PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ray Cooper Iv (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mako Takaziko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cooper Iv comes to the cage accompanied by Hawaiian Kickboxer. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Cooper Iv
vs
Takaziko

176 cm
25
138 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

176 cm
20
142 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ray Cooper Iv!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mako Takaziko!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takaziko throws a right hand that Cooper Iv ducks under and follows up with a left that Cooper Iv also avoids with ease.
Cooper Iv tried to counter with a leg kick but Takaziko avoided it.
Takaziko is looking to land body kicks.
Cooper Iv looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

Takaziko drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cooper Iv being controlled for a moment.
Takaziko landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takaziko throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Cooper Iv works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Cooper Iv has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Takaziko lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaziko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cooper Iv's head.
Cooper Iv trying to control here.
Cooper Iv is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Takaziko is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cooper Iv wants to get back to full guard but Takaziko has passed into side control.
Takaziko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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 Iv avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Takaziko.
Takaziko is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Takaziko decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Takaziko looking to score a takedown here. Cooper Iv is defending well but Takaziko drives through and ends up in Cooper Iv's guard.
Cooper Iv utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takaziko decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cooper Iv.
Mako Takaziko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooper Iv throws a sloppy head kick

and Takaziko counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cooper Iv!
Takaziko throws a strike aimed at the side of Cooper Iv's head but Cooper Iv avoids it well.
Takaziko working the ground and pound.

Takaziko decides to stand back up.
Cooper Iv misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Takaziko misses.
Cooper Iv really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A head kick by Takaziko misses
and Cooper Iv counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Takaziko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Takaziko gets to his feet - Cooper Iv follows without any prompting.

Takaziko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cooper Iv napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takaziko cracks Cooper Iv with a big elbow.
Takaziko controlling the position from side mount.
Takaziko in side control lands a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooper Iv looking for a sweep but Takaziko has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Takaziko lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mako Takaziko dominated that round.
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.

Takaziko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cooper Iv manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cooper Iv is looking to counter punch.
Takaziko moves out of range of the body kick from Cooper Iv.
Takaziko is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Cooper Iv circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cooper Iv counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mako Takaziko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cooper Iv connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Takaziko momentarily.

It looks like Mako Takaziko has been cut.
Cooper Iv just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper Iv missing with a left hand there. Takaziko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cooper Iv lands an overhand right.

Takaziko is rocked!
Cooper Iv misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takaziko drives through with a takedown into guard.
Takaziko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Takaziko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Takaziko stands up over Cooper Iv, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Takaziko stands and steps away. Cooper Iv gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Takaziko drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Takaziko landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takaziko postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Mako Takaziko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Takaziko working the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Takaziko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Takaziko decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Good leg kick by Cooper Iv there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cooper Iv checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takaziko bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Takaziko happy to just control the position for now.
Takaziko looks up at the clock and then as Cooper Iv takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Takaziko smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Cooper Iv tries to escape but Takaziko is in control.

Takaziko decides to stand back up. Takaziko steps back and let's Cooper Iv get back to his feet.

Takaziko darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Takaziko is breathing heavily.
Takaziko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takaziko decides to stand and escape the position.
Cooper Iv lands a head kick. Takaziko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Takaziko with a poor takedown
and Cooper Iv makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Takaziko really felt that one!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cooper Iv fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Takaziko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Takaziko shoots and misses
and Cooper Iv cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cooper Iv lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ray Cooper Iv will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mako Takaziko's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cooper Iv tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takaziko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Takaziko looks to land a combination but Cooper Iv avoids it well.
Ray Cooper Iv is winning the standup battle so far.
Cooper Iv jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Cooper Iv feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Takaziko sprawling to the canvas! Takaziko rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Cooper Iv finish him?!
Takaziko is still on wobbly legs! Can Cooper Iv finish him?
Takaziko misses with a low kick as Cooper Iv jumps back.

Takaziko looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cooper Iv!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Takaziko stands up.
Takaziko wants to stay close but Cooper Iv steps back to make room for something. Takaziko seems frozen to the spot and bam! huge swing of the leg from Cooper Iv and Takaziko drops like he has been shot! A huge head kick and it's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Ray Cooper Iv!
Ray Cooper Iv made sure to mention his sponsor, Quark's in his post fight interview.