PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bret Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sterling Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Cooper
vs
Wright

166 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

158 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bret Cooper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sterling Wright!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooper shoots in for a double leg but Wright sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Wright closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wright is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cooper is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wright throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cooper actively working from the bottom here.
Wright tries to stand and escape but Cooper is controlling the position.

Cooper looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Cooper actively working from the bottom here.
Wright moves into full mount! Cooper won't be happy about that!
Wright moves to take his opponent's back.
Wright controls the position.
Wright misses with punches from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright controls the action.

Cooper defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Wright controlling well, preventing Cooper from escaping the position.
Wright trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Cooper doesn't escape.
Let's hope that Wright has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cooper showing good submission defense here.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Wright controlling the positon.
Cooper just trying to survive but Wright is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Wright keeps control of the position easily here as Cooper tries to buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wright is not going to allow Cooper to sit and survive in this position.
Wright misses with an elbow to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cooper is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sterling Wright dominated that round.
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.

Wright throws a head kick but Cooper moves out of range.

Wright closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Wright tightens his grip and picks Cooper up, before dumping him to the ground. Cooper manages to land in guard.
Wright not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Cooper looking for a guillotine here but Wright defends easily.
Wright is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Cooper is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cooper looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wright not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright looking to pass the guard.
Wright would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Wright passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cooper misses with a strike from the bottom.

Wright is trying to get an arm triangle but Cooper is defending well.
Wright controls the position from side control.
Cooper is looking for a sweep.

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.
Wright prevents Cooper from escaping the position.
Cooper being controlled for a moment.
Cooper tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Wright remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Sterling Wright has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cooper can't do much from the bottom here.
Wright tries to score with some ground and pound. Cooper controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Wright is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Cooper will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Wright is continuing to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sterling Wright is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper shoots in for a double leg but Wright sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Wright looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wright content to control rather than advance.
Wright prevents Cooper from improving his position.
Still in half guard, Wright seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cooper is looking for a sweep. Wright is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cooper is looking to control Wright's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cooper avoid being mounted?
Wright stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Wright gets a double leg takedown into Cooper's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sterling Wright showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Wright has Cooper up against the cage in a clinch.

Wright gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Cooper escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wright gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wright must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wright pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cooper is keeping the position for now.
Wright is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wright stopping the sweep attempt from Cooper.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cooper looking for a guillotine here but Wright defends easily.
Wright controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cooper is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wright defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cooper wants to sweep but no luck.

Wright decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cooper, up you get!
Wright lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Wright closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Good body shot from Wright.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper has a couple of punches blocked by Wright.

Wright escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Wright closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Wright lands in his opponent's guard.
Wright trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cooper's guard.
Wright is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The adventures of Wright the control monster continue. Boring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cooper thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Wright is stalling in the full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Wright has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wright throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cooper works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cooper misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wright tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Wright shoots in and bounces Cooper off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cooper is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sterling Wright is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright is stalling in the full guard.
Cooper is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wright advances position into side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wright happy to just control the position for now.
Bret Cooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sterling Wright comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wright 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sterling Wright!