PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Staph Coganobitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Phil French was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Coganobitch
vs
French

168 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

220 cm
25
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ye Olde Clothe Shoppe

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Staph Coganobitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Phil French!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coganobitch tries a head kick but it misses.

Coganobitch moves into the clinch successfully.
Coganobitch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Coganobitch tries to break free but French pushes him back against the cage.
Coganobitch tries to pull guard but French won't allow it.

Coganobitch manages to break the clinch.
Coganobitch tries to close the distance and clinch but French swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
French thows a body shot but no joy.
Coganobitch throws a sloppy head kick and French moves out of range easily.
French fails to land the takedown.
French fails in his attempt to clinch.
French tries for a takedown but Coganobitch circles away easily

and Coganobitch counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Coganobitch decides to stand up.
French looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Coganobitch displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from French.
Staph Coganobitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil French.
French misses with a takedown

and Coganobitch counters with a head kick that drops French to the mat! French scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
French keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
French blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coganobitch dodges the punch combination from French.
Coganobitch tries to clinch up.
Coganobitch closes the distance looking to clinch

and French counters with a shoot takedown. Coganobitch fights it but they end up in guard.
Coganobitch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Coganobitch escapes and gets back to his feet.

Coganobitch has French up against the cage in a clinch.
French is trying to break the clinch but Coganobitch has him pressed against the cage.
Coganobitch looking for a takedown.
Coganobitch is trying to push French away but French has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
French misses with a knee strike.
Coganobitch jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as French walks away with a smile on his face. Coganobitch gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
French avoids the head kick by Coganobitch.
Coganobitch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but French paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coganobitch turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from French.
French looks gassed!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Coganobitch.
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!

Coganobitch gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Coganobitch is looking for a takedown up against the cage. French gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Coganobitch's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Coganobitch tries to clinch but fails miserably
and French counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Coganobitch misses with a head kick.
French moves out of range of the body kick from Coganobitch.
Coganobitch throws a sloppy head kick and French moves out of range easily.
Coganobitch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
French tries to close the distance and clinch but Coganobitch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
French throws a chopping leg kick but Coganobitch manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

French gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

French is working an open guard so Coganobitch takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coganobitch misses with a head kick.
French fails with a takedown attempt.

Coganobitch closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming French to the mat! French manages to get full guard.

Coganobitch stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Coganobitch lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Coganobitch smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
French on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Coganobitch throws a leg kick which misses French's front leg but catches the back leg as French tries to avoid it.
Coganobitch wants to clinch up but French keeps it at a distance.
French blocks a head kick by Coganobitch.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Coganobitch.
Coganobitch wants to clinch.
French is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Coganobitch throws a head kick but French moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Coganobitch misses

and French counters with a single leg into guard. Coganobitch didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
French wants to control from the top but Coganobitch keeps moving.
French in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Coganobitch throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Coganobitch manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Coganobitch fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Coganobitch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Coganobitch connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Coganobitch breaks from the clinch.

Coganobitch looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Staph Coganobitch dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Coganobitch lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Phil French has been cut.
Coganobitch throws a lazy head kick

and French counters by clinching up.
Coganobitch is trying to break the clinch but French is controlling him.
Coganobitch has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Coganobitch has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
French avoiding damage.
French is trying to break the clinch but Coganobitch has him pressed against the cage.

Coganobitch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Staph Coganobitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Coganobitch wants to clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A thudding body kick lands there by Coganobitch!
Coganobitch lets loose with a powerful body kick. French will feel that in the morning.
Coganobitch throws a sloppy head kick and French moves out of range easily.
French is breathing heavily.
Coganobitch lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Coganobitch shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Coganobitch was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Coganobitch stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coganobitch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Coganobitch throws a head kick but French moves out of range.
Coganobitch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Coganobitch tries to clinch but French is having none of it.

Coganobitch moves into the clinch successfully.

French breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
French throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
French shoots in looking for a takedown but Coganobitch manages to keep the fight standing, pushing French's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Coganobitch throws a sloppy head kick and French moves out of range easily.
French takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Coganobitch tries to close the distance and clinch up but French swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A chopping leg kick lands by Coganobitch.
Coganobitch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Coganobitch pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coganobitch looks for the body kick but French saw that one coming.
Coganobitch throws a sloppy head kick

and French counters by clinching up.

