PBP Commentary

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

Cobsen
vs
Makikomi

185 cm
23
193 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Cobsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Soto Makikomi!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Makikomi rushes Cobsen and presses him up against the cage.
Makikomi fails to pull guard.
Cobsen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Makikomi's defenses.

It looks like Soto Makikomi has been cut.

Makikomi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cobsen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cobsen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Makikomi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Cobsen!
Makikomi has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cobsen's face.

Cobsen is rocked!

It looks like Joe Cobsen has been cut.

Makikomi is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Cobsen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Makikomi throws a strike there. Cobsen manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Cobsen keeping hold of Makikomi's head, controlling as best he can.
Cobsen wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makikomi tries to stand and escape but Cobsen is controlling the position.
Cobsen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Makikomi.
Makikomi is stalling here. Cobsen is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Makikomi seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Cobsen has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Makikomi is trying to escape the position but Cobsen is controlling the position.
Makikomi is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cobsen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cobsen manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cobsen missing with knees to the body.
Cobsen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Cobsen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Makikomi up against the cage.
Cobsen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Makikomi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cobsen is keeping busy.
Cobsen prevents Makikomi from breaking the clinch.
Cobsen tries to land a knee to the head but Makikomi blocks with his arms.
Cobsen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Makikomi can't break the clinch.

Makikomi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Makikomi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Makikomi lands in his opponent's guard.
Makikomi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makikomi postures up in Cobsen's guard and throws a big left but Cobsen blocks it.
Makikomi wants to pass the guard but Cobsen is keeping the position.

Makikomi stands up from Cobsen's guard - Makikomi perhaps looking for a knockout.
Makikomi tries a head kick but it misses.
Makikomi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cobsen's calf.
Cobsen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Makikomi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Makikomi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Makikomi misses with a wild body shot.
Cobsen tries to clinch but Makikomi is having none of it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Makikomi connects with a high kick.
Cobsen closes the distance but Makikomi moves to the side
and Makikomi counters with a low kick, right behind Cobsen 's knee.
Makikomi throws a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobsen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Makikomi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Makikomi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Makikomi is looking for a kimura here.
Makikomi looks gassed!
Makikomi is looking to pass Cobsen's guard but actually Cobsen recovers to full guard.
Makikomi won't allow Cobsen to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soto Makikomi dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cobsen blocks a head kick by Makikomi.
Makikomi throws a head kick but Cobsen moves out of range.
Makikomi misses with a low kick.
Cobsen tries to clinch there but Makikomi circles away.

Cobsen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cobsen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Makikomi dodges an elbow strike from Cobsen.
Makikomi is trying to break free.
Makikomi is trying to break the clinch but Cobsen has him pressed against the cage.
Cobsen misses with an elbow over the top.
Cobsen scores with a knee to the head.

Makikomi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Makikomi.
Makikomi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cobsen tries to clinch but Makikomi moves out of range.
Makikomi tries to work over Cobsen's front leg with a kick but Cobsen checks it.
Makikomi misses with a head kick.
Cobsen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cobsen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Joe Cobsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cobsen tries to clinch up but Makikomi circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Makikomi.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cobsen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cobsen is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobsen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Makikomi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Soto Makikomi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping leg kick lands for Makikomi.
Makikomi checks a leg kick nicely.
Makikomi tries to close the distance and clinch but Cobsen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cobsen doesn't manage to clinch there - Makikomi circles away.
Cobsen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Makikomi scores with a head kick.
Makikomi tries a head kick but it misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Makikomi gets control of Cobsen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Makikomi will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Makikomi has his foot on Cobsen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cobsen works his way back into a safe position though.
Cobsen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cobsen trying to control but Makikomi is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cobsen stands up and waves to Makikomi to follow him.
Cobsen checks a leg kick nicely.
Cobsen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A head kick misses from Makikomi.
Cobsen tries to clinch there but Makikomi circles away.
Makikomi lands with a thumping leg kick.

