PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sheldon Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Ponjev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Cooper
vs
Ponjev

170 cm
28
180 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

185 cm
28
180 lbs
19 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Sun-Tzu. 15%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sheldon Cooper!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Ponjev!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponjev bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ponjev uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cooper has time to react.
Ponjev getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ponjev pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cooper is out of range and Ponjev settles back down.
Ponjev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Ponjev as Cooper shoots in.
Cooper has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ponjev after a bit of a struggle.
Cooper tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ponjev smiles and moves away.
Cooper looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sheldon Cooper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooper wants to clinch
and Ponjev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cooper ducks under a wild hook from Ponjev.
Jab by Ponjev.
Cooper gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ponjev.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cooper tries to clinch up but Ponjev circles away and keeps his distance.
Ponjev looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jab by Ponjev.
Ponjev stuffs the takedown.
Cooper wants to take the fight to the mat but Ponjev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ponjev lands a right hand.
Ponjev is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ponjev working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponjev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cooper backwards.

Ponjev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ponjev tries to keep at a distance but Cooper has taken the fight into the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Ponjev.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ponjev has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Ponjev breaks the clinch.
Cooper darts in trying to clinch
and Ponjev counters with a right hand to the body.
Cooper tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ponjev swivels and escapes.
Cooper takes an elbow to the temple.
Cooper looking for a takedown.
Ponjev working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cooper jumps guard but Ponjev stands there with Cooper around his waist. Cooper gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cooper has Ponjev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ponjev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cooper goes for a takedown attempt but Ponjev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cooper takes one to the chin there.
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!
Ponjev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ponjev keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Cooper is rocked!
Ponjev keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Oh Cooper is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cooper tries to clinch there but Ponjev circles away.
Ponjev lands a really nice looking cross but Cooper seems unphased.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cooper is defended easily by Ponjev.
Ponjev scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ponjev with a jab.
Ponjev stuffs the takedown attempt from Cooper. Cooper gets slowly back to his feet.
Ponjev is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Ponjev scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ponjev feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Cooper sprawling to the canvas! Cooper rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Ponjev finish him?!
Ponjev misses with a double jab.
Sam Ponjev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ponjev tests Cooper's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ponjev has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Ponjev fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ponjev cracks Cooper with an open hand slap.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ponjev closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Cooper! Ponjev dives in looking to finish! Cooper is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sam Ponjev! Sam Ponjev retains his welterweight title!
A relieved looking Sam Ponjev thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.