Coganobitch breaks from the clinch.
Staph Coganobitch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

French has managed to clinch.

Coganobitch's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Coganobitch throws a head kick but French moves out of range.
Coganobitch throws a push kick but French slaps the foot to one side.
French will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Coganobitch has closed the distance and engaged French in a clinch.

Coganobitch jumps guard.
French is looking to stand up but Coganobitch won't let him.

Coganobitch manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Coganobitch tries a head kick but it misses.
French avoids the head kick by Coganobitch.

Coganobitch shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Coganobitch stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows French to get to his feet.
French fails with an attempt to clinch.
French has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Coganobitch.
Coganobitch tries to clinch up but French circles away and keeps his distance.
Coganobitch misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from French is defended easily by Coganobitch.
Staph Coganobitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil French.
French takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Coganobitch scores with a jab to the body.
Coganobitch tries to bum rush French with a series of wild strikes but French uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Coganobitch misses with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Coganobitch, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

French rushes Coganobitch and presses him up against the cage.
Coganobitch is trying to break free.
French doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
French scores with a hook to the body.
Coganobitch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Coganobitch has French pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. French manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Coganobitch fails to pull the fight into his guard.

French breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Coganobitch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Coganobitch misses with a head kick.
Coganobitch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Coganobitch throws a body punch but French moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
French stuffs the takedown.

French clinches up against the cage.
French throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Coganobitch blocks it with crossed arms.
Coganobitch tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. French just stands there and leans against the cage.

French is trying to trip Coganobitch. He has hold of a leg but Coganobitch is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. French persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Staph Coganobitch dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Phil French's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Coganobitch stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Coganobitch wants it to stay on the feet.
Coganobitch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Coganobitch goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Coganobitch throws a sloppy head kick

and French holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Coganobitch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Coganobitch jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as French walks away with a smile on his face. Coganobitch gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
French misses with a double jab

and Coganobitch counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Coganobitch pushes down on French's leg and manages to get into half guard.
French regains full guard. Nicely done.

Coganobitch stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Coganobitch moves into the clinch successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Coganobitch is trying to push French away but French has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.

French breaks from the clinch.
Coganobitch lands with a thumping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Coganobitch.
Coganobitch swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Coganobitch has managed to clinch.
Coganobitch tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. French smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Staph Coganobitch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Coganobitch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Coganobitch throws a sloppy head kick and French moves out of range easily.
Coganobitch throws a sloppy head kick
and French makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Coganobitch looks to clinch

and French counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Coganobitch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
French lands a jab to the nose.
Coganobitch tries to clinch there but French circles away.
No luck for French with that takedown attempt.
Coganobitch misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Coganobitch moves into the clinch successfully.
French is trying to drag Coganobitch to the mat but Coganobitch just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Coganobitch's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
French swats away the attempt to clinch by Coganobitch.
Coganobitch fails with a takedown attempt.
Coganobitch tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Coganobitch fails with a takedown attempt.
Coganobitch defends well against a solid takedown attempt from French.
Coganobitch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from French.
Staph Coganobitch is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Coganobitch has closed the distance and engaged French in a clinch.

Coganobitch's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Coganobitch misses with a body shot.
French takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
French uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Coganobitch.
French throws a head kick that misses.
Coganobitch misses with a head kick.
Coganobitch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Coganobitch looks for the body kick but French saw that one coming.
Coganobitch moves to clinch but French breaks away
and French counters with a head kick. That will keep Coganobitch thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Coganobitch looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Coganobitch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
French pulls out of a head kick attempt.
French tries to close the distance and clinch but Coganobitch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Coganobitch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but French paws at him with a jab and circles away.
French avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Coganobitch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Coganobitch tries to clinch up but French circles away and keeps his distance.
French has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Coganobitch.
French sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Coganobitch drives through with a takedown into guard.

Coganobitch gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Coganobitch looks to land a body kick but French moved away.
French shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Coganobitch as he jumps to the side.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Coganobitch manages to break the clinch.
French's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Coganobitch throws a sloppy head kick

and French counters with a nice double leg into guard.
French has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Coganobitch is proving hard to escape from.
Phil French has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Staph Coganobitch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Coganobitch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from French.

And that's the end of the fight!
Staph Coganobitch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Coganobitch 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Staph Coganobitch!