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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Cohen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CJ Saaim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saaim has chosen Chelsea Dagger as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!
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| 187 cm
24
195 lbs
5 - 7 - 1 |
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182 cm
25
187 lbs
6 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced |
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Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power |
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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 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Daniel Cohen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, CJ Saaim!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cohen lands a head kick. Saaim smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
It looks like CJ Saaim has been cut.
A lazy body kick from Saaim
and Cohen counters with a three punch combo that has Saaim backing up. Saaim nods at Cohen to acknowledge the strikes.
Saaim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cohen was well out of range. Poor timing from Saaim.
As Saaim looks to move away, Cohen throws a big counter combo but Saaim just gets out of the way.
Cohen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Saaim.
Saaim is rocked!
Saaim stuffs the takedown attempt from Cohen. Cohen gets slowly back to his feet.
Saaim is still on wobbly legs! Can Cohen finish him?
Saaim slaps away a takedown attempt from Cohen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Saaim seems to have recovered his senses.
Saaim jabs at Cohen's body.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cohen successfully pulls guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saaim gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cohen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Saaim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saaim shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cohen is trying to defend but Saaim finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cohen kicks Saaim off and gets back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saaim throws a hook to the side of Cohen's head but Cohen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
As Saaim tries to get set, Cohen tries to push him back and clinch up but Saaim manages to avoid the attempt.
Cohen goes for a double leg but Saaim avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Saaim continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Cohen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cohen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saaim is fending him off so far but Cohen persists. Nope, Saaim circles away and we're back to standing.
Saaim closes the distance and clinches.
Cohen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
I was talking to Cohen's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Cohen manages to break the clinch.
Saaim takes the fight into the clinch.
Cohen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Saaim effectively controlling the action here.
Cohen digs a right hand underneath Saaim's ribcage. Saaim let out a lung full of air as it connected.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saaim tries to pull guard but Cohen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cohen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cohen shoots in for a takedown but Saaim shows good takedown defense.
Cohen darts in trying to clinch
and Saaim counters with a left to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cohen shoots in for a takedown but Saaim shows good takedown defense.
Cohen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cohen wants it to stay on the feet.
Saaim misses with a few strikes there.
Cohen is looking for a counter combo.
Cohen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saaim's waist but Saaim gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cohen off to one side.
CJ Saaim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saaim clinches with his opponent.
Saaim has Cohen pushed against the cage.
Cohen tries to pull guard but Saaim won't allow it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen tries a body shot but Saaim blocks it.
Saaim has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cohen uses from the top position.
Cohen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Cohen tries to stand but Saaim is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cohen stays in close to Saaim's body and controls the position.
Saaim is trying to control the position from the bottom.
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.
Cohen slips nicely into half guard.
Saaim won't allow Cohen to pass to mount.
Saaim actively working from the bottom here.
Cohen is keen to just control but Saaim is a slippery customer.
Cohen is really struggling to control Saaim but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Daniel Cohen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on CJ Saaim's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Saaim sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cohen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Saaim counters with a series of strikes. Cohen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Saaim shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cohen but Cohen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cohen closes the distance and pushes Saaim back into the cage.
Saaim is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cohen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saaim smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Cohen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cohen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saaim paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saaim shoots and misses
and Cohen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Saaim thinking.
Cohen bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Saaim goes for a double leg but Cohen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cohen continues to drive forward.
Saaim is breathing heavily.
Cohen looks for a takedown but Saaim sprawls well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saaim clinches with his opponent.
Saaim wants the takedown. Cohen is fighting it off but Saaim persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Cohen's guard against the cage.
Cohen wants to stand but Saaim is controlling the position.
Saaim stopping the sweep attempt from Cohen.
Saaim throws a big right hand that misses.
Cohen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Saaim prevents Cohen from getting back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cohen has control of Saaim's left arm, preventing Saaim from doing any damage.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cohen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saaim sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cohen somewhat.
Cohen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Saaim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cohen goes for a double leg but Saaim avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Saaim continues to drive forward.
The fighters circling - Saaim throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cohen tries to clinch up.
Saaim looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Saaim gets tackled into the cage by Cohen. Cohen maintains the clinch.
Cohen is trying to pull guard but Saaim turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saaim is defending well for now.
Saaim blocks a body shot from Cohen.
A bit of stalling here from Saaim.
Cohen pulls Saaim into guard.
Saaim working some ground and pound from guard 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.
Saaim postures up.
Saaim is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cohen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cohen is controlling Saaim's posture.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saaim postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cohen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cohen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cohen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Saaim tries to avoid it but Cohen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Saaim to the ground. Saaim escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cohen shoots in looking for a takedown. Saaim tries to sprawl out of it but Cohen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saaim manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cohen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A combination from Saaim does no damage.
Saaim misses the shot to the body.
Cohen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Saaim throws a right and a left that Cohen avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
CJ Saaim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on CJ Saaim's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!
Saaim throws a right hand that Cohen ducks under and follows up with a left that Cohen also avoids with ease.
Saaim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saaim will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Saaim takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cohen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saaim circles away.
Cohen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cohen wants it to stay on the feet.
It looked like Cohen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Cohen shoots in but no luck this time.
Cohen avoids the body shot from Saaim.
Saaim throws a series of punches but Cohen avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saaim takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Saaim clinches up against the cage.
Cohen manages to pull guard.
Saaim with a flurry of punches that miss.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cohen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cohen is looking to sweep but instead, Saaim has passed into half guard.
Cohen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saaim.
Cohen is looking for a sweep. Saaim is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cohen trying to hold on to Saaim's head to control him but Saaim postures up.
Cohen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Saaim is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Saaim looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cohen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cohen or perhaps it was just good defense by Saaim, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Cohen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Saaim takes a swing at Cohen's ribcage but misses.
Nice body kick from Cohen.
Saaim keeps the fight on the outside.
Saaim tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cohen connects with a body shot.
Cohen fails with the takedown
and Cohen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saaim drives through and clinches with Cohen against the cage.
Saaim prevents a body shot from Cohen.
Saaim fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cohen drags the fight down to the ground.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saaim advances position into side control!
Cohen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cohen has his hands clasped together around Saaim's back. He's all about the action.
Saaim missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saaim seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cohen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cohen is trying is best to control the position here.
Saaim content to control rather than advance.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to CJ Saaim.
I think Saaim has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CJ Saaim!
An out of breath CJ Saaim thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
39% |
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