PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Charles Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Domingo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cooper comes to the cage accompanied by s.mouse - slap my elbow. Domingo has chosen Smoke Serpent "Jui-Jitsu" as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cooper
vs
Domingo

178 cm
29
190 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

176 cm
38
193 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

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 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charles Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lance Domingo!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Cooper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Domingo with the counter takedown but Cooper avoids it easily.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Domingo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cooper wants to clinch up but Domingo keeps it at a distance.
Domingo now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Cooper is looking to chop away at Domingo's legs.
Domingo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Cooper defends it well.
Charles Cooper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Domingo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cooper tries to clinch up.
Domingo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Domingo swats away the attempt to clinch by Cooper.
Cooper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And Domingo tries to counter it with a takedown but Cooper pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cooper wants to clinch.
Domingo misses with a low kick as Cooper jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Domingo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Domingo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cooper tries to clinch up but Domingo circles away and keeps his distance.
Cooper fails with an attempt to clinch.
Domingo circles away from the clinch attempt.
And Domingo responds with a good body kick, but Cooper manages to step out the way in time.
Cooper is looking to clinch.
Cooper takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cooper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Cooper has Domingo up against the cage in a clinch.
Domingo misses with a knee strike.
Cooper pushes off an throws an elbow but Domingo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Domingo misses with an elbow strike.
Domingo blocks the elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cooper.
Our sources have told us that Cooper has been working on his elbows in the gym.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cooper just misses with a elbow thrown towards Domingo's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Domingo misses with the head strike.
Domingo blocks an elbow strike from Cooper.
Cooper throws an elbow that misses.
Cooper avoiding damage.
Cooper lands an elbow inside.
Cooper pushes off an throws an elbow but Domingo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cooper misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Domingo tries for a takedown but Cooper manages to get underhooks.
Domingo looking for a takedown.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cooper just misses with a elbow thrown towards Domingo's brow.
Domingo wants a takedown but no success here.
Charles Cooper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lance Domingo.
Cooper struggles to land a body shot inside as Domingo controls his hands.
Domingo dodges an elbow strike from Cooper.
Cooper throws an elbow but it misses.
Cooper throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper lands with a short shot to the head.
Cooper lands with a light punch inside.

Domingo breaks the clinch.
Domingo fails with the takedown.
Cooper tries to clinch there but Domingo circles away.
Domingo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cooper closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Domingo throws a combination. Cooper tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Some wild striking there from Domingo.
Cooper moves in looking to clinch but Domingo pushes him off.
Domingo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cooper tries to clinch there but Domingo circles away.
Cooper fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Domingo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Domingo keeps the fight on the outside.
Domingo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Domingo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Domingo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cooper's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cooper trying to keep a closed guard but Domingo is proving a slippery customer.
Cooper seems keen to control Domingo's posture.
Domingo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cooper is looking to stand up but Domingo isn't so interested in that idea.
Domingo throwing strikes from guard but Cooper blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Domingo throws an elbow that misses. Cooper uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Domingo's guard. Nice move by Cooper!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Domingo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cooper fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Domingo avoids a wild elbow strike from Cooper.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Domingo blocks the elbow strike.
Domingo tries to break the clinch but Cooper is controlling the position.
Domingo blocks the elbow strike.
Cooper tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Domingo breaks from the clinch.

Domingo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Domingo lands in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Domingo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Domingo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cooper doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Domingo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Domingo prevents Cooper from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Domingo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cooper is just riding it out for now. Domingo eventually gives up the hold.
Domingo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cooper keeps working.
Domingo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Domingo content to control rather than advance.
Cooper is trying to stand up here but Domingo is controlling him well.
Domingo trying to mount his opponent but Cooper defends it.
Domingo controlling the pace.
Domingo throwing shots but Cooper is blocking nicely.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Domingo wants to advance to full mount but Cooper doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Cooper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cooper preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cooper tries to clinch but Domingo moves out of range.
Cooper wants to clinch.
Domingo throws a series of punches but Cooper moves out of range.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Domingo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Cooper forces Domingo back against the cage and clinches.
Cooper holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cooper misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Domingo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Domingo misses with a knee to the head.
Domingo dodges an elbow strike from Cooper.
Cooper lands an elbow that stopped Domingo in his tracks for a moment.
Domingo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cooper creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Domingo has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Cooper is trying to keep an underhook but Domingo manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cooper looks like he's trying to stand up.
Domingo wants to control but Cooper is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Domingo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cooper's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cooper avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Domingo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Domingo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cooper tries to clinch but Domingo is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cooper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cooper tries to clinch but Domingo is having none of it.
Cooper tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cooper tries to clinch but Domingo moves away

and Domingo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cooper!
Cooper defending against the ground and pound.
Domingo is looking to take a break and control but Cooper is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper tries to escape but Domingo is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Domingo looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cooper is avoiding damage well.
Domingo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The strikes coming from Domingo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Domingo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cooper knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Domingo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Cooper is working to avoid the ground and pound but Domingo connects with a decent elbow.
Cooper trying to remain calm as Domingo controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Domingo tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sloppy strikes there by Domingo.
Domingo cracks Cooper with a big elbow.
My spies in Condor Training inform me that Domingo has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Domingo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Domingo working the ground and pound from side control.
Cooper is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Domingo misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Domingo trying to control the position but Cooper is working away.

Domingo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cooper is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper wants to control but Domingo postures up.
Domingo in side control, throwing shots but Cooper defends.

Domingo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lance Domingo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Domingo is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Cooper will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cooper wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Domingo trying to control the action but Cooper is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Domingo misses the jab.
Cooper avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Cooper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cooper is looking to clinch.
Cooper wants to clinch up but Domingo keeps it at a distance.
Charles Cooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Domingo slips a jab from Cooper.
Domingo throws a sloppy head kick and Cooper moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lance Domingo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Domingo 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lance Domingo!
During a confident post fight interview, Lance Domingo thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.