PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Cotrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bret George (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cotrell
vs
George

183 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kevin Cotrell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bret George!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
George pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cotrell uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from George.
Cotrell tries to close the distance and clinch up but George swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cotrell wants to clinch up but George keeps it at a distance.
Cotrell ducks under a wild hook from George.
George closes the distance and clinches up with Cotrell, looking for a takedown. George pushes Cotrell against the cage but Cotrell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

George feints and as Cotrell raises his hands in defense, George changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
George wants to control from the top but Cotrell keeps moving.
George won't allow Cotrell to sweep him here.

Cotrell manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Cotrell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
George misses with a series of wild punches.
Cotrell wants to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Cotrell or perhaps it was just good defense by George which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cotrell closes the distance and clinches.
George tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cotrell just stands there and leans against the cage.
George blocks a body shot from Cotrell.

George has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Cotrell regains guard immediately.
George stays in close to Cotrell's body and controls the position.
George trying to control the position from guard on top but Cotrell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cotrell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in George's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotrell wants to control from the top but George keeps moving.
George trying to keep a closed guard but Cotrell is proving a slippery customer.
Cotrell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cotrell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. George swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cotrell content to stall in guard here.
Cotrell stopping the sweep attempt from George.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotrell postures up.
George looking for a sweep. Not yet George, not yet.
George is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cotrell clinches but George breaks the clinch

and George moves into the clinch.
George drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cotrell gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kevin Cotrell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bret George.
George tries to score a body lock takedown but Cotrell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cotrell.

Cotrell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

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.
George throws a sloppy head kick and Cotrell moves out of range easily.
George looks gassed!
Cotrell tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and George moves into the clinch.

Cotrell drags the fight down to the ground.
Cotrell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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

Cotrell drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Cotrell decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Cotrell instigates a clinch.
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 Kevin Cotrell will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from George is defended easily by Cotrell.

George moves into range and clinches up with Cotrell.
George is looking to control Cotrell's arms but Cotrell gets an underhook and turns him. Now George has his back to the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cotrell taking a breather.

George jumps into guard, dragging Cotrell to the mat.
Cotrell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
George throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
George seems keen to control Cotrell's posture.
Let's hope that George 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 one minute gone in the round.
Cotrell wants to control from the top but George keeps moving.

George is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cotrell defends well.
George is breathing heavily.
Cotrell is stalling in the full guard.
George keeping moving, preventing Cotrell from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
Cotrell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. George is keeping the position for now.
George is adopting a defensive guard.
George working a defensive guard but Cotrell manages to pass into side control anyway.
George is trying to get back to his feet.
George manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cotrell flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotrell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. George is working away from the top position though.
George takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
George drops an elbow to the side of Cotrell's head.
George is trying to control. Cotrell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
George throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
George not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

George is trying to work for a kimura but Cotrell is defending well.

That's four 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
George fails with the takedown
and Cotrell counters with a one-two to the body.
Cotrell clinches but George breaks the clinch

and George counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
George is keen to just control but Cotrell is a slippery customer.
Cotrell pushes George off looking to stand but George dives back in and keeps control.
George lands with a punch from half guard.
Well, if George is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
George seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cotrell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bret George showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Cotrell shoots in for a takedown but George shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Cotrell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
George wants to sweep here but Cotrell controlling him for the moment.
Cotrell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cotrell trying to control the position from guard on top but George is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

George looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
George wants to stand up but Cotrell is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
George pulls Cotrell in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

George is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cotrell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cotrell wants to get up but he can't break George's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
George working a defensive guard but Cotrell passes into half guard.
Cotrell is thwarting George's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
George works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cotrell tries to stand but George is controlling from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Cotrell trying to control the position from guard on top but George is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cotrell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
George fails with an attempt to clinch.
George shoots for a double leg takedown but Cotrell sprawls well. He's pushed George's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
George circles away from the clinch attempt

and George counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cotrell 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.
Cotrell is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Cotrell looking for subs off his back but George has passed one foot through into half guard.

George is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Cotrell as he works his way to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
George trying to control but Cotrell is working from the bottom.
Cotrell wants to get back to his feet but George is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
George trying to control the position from guard on top but Cotrell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bret George comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think George 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bret George!