PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gus Tarbols (ranked 24379 p4p, 2882 weight class) and Sam Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 97 weight class). Gus Tarbols has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tarbols
vs
Cooper

225 cm
20
300
1 - 4 - 0

200 cm
25
300
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gus Tarbols!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooper wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cooper cracks Tarbols with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Cooper shoots in but no luck this time.
Cooper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tarbols tries to avoid it but Cooper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tarbols to the ground. Tarbols escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cooper steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tarbols.
Cooper is looking to clinch but Tarbols is avoiding it.

Tarbols moves into the clinch successfully.

Tarbols pulls guard successfully.
Tarbols not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tarbols is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tarbols looking for a sweep. Not yet Tarbols, not yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cooper throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Cooper clinches.
Cooper has Tarbols pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tarbols manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gus Tarbols has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Cooper.

Cooper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cooper shoots for a double leg takedown but Tarbols sprawls well. He's pushed Cooper's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cooper fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarbols fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tarbols tries to clinch up.
Tarbols shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cooper sprawls well. Cooper wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tarbols gets slowly back to his feet.
Cooper tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tarbols sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cooper somewhat.
Tarbols pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cooper back to the cage. Tarbols follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tarbols's waist but Tarbols gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cooper off to one side.
A quick step to the side and Tarbols tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cooper throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cooper shoots in for a double leg but Tarbols sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tarbols closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cooper circles away.

Tarbols gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cooper to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Tarbols has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Cooper has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Cooper looks winded!
Tarbols tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cooper tries to pull guard but Tarbols holds him up against the cage and eventually Cooper drops back down to his feet.
Cooper stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarbols is trying to pull guard but Cooper has him pressed against the cage.
Tarbols misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Tarbols gets control of Cooper's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tarbols will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
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!

Cooper stands and steps away. Tarbols gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tarbols misses with a double jab.
Tarbols tries to clinch but Cooper moves out of range.
Tarbols tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tarbols dives in for a single leg takedown but Cooper sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Tarbols misses with a punch to the body.

Cooper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gus Tarbols will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tarbols shoots in looking for a takedown. Cooper tries to sprawl out of it but Tarbols keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cooper manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cooper slaps away a takedown attempt from Tarbols, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tarbols shoots in for a double leg but Cooper sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gus Tarbols. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tarbols has managed to clinch.

Cooper drags the fight down to the ground.
Cooper has a closed guard, preventing Tarbols from standing up.
Tarbols will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cooper pushes Tarbols off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Cooper gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper lands with a light punch inside.
Tarbols letting Cooper take a breather here.
Tarbols is trying to break the clinch but Cooper has him pressed against the cage.
Cooper has Tarbols pressed against the cage, preventing Tarbols from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cooper is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tarbols is defending well.
Tarbols has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cooper avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tarbols tries to score a body lock takedown but Cooper shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A hook to the body from Cooper.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tarbols has Cooper pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cooper manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Cooper breaks the clinch.
Cooper fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper swats away the attempt to clinch by Tarbols.
Cooper misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cooper works Tarbols's body with a nice hook.
Tarbols is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cooper.
Tarbols stuffs the takedown attempt from Cooper. Cooper gets slowly back to his feet.
Tarbols misses with a low kick.
Cooper shoots in looking for a takedown but Tarbols manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cooper's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Cooper darts in and clinches Tarbols up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarbols is looking to break free of the clinch but Cooper has double underhooks.
Tarbols fails to pull guard.
Cooper blocks the elbow strike.

Cooper jumps guard.
Tarbols postures up in Cooper's guard and throws a big left but Cooper blocks it.

Cooper throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Tarbols escapes and throws Cooper's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Cooper prevents Tarbols from moving into mount.
Cooper is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tarbols stands up and beckons Cooper to his feet.
Sam Cooper seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tarbols misses with the combination.
Cooper throws a sloppy head kick and Tarbols moves out of range easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cooper lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tarbols has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tarbols and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nice sprawl there from Cooper as Tarbols shoots in.
Cooper blocks a head kick by Tarbols.
Cooper dives in for a single leg takedown but Tarbols sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tarbols.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cooper clinches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Cooper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cooper closes the distance and pushes Tarbols back into the cage.
Tarbols jumps guard but Cooper turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cooper is trying to pull guard but Tarbols turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tarbols fails to pull guard.

Cooper breaks from the clinch.
Cooper shoots in and drives through. Tarbols sprawls well.

Cooper moves into the clinch.
Cooper tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tarbols just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gus Tarbols has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Cooper.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarbols is trying to break free.
Cooper has Tarbols pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tarbols manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cooper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tarbols is trying to pull guard but Cooper has him pressed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper has Tarbols pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tarbols manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cooper is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tarbols pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tarbols looking to stall.
Cooper with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tarbols leaning against his opponent.
Tarbols tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cooper smiles and moves away.
Tarbols shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cooper as he avoids it easily.
Cooper feints the counter takedown.
Tarbols shoots in for a takedown but Cooper shows good takedown defense.
Cooper lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cooper.
Tarbols shoots in for a takedown but Cooper shows good takedown defense.
Cooper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cooper fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tarbols avoids it really well and circles away.
Cooper tries for a takedown but Tarbols sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cooper moves into range and clinches up with Tarbols.

Tarbols escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tarbols as he avoids it easily.
Tarbols closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cooper circles away.
Cooper looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tarbols is fending him off so far but Cooper persists. Nope, Tarbols circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper stuffs the takedown.
Tarbols tries to clinch but Cooper is having none of it.

Cooper rushes Tarbols and presses him up against the cage.
Cooper wants a takedown but no success here.
Tarbols is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cooper to keep the fight standing.
Cooper goes for a takedown attempt but Tarbols pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cooper fails with the takedown

and Tarbols moves into the clinch.
Tarbols has had enough of the clinch but Cooper keeps him there for the moment.
Cooper fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cooper takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tarbols decides to pull guard.
Cooper loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cooper trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cooper's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cooper wants to control from the top but Tarbols keeps moving.

Cooper avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cooper wants to pass the guard but Tarbols is keeping the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Cooper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cooper 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Cooper!