PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cole Coward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vanderley Fuentes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fuentes is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Iyaz - Solo. The key to victory for Cole Coward has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Coward
vs
Fuentes

185 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 Los Angeles, Cole Coward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vanderley Fuentes!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coward connects with the punch.
Fuentes throws a half hearted mid kick.
Vanderley Fuentes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Coward clinches with his opponent.

Fuentes breaks from the clinch.
Fuentes circles away from the clinch attempt.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Fuentes crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Coward - the referee stops the clock and Fuentes gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Coward. Fuentes manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Fuentes pushes Coward up against the cage in a clinch.
Coward is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Coward drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fuentes pulls his leg out and moves away.

Fuentes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Coward manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fuentes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Coward working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fuentes.
Fuentes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Coward is looking to stand up but Fuentes isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuentes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Fuentes is looking to work some ground and pound but Coward has wrist control.
Coward wants to stand but Fuentes is controlling the position.

Coward pushes Fuentes off and scrambles back to his feet.
Coward throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Vanderley Fuentes has been cut.

Fuentes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Coward is trying to defend but Fuentes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coward won't allow Fuentes to pass to mount.
Fuentes looks gassed!
Fuentes is taking a breather. Coward says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Fuentes stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Fuentes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Coward sprawls well. Coward wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fuentes gets slowly back to his feet.
Fuentes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Coward lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coward closes the distance looking to clinch

and Fuentes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fuentes stops Coward from getting back to his feet.
Fuentes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fuentes throwing shots but Coward is blocking nicely.
Fuentes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Coward defending well though.
Coward makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Coward.
Fuentes stops Coward from standing up.
Coward really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Coward is working an open guard so Fuentes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Fuentes misses with a takedown attempt - Coward sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Coward doesn't manage to clinch there - Fuentes circles away.

Fuentes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Coward keeping moving, preventing Fuentes from controlling successfully.
Fuentes lands a couple of digs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Fuentes stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Fuentes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fuentes showed some decent athleticism there.

Fuentes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Coward has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vanderley Fuentes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vanderley Fuentes's cut.
That's time! Coward's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Coward lands with a nice body kick.
Cole Coward is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fuentes.
Coward wants to clinch.
A slapping body kick lands there for Coward.
Coward misses with a series of wild punches.
Coward has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coward is looking to clinch.
Fuentes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Coward.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fuentes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Fuentes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Fuentes lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Coward hang on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fuentes scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Coward?
Coward tries to hold on but Fuentes pushes him away.
Fuentes lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Coward hang on?
Fuentes in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Coward is trying desperately to improve position.
Fuentes with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coward is looking to improve his position but Fuentes isn't that keen on the idea.
Fuentes working Coward over with strikes here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Fuentes cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fuentes trying to control but Coward is having none of it.
Fuentes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fuentes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fuentes looking for a guillotine from mount but Coward is having none of it.
Coward tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Coward is bucking up trying to escape but Fuentes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Fuentes trying to control but Coward is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fuentes throws some wild stikes that Coward manages to avoid easily.

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.
Coward is trying to escape the mount.
Fuentes punishing his opponent with strikes.
Coward tries to buck Fuentes off but he can't manage it.
Fuentes lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Fuentes goes for an armbar but Coward turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Coward.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Coward tries to stand but Fuentes is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vanderley Fuentes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vanderley Fuentes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Coward swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Fuentes.
Fuentes slips a jab and a cross from Coward.
Coward changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fuentes tries to avoid it but Coward manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fuentes to the ground. Fuentes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fuentes throws a front kick aimed at Coward's knee but Coward avoids it well.
Coward slaps away a takedown attempt from Fuentes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fuentes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Coward counters with a head kick. That will keep Fuentes thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Coward has Fuentes up against the cage in a clinch.
Fuentes keeps control of Coward as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Fuentes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Coward swats away the attempt to clinch by Fuentes.
Coward tries to clinch but Fuentes is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fuentes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coward misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fuentes throws a sloppy head kick
and Coward counters with a three punch combo that has Fuentes backing up. Fuentes nods at Coward to acknowledge the strikes.
Coward throws a series of strikes that have Fuentes backpedaling.
Coward moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Coward scores with a jab.
Coward is looking to clinch but Fuentes is avoiding it.
Fuentes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Coward's waist but Coward gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fuentes off to one side.
Cole Coward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vanderley Fuentes.
Fuentes with a lazy takedown attempt
and Coward counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Coward pushes Fuentes up against the cage in a clinch.

Fuentes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Coward throws a nice looking combination but Fuentes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fuentes closes the distance and clinches up with Coward, looking for a takedown. Fuentes pushes Coward against the cage but Coward circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fuentes fails with the takedown
and Coward counters with a one-two to the body.
Coward lands with a hook. Fuentes tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuentes tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Coward counters with a stiff right hand.
Fuentes misses with a combination
and Coward counters with a series of strikes. Fuentes will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fuentes misses with a takedown attempt
and Coward counters with a three punch combo that has Fuentes backing up. Fuentes nods at Coward to acknowledge the strikes.
Coward throws a head kick that misses

and Fuentes counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Fuentes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Coward not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fuentes passes Coward's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fuentes looks to land a strike but Coward avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fuentes has gone for a leg lock! Coward slips out almost immediately though and dives into Fuentes's guard.
Coward wants to get up but he can't break Fuentes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Coward is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Coward trying to control but Fuentes is working from the bottom.
Fuentes has a closed guard, preventing Coward from standing up.
Coward wants to stand and escape but instead Fuentes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

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.
Fuentes trying to control the position from guard on top but Coward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fuentes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Fuentes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vanderley Fuentes.
I've got Fuentes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vanderley Fuentes!