PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Millard Sweeney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Millard Sweeney has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sweeney
vs
Cox

211 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

189 cm
25
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Millard Sweeney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Cox!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cox rushes Sweeney and presses him up against the cage.
Sweeney is trying to drag Cox to the mat but Cox just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sweeney tries for a takedown but Cox manages to get underhooks.

Cox has picked Sweeney up - he's going for a ride! Cox dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sweeney is staying active underneath Cox, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cox tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sweeney controls his leg.
Sweeney trying to hold on to Cox's head to control him but Cox postures up.
Cox stops Sweeney from getting back to his feet.
Sweeney avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cox.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sweeney wants to control but Cox is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cox wants to free his trapped foot but Sweeney is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sweeney is trying to stand.
Sweeney trying to control but Cox postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sweeney pushes Cox off looking to stand but Cox dives back in and keeps control.
Sweeney holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Sweeney is looking to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
John Cox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cox falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sweeney connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cox fails to land with a series of punches.

Cox scores with a takedown into Sweeney's guard.
Cox controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sweeney wants to get back to his feet but Cox is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Sweeney working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cox doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cox manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney is looking to stand up but Cox isn't so interested in that idea.
Sweeney has his hands on Cox's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sweeney wants to stand up but Cox is controlling him.
Sweeney keeping moving, preventing Cox from controlling successfully.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Sweeney manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Cox taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sweeney is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Millard Sweeney. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sweeney drags the fight down to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sweeney wants to stand and escape but Cox is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney controlling the position.
Sweeney wants to sweep but no luck.
Sweeney pulls Cox in to control the position.
Cox stays in close to Sweeney's body and controls the position.
Cox stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sweeney swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sweeney wants to sweep here but Cox controlling him for the moment.
Cox trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sweeney's guard.
Cox is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cox fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Cox gets tackled into the cage by Sweeney. Sweeney maintains the clinch.
Sweeney wants to stall.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Cox drags the fight down to the ground.
Cox is looking to stand up but Sweeney isn't so interested in that idea.
Cox not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cox avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sweeney sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sweeney has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Cox will probably get the nod.
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.

Cox closes the distance and clinches.

Sweeney manages to pull guard.
Sweeney is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Sweeney looking for a guillotine here but Cox defends easily.
Cox postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sweeney looking for a sweep. Not yet Sweeney, not yet.
Sweeney looking to control but Cox passes into half guard.
Cox is pressing down on Sweeney's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sweeney is holding on for now.
Sweeney regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox is stalling in the full guard.
Sweeney is trying to control the position but Cox postures up.
Cox wants to get up but he can't break Sweeney's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sweeney wants to stand up but Cox is controlling him.
Cox stopping the sweep attempt from Sweeney.
Sweeney utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cox wants to control from the top but Sweeney keeps moving.
Cox won't allow Sweeney to sweep him here.
Cox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sweeney is keeping the position for now.
Sweeney is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cox is looking for a sweep. Sweeney is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney not doing much here.
Sweeney wants to control but Cox is keeping him busy.
Cox wants to get back to full guard.
Cox wants to get back to his feet.
Cox is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sweeney perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cox is trying to maintain the position but Sweeney is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A head kick by Cox misses
and Sweeney counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Cox is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A head kick misses from Cox.
Cox is breathing heavily.

Cox closes the distance and clinches.
Sweeney tries to pull guard but Cox holds him up against the cage and eventually Sweeney drops back down to his feet.

Sweeney pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney managing to control the position.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Sweeney.
Cox trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sweeney looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sweeney is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sweeney really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cox trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cox wants to get up but he can't break Sweeney's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sweeney controlling the position.
Sweeney will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Millard Sweeney dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cox closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sweeney quickly recovers to half guard.
Cox looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cox looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sweeney desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Cox blocks the strikes from Sweeney.
Sweeney trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Cox manages to pass to mount!
Sweeney really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cox throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Cox avoids the attempt from Sweeney to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox looking to control but Sweeney is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cox avoids the attempt from Sweeney to control.
Sweeney is in all sorts of trouble here.
Cox can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sweeney is looking to escape.
Sweeney wants to control but Cox is having none of it.
Cox thowing shots but they're missing.
Cox looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cox looking to control but Sweeney is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney tries to hold on but Cox pushes him away.
You get the feeling that Sweeney really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Sweeney is looking to improve his position but Cox isn't that keen on the idea.
Sweeney wants to control but Cox is having none of it.
Sweeney really wants to buck Cox off and get back to his feet.
Sweeney tries to hold on but Cox postures up.
Sweeney regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney tries to roll over but Cox keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sweeney trying to hold on to Cox's head to control him but Cox postures up.
Sweeney blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cox.
Sweeney trying to control here.
Cox stops Sweeney from getting back to his feet.
Cox tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sweeney knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cox is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sweeney is trying to stand back up but Cox is controlling him
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sweeney keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's four 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.
Sweeney is staying active underneath Cox, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Cox clinches up with Sweeney and pushes him back against the cage.
Sweeney is trying to pull guard but Cox turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Cox jumps into guard, dragging Sweeney to the mat.
Cox throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sweeney looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cox has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sweeney's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

And that's the end of the fight!
John Cox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cox 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Cox!