California welterweight Brett Cooper stepped in on late notice in place of his trainer Antonio McKee and knocked out Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Sergio Moraes at the buzzer in the main event of Jungle Fight 15 on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Moraes dominated the first round with a takedown and control of Cooper on the ground with attempts at a rear-naked choke and an armbar. But Cooper (10-5) in the second was able to keep the majority of the fight standing and finally made Moraes pay for keeping his hands low, digging a right uppercut for the knockout at exactly the end of round two.
Moraes was previously unbeaten in five fights and was victorious in June by triangle choke at a Bellator event in Hollywood, Fla. His biggest win, though, came in grappling when he pulled the upset over Kron Gracie at the 2008 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships.
The win was much-needed for Cooper, who was coming off a surprising TKO loss to Waachim Spiritwolf at Ultimate Chaos in June, which ended a six-fight win streak that included stops with Shooto, the IFL and Affliction.
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