PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lue Elizondo (ranked 4333 p4p, 4345 weight class) and John Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 394 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Elizondo
vs
Cooper

169 cm
24
152
3 - 0 - 0

183 cm
24
154
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lue Elizondo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cooper shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cooper showed some decent athleticism there.
Elizondo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cooper.
Elizondo is trying to get back to full guard.
Elizondo regains full guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cooper content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Cooper drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Elizondo dives on top into guard.

Cooper keeping full guard, as Elizondo tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cooper holds on and takes a little breather.
Elizondo wants to control from the top but Cooper keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Elizondo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cooper pulls Elizondo in close to his closed guard and prevents Elizondo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cooper's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Cooper is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Elizondo postures up.

That's two 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.
Cooper has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Elizondo stuffs the takedown.
Cooper shoots in but Elizondo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cooper closes the distance and clinches up with Elizondo, looking for a takedown. Cooper pushes Elizondo against the cage but Elizondo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lue Elizondo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Cooper.
Cooper ducks under a wild hook from Elizondo.
Cooper closes this distance looking for a takedown but Elizondo circles away.
Elizondo is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Cooper.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cooper shoots in looking for a takedown. Elizondo tries to sprawl out of it but Cooper keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Elizondo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cooper looks winded!
Elizondo misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elizondo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cooper was covering up waiting for the punch and Elizondo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Elizondo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Elizondo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cooper is keeping the position for now.
Elizondo postures up.
Elizondo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cooper takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cooper struggling a bit here.
Cooper tries to bench press Elizondo off him but Elizondo keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is trying to work for a sweep but Elizondo has mounted him!
Cooper sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Cooper wants to control but Elizondo is keeping busy.
Cooper wants to improve his position but Elizondo is controlling well.
Cooper moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Elizondo passes Cooper's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cooper wants to improve his position but Elizondo is controlling well.
Cooper is not content to let Elizondo control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lue Elizondo dominated that round.
That's time! Elizondo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A swing and a miss from Elizondo.
Cooper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Elizondo misses with a hook. Cooper ducked under it nicely.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown but Elizondo shows good takedown defense.
Cooper shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Elizondo pinned against the cage. Elizondo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Elizondo is looking to counter the offense by Cooper and move into the clinch.
Cooper shoots for a double leg takedown but Elizondo sprawls well. He's pushed Cooper's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lue Elizondo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Cooper.
Elizondo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cooper is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper shoots in looking for a takedown but Elizondo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cooper's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A big right from Elizondo misses.
Cooper fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Elizondo dives in for a single leg takedown but Cooper sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Elizondo has Cooper pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Elizondo pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Cooper tumbling to the mat - Elizondo dives into Cooper's guard.
Cooper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Elizondo's guard.

Cooper scoring with some ground and pound.
Elizondo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cooper can do to turn this around?

Cooper drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Elizondo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cooper has Elizondo in his guard.

Elizondo trying to control the position from guard on top but Cooper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Elizondo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cooper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cooper is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Elizondo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ground and pound from Cooper.
Ground and pound from Cooper.

Cooper is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Elizondo is defending against the submission attempts here by Cooper.
Cooper is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Elizondo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elizondo is pulling down on Cooper's head to control his posture.

Cooper got a little sloppy there for a moment and Elizondo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cooper has managed to get both his arms back between Elizondo's legs - danger averted.
Elizondo looking to control but Cooper passes into half guard.
Elizondo tries to roll over but Cooper keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Cooper is looking for a kimura but Elizondo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cooper to get the leverage.

Cooper is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Elizondo sees it coming and defends easily.
Elizondo tries to roll over but Cooper keeps him under control.

Cooper is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cooper thows a huge punch but Elizondo dodges it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cooper is thwarting Elizondo's attempts to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lue Elizondo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cooper throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cooper shoots in but Elizondo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cooper fails to land the takedown.
Elizondo shoots in but no luck this time.
Elizondo looks to score with a jab to the body but Cooper is just out of range.
Elizondo leaves Cooper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lue Elizondo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Cooper.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elizondo leaves Cooper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cooper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cooper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Elizondo tries to avoid it but Cooper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Elizondo to the ground. Elizondo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Elizondo swivels and escapes.
The fighters circling - Elizondo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cooper now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Elizondo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cooper shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Elizondo as he avoids it easily.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Elizondo sprawls well. Elizondo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cooper gets slowly back to his feet.
Cooper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Elizondo.
Cooper closes the distance and clinches up with Elizondo, looking for a takedown. Cooper pushes Elizondo against the cage but Elizondo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The fighters circling - Elizondo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cooper tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Elizondo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cooper was well out of range. Poor timing from Elizondo.
Elizondo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
John Cooper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Elizondo defends it nicely.
Elizondo tries to counter by clinching up but Cooper breaks away and moves out of range.

Elizondo scores with a takedown into Cooper's guard.
Cooper keeping full guard, as Elizondo tries to pass.
Elizondo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Elizondo postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is looking to sweep but instead, Elizondo has passed into half guard.
Cooper tries to get to full guard but Elizondo has control of the leg.
Cooper has hold of Elizondo's hands but Elizondo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cooper moves his hips nicely and gets into 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.
Elizondo wants to control from the top but Cooper keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper looking for a sweep. Not yet Cooper, not yet.
Elizondo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Elizondo tries to move to mount but Cooper blocks the move with his legs.
Cooper tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elizondo scores with a couple of short elbows.
John Cooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lue Elizondo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Elizondo trying to control the action but Cooper is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lue Elizondo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Elizondo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight for Lue Elizondo!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Lue Elizondo!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Lue Elizondo!

Lue Elizondo wins by unanimous decision!