Makikomi clinches with his opponent.
Makikomi is trying to break the clinch but Cobsen has him pressed against the cage.
Makikomi wants to break free but Cobsen has control.
Makikomi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Makikomi wants to break free but Cobsen has control.
Makikomi tries to break the clinch but Cobsen is controlling the position.
Makikomi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cobsen has him pressed against the cage.
Cobsen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Makikomi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Makikomi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Makikomi has had enough of the clinch but Cobsen keeps him there for the moment.
Cobsen lands an elbow that stopped Makikomi in his tracks for a moment.
Makikomi is breathing heavily.
Cobsen tries to stall but Makikomi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobsen keeps control of Makikomi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cobsen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Makikomi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cobsen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Makikomi can't break the clinch.
Cobsen prevents Makikomi from breaking the clinch.
Knees to the body from Cobsen.
Cobsen keeps control of Makikomi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cobsen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Cobsen unloads a knee to the mid-section. Makikomi lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cobsen lands an elbow just above Makikomi 's eye.
Knees to the body from Cobsen.
Makikomi takes an elbow to the temple.
Cobsen is trying to maintain a safe position but Makikomi gets an underhook and turns Cobsen into the cage.
Cobsen lands an elbow inside that Makikomi shrugs off.
Cobsen lands a nice elbow.
Makikomi tries to break the clinch but Cobsen is controlling the position.
Makikomi is trying to break free.
Makikomi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cobsen has him pressed against the cage.
Cobsen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That has opened up Soto Makikomi's cut even more.
Cobsen scores with a knee to the head.
Cobsen stalling in the clinch but Makikomi improves position.
Cobsen unloads a knee to the mid-section. Makikomi lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cobsen lands a knee to the head.
Makikomi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cobsen keeps control of Makikomi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cobsen.
Makikomi is looking to break free of the clinch but Cobsen has double underhooks.
Cobsen pressing his opponent against the cage.
Cobsen trying to control the position but instead, Makikomi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cobsen into the cage.
Makikomi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Makikomi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cobsen has him pressed against the cage.
Cobsen avoiding damage as Makikomi throws knees to the body.
Cobsen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Makikomi's defenses.
Cobsen is trying to maintain a safe position but Makikomi gets an underhook and turns Cobsen into the cage.
Makikomi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cobsen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Makikomi blocks it with crossed arms.
Cobsen lands an elbow inside.

Makikomi manages to break the clinch.
Cobsen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Joe Cobsen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A chopping leg kick lands by Makikomi.
Cobsen tries to clinch but Makikomi moves away

and Makikomi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cobsen's guard.
Makikomi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cobsen is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cobsen has a closed guard, preventing Makikomi from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Soto Makikomi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cobsen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Makikomi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Makikomi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cobsen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Makikomi is one step ahead there.
Makikomi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cobsen's head.
Makikomi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cobsen is keeping the position for now.

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

Makikomi working for a triangle but Cobsen defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Makikomi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cobsen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cobsen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cobsen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Makikomi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Makikomi has his foot on Cobsen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cobsen works his way back into a safe position though.
Makikomi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Makikomi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cobsen gets to his feet - Makikomi follows without any prompting.
Cobsen wants to clinch.

Cobsen gets a clinch.
Cobsen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nice elbow from Cobsen.
Makikomi can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobsen lands a nice elbow.
Cobsen pushes off an throws an elbow but Makikomi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Cobsen.
Cobsen prevents Makikomi from breaking the clinch.
Makikomi wants a takedown.
Cobsen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cobsen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Cobsen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cobsen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cobsen looking to throw knees to the head but Makikomi is blocking nicely.
Cobsen stalls.
Cobsen lands an elbow inside that Makikomi shrugs off.
Cobsen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cobsen prevents Makikomi from breaking the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cobsen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Makikomi's brow.
Cobsen crunches a lovely knee into Makikomi's ribcage.
Knees to the body from Cobsen.
Makikomi has had enough of the clinch but Cobsen keeps him there for the moment.
Cobsen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Makikomi is keeping busy.
Cobsen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Makikomi wants to get back to striking at distance but Cobsen won't allow it.
Cobsen managing to block the knees to the body from Makikomi.
Cobsen connects with a knee to the head.

Makikomi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makikomi throws a head kick but Cobsen moves out of range.
Cobsen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Makikomi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Makikomi showed some decent athleticism there.
Makikomi is trying to control the action in half guard but Cobsen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cobsen tries to kick Makikomi off but Makikomi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Makikomi trying to control the action but Cobsen is working from the bottom.
Makikomi moves nicely into side control.
Makikomi lands a decent elbow from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Soto Makikomi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Makikomi 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 James Ackerman scores the fight for Soto Makikomi!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Soto Makikomi!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Soto Makikomi!

Soto Makikomi wins by unanimous decision!