shield swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shield throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shield throws a right hand that Cotto ducks under and follows up with a left that Cotto also avoids with ease.
A jab from Cotto misses.
Cotto throws a jab but it's blocked by Shield.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cotto scores with a jab to the jaw.
Shield scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield ducks under a wild hook from Cotto.

Shield tries to keep at a distance but Cotto has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shield is trying to break free.
Cotto effectively controlling the action here.
Shield is looking to break free of the clinch but Cotto has double underhooks.
Cotto is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shield is defending well for now.
Cotto lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shield backwards.

Shield breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shield lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cotto circles away quickly and effectively.
Shield throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cotto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cotto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shield throws out the jab.
Cotto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotto throws a series of punches but Shield moves out of range.
Cotto throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shield counters with a series of strikes. Cotto will be more careful next time no doubt.
A telegraphed right hand from Cotto misses the target.
Shield throws a body punch but Cotto moves out of range.
Shield looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cotto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No joy there for Shield, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shield throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cotto misses the jab.
Shield uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cotto.
Shield has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Shield there as he acknowledges the shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cotto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shield moves away.
Shield misses with a low kick.
Cotto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shield at a distance.
Shield lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cotto circles away quickly and effectively.
Cotto works over Shield's head and body with a nice combination.
Shield slips a jab from Cotto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotto throws a right hand that misses
and Shield counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shield fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cotto checks it well.
Cotto connects with a body shot.
Shield throws a series of punches but Cotto moves out of range.
Cotto misses with a straight right.

Cotto clinches up with Shield and pushes him back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Cotto.
Shield looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Shield is trying to break the clinch but Cotto has him pressed against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Cotto.
Cotto lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shield backwards.

Cotto breaks from the clinch.
Shield showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cotto.
Shield misses the jab.
Shield throws a shot from downtown. Cotto moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shield rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cotto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cotto doesn't manage to clinch there - Shield circles away.
Shield keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shield throws a nice looking combination but Cotto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cotto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shield finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shield slips a straight right by Cotto.
Cotto tries to clinch up.
Cotto swings for the body but Shield moves out of range.
Cotto misses with a hook. Shield ducked under it nicely.
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!
Shield ducks under a wild hook from Cotto.
Cotto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shield.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cotto moves into the clinch successfully.
Shield is trying to push Cotto away but Cotto has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Meat Shield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cotto blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Cotto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miguel Cotto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cotto has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Cotto!