PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harry Cockburner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Faragher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Billy Faragher has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cockburner
vs
Faragher

187 cm
20
192 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
183 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Empire Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harry Cockburner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Billy Faragher!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cockburner with a poor takedown

and Faragher counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Faragher.
Cockburner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Faragher fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Faragher stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Faragher wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harry Cockburner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cockburner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Faragher as he avoids it easily.
Cockburner dives in and grabs Faragher's left leg, looking for a takedown. Faragher pushes down on Cockburner's head and hops out.
Cockburner shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Faragher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Cockburner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Faragher defends it easily.
Faragher must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Cockburner working for submissions but it's allowed Faragher to get to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Faragher working Cockburner over with strikes.
Faragher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cockburner tries to get to full guard but Faragher has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faragher missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Faragher tries to pass to full mount but Cockburner defends it.

Cockburner looking for submissions off his back.
Cockburner is trying to get back to full guard.
Faragher wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cockburner keeps working.
Cockburner is pressing down on Faragher's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cockburner has his hands on Faragher's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Faragher throws a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Cockburner looking for a guillotine here but Faragher defends easily.

Cockburner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Faragher gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faragher looking to sit in guard and control but Cockburner gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cockburner sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Faragher's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Faragher manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Faragher keeping full guard, as Cockburner tries to pass.

Cockburner drops back looking for a leg! Faragher is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Faragher manages to kick Cockburner off! Cockburner jumps back into Faragher's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cockburner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Faragher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Faragher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cockburner is one step ahead there.
Faragher keeping moving, preventing Cockburner from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cockburner drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Faragher manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cockburner has Faragher in his guard.
Cockburner trying to control the position.

Cockburner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Faragher is aware though and is defending well.

Cockburner has an active guard here but Faragher has managed to pass into half guard.
Faragher trying to control the action but Cockburner is working from the bottom.
Faragher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cockburner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Faragher pulls his head out easily.
Faragher throwing shots but Cockburner is blocking nicely.
Faragher wants to free his trapped foot but Cockburner is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Faragher lands with a punch from half guard.
Faragher takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cockburner has hold of Faragher's hands but Faragher slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Faragher is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Cockburner!
Cockburner sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Cockburner trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Cockburner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Faragher pulls his head out easily.
Cockburner tries to get to full guard but Faragher has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Billy Faragher will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cockburner keeps the fight on the outside.
Cockburner fails with the takedown

and Faragher counters by clinching up.

Cockburner lands a takedown into guard.
Harry Cockburner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Cockburner has gone for a leg lock! Faragher slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cockburner's guard.

Cockburner looking for subs off his back but Faragher has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cockburner trying to control from the bottom.
Cockburner is looking to improve his position.
Faragher lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cockburner preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faragher content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cockburner trying to control here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Faragher connects with a nice short shot to Cockburner's temple.

Cockburner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Faragher seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cockburner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Faragher looks to land a strike but Cockburner avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cockburner controls Faragher momentarily but Faragher frees himself.
Faragher trying to control but Cockburner is working from the bottom.

Cockburner looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Faragher has picked Cockburner up and slammed him! Cockburner can't keep hold of the triangle and Faragher manages to pass to side control!
Faragher throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Faragher wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cockburner keeps working.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cockburner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Faragher trying to control the position but Cockburner is working away.
Cockburner struggling a bit here.
Cockburner is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faragher lands a decent elbow from side control.
Cockburner struggling a bit here.
Cockburner tries to buck Faragher off but Faragher is having none of it.
Cockburner takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Cockburner tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Faragher presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Cockburner bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cockburner trying to control the position from guard on top but Faragher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Faragher trying to control the position.
Cockburner wants to pass the guard but Faragher is keeping the position.
Cockburner trying to control but Faragher is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cockburner misses with a takedown

and Faragher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Faragher wants to control from the top but Cockburner keeps moving.

Cockburner is looking for a triangle but Faragher pushes his legs off easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faragher wants to control from the top but Cockburner keeps moving.

Cockburner is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Billy Faragher will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Cockburner misses with a takedown

and Faragher counters by moving into the clinch.
Cockburner has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Faragher avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Faragher tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cockburner tries for a takedown but Faragher manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harry Cockburner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cockburner is working for takedown but Faragher is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cockburner is trying to drag Faragher to the mat but Faragher just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Faragher tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cockburner's elbow.
Faragher stops a takedown attempt from Cockburner.
Cockburner has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Faragher after a bit of a struggle.
Cockburner is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cockburner is trying to drag Faragher to the mat but Faragher just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cockburner is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Faragher has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cockburner uses from the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faragher has control of Cockburner's left arm, preventing Cockburner from doing any damage.

Cockburner drops back looking for a leg! Faragher is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Faragher manages to kick Cockburner off! Cockburner jumps back into Faragher's guard.
Faragher is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Faragher's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Billy Faragher wasn't active enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cockburner.

Cockburner is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Faragher knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Cockburner is trying to get an arm triangle but Faragher is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cockburner is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Faragher has escaped the position, nice work there.
Faragher is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cockburner off and has taken his back!
Cockburner tries to escape the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cockburner is trapped and Faragher is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Faragher lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

Faragher working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Cockburner is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cockburner trying to control the action but Faragher just sinks the hooks in.
Faragher controls the action.
Faragher punishes Cockburner with strikes from the back mount.
Faragher avoiding Cockburner 's attempts to control his hands.
Cockburner is really stuck here.
Faragher cracks Cockburner with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Cockburner from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Cockburner rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cockburner wants to control but Faragher is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Faragher connects with a nice short shot to Cockburner's temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Faragher takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cockburner taking some punishment here, with Faragher in his half guard.

Cockburner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cockburner won't allow Faragher to pass to mount.
Faragher not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Cockburner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Faragher misses with a head shot. Cockburner uses the momentum to regain guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faragher content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Harry Cockburner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Billy Faragher is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Faragher wants to control from the top but Cockburner keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Faragher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Faragher winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 28:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Faragher!