PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between DeMario Valdez (ranked 887 p4p, 3464 weight class) and Samuel Cooke (ranked 116 p4p, 409 weight class). Valdez comes to the cage accompanied by Era - Ameno. Cooke has chosen Harm's Way - Warriors Will Reign as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Valdez
vs
Cooke

180 cm
29
154
18 - 12 - 1

184 cm
33
160
20 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 18 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, DeMario Valdez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Samuel Cooke!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valdez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Valdez throws a head kick but Cooke moves out of range.
Valdez misses with an uppercut

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

Cooke is working for an americana but Valdez has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Cooke was thinking about the submission.

Cooke is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Valdez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Valdez has escaped and now he's on top!

Valdez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke tries to strike from the bottom.
Cooke striking off his back but it's not causing Valdez any problems.
Cooke throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cooke striking off his back but it's not causing Valdez any problems.
Cooke thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Valdez slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Cooke.
Cooke punching from the bottom.
Valdez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cooke striking from half guard on the bottom.
Cooke flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cooke punching from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cooke punching from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Valdez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cooke.
Valdez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Cooke takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cooke changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Valdez misses with a straight left.
A left lands for Valdez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez misses with a series of wild punches.
Cooke changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The crowd cheers as Valdez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cooke doesn't seem phased though.
Valdez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cooke.
Valdez digs a good body shot into Cooke's ribs.
Good exchange - Valdez coming out on top.
Valdez throws a jab when Cooke was well out of range.
Cooke slips a straight right by Valdez.
Cooke changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Valdez throws a solid leg kick but Cooke takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Valdez.
Cooke ducks under a wild hook from Valdez.
Cooke is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cooke slips under a jab from Valdez.
And Cooke tries to counter it with a takedown but Valdez pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A chopping leg kick lands by Valdez.
Valdez misses with a wild body shot.
Cooke drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Valdez defends it well.
Valdez throws a shot from downtown. Cooke moves away and avoids it.
Valdez throws the left hand but Cooke avoids the punch easily.
Cooke changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valdez's corner calls for a 1-2. Valdez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Valdez throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cooke.
Cooke changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DeMario Valdez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Valdez misses with a low kick.
Cooke is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Valdez scores with a jab to the head.
Valdez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Valdez looks to throw the jab but Cooke is out of range.
Valdez connects with a body shot.
Valdez throws a head kick that misses

and Cooke counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Cooke is working for a kimura but Valdez is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cooke is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Valdez sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cooke is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Valdez is trying to control but can't.

Valdez is defending against the submission attempts here by Cooke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Valdez is looking for a sweep. Cooke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Cooke is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Valdez has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cooke is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Valdez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cooke.

Valdez is defending against the submission attempts here by Cooke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cooke is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Cooke is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Valdez sees it coming and defends easily.

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.

Cooke is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Cooke is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Cooke is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Valdez is just riding it out for now. Cooke eventually gives up the hold.

Valdez is defending against the submission attempts here by Cooke.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Cooke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Valdez throws a sloppy head kick and Cooke moves out of range easily.
Cooke changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Valdez lands with a cross.
The fighters circling - Valdez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A swing and a miss from Valdez.
Cooke tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cooke keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Valdez.
Nice defenses there by Cooke.
DeMario Valdez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valdez misses with a low kick.
Cooke drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Valdez defends it well.
Valdez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cooke can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cooke.
Valdez missing with a left hand there. Cooke was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Valdez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cooke changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke ducks under a wild hook from Valdez.
Valdez tries to bum rush Cooke with a series of wild strikes but Cooke uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cooke displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Valdez throws out the jab.
Cooke changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Valdez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cooke drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Valdez defends it well.
Valdez just misses with a punch to the body.
Cooke changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Samuel Cooke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valdez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick misses from Valdez.
Valdez lands a jab to the nose.
Cooke ducks under a wild hook from Valdez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez throws a nice head kick!
We've been told by Valdez's head coaches at Crassus that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Valdez scores with a shot to the body.
Valdez throws a leg kick which misses Cooke's front leg but catches the back leg as Cooke tries to avoid it.
Valdez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cooke.
Valdez throws a jab but it's blocked by Cooke.
Valdez throws a lazy uppercut

so Cooke counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!

Cooke postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Valdez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cooke, into his guard.

Valdez won't allow Cooke to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Cooke throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Valdez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cooke thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Cooke throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Valdez trying to control the position from guard on top but Cooke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cooke trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Valdez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Valdez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cooke.
Valdez scores with a jab. Cooke acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A big right from Valdez misses.
Valdez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Valdez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cooke tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cooke slips a jab from Valdez.
Valdez throws a good cross that connects.

And that's the end of the fight!
DeMario Valdez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Valdez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DeMario Valdez!
DeMario Valdez took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.