PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Panayotov (ranked 1548 p4p, 2489 weight class) and Matt Cooke (ranked 225 p4p, 313 weight class). Panayotov comes to the cage accompanied by Mad World - Gary Jules / Tears For Fears (Cover by Jasmine Thompson). 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 Matt Cooke was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Panayotov
vs
Cooke

196 cm
39
205
16 - 14 - 0

185 cm
43
210
43 - 22 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Vegan Gains
Voodoo Nutrition

Voodoo Nutrition
KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nikolay Panayotov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 43 - 22 - 3, fighting out of London, Matt Cooke!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooke keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Panayotov.
A little jabbing left from Cooke on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Panayotov lands a right hook to the body.
Good work by Panayotov as he checks the leg kick.
Panayotov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cooke was well out of range. Poor timing from Panayotov.
Cooke throws a lazy head kick
and Panayotov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Panayotov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cooke comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A combination from Cooke does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panayotov moves out of range of the body kick.
Cooke misses with a low kick as Panayotov jumps back.
Cooke throws a chopping leg kick but Panayotov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panayotov lands a jab to Cooke's midsection.
Panayotov misses with a wild body shot.
Panayotov throws out a loose jab but Cooke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cooke throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cooke misses with a hook. Panayotov ducked under it nicely.
Panayotov slips under a jab from Cooke.
Panayotov avoids the head kick by Cooke.
Panayotov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A low kick from Cooke is predictable there
and Panayotov counters with a straight right hand.
Cooke lands a jab to Panayotov's midsection.
The fighters circling - Cooke throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Panayotov is looking to wear down Cooke with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panayotov avoids the head kick by Cooke.
Sloppy strikes from Panayotov. Those never looked like landing.
Cooke throws a fast counter high kick but Panayotov manages to duck under it in time.
Cooke lands a nice shot to the body.
Cooke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cooke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Panayotov moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cooke is looking to chop away at Panayotov's legs.
Cooke avoids the body shot from Panayotov.
No joy there for Cooke, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Panayotov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cooke on the side of the head.
Cooke throws a lazy body kick

and Panayotov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cooke!

Panayotov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Matt Cooke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A jab lands there for Panayotov.
Cooke takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Panayotov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cooke on the side of the head.
Cooke looks to land a body kick but Panayotov moved away.
A quick step to the side and Panayotov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cooke throws a body punch but Panayotov moves out of range.
A low kick from Cooke misses
and Panayotov counters with a straight right hand.
Cooke misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Cooke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panayotov blocks a head kick by Cooke.
Panayotov throws a shot to the body.
Cooke sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Panayotov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cooke misses with an uppercut. Panayotov saw that one coming.
Cooke misses the body punch
and Panayotov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Panayotov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Panayotov swings for the body but Cooke moves out of range.
Panayotov lands a body shot.
Panayotov cracks Cooke with a right hand to the side of the head.
Panayotov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Panayotov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cooke throws a lazy right hand but Panayotov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Panayotov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Panayotov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cooke throws a leg kick
letting Panayotov counter with a right hand.
Cooke takes a swing at Panayotov's ribcage but misses.
Panayotov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cooke circles away quickly and effectively.
Cooke has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cooke there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cooke misses with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cooke swings away with a body shot that misses
and Panayotov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Panayotov throws a shot from downtown. Cooke moves away and avoids it.
Panayotov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panayotov misses the jab.
Panayotov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab from Cooke misses.
Panayotov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cooke counters with a nice uppercut.
Cooke throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Panayotov attempts a counter takedown but Cooke avoids it well and moves away.
Cooke throws a lazy uppercut
and Panayotov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cooke keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Panayotov.
Cooke looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nikolay Panayotov is winning the standup battle so far.
Cooke misses with a body shot
and Panayotov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Panayotov lands a slapping body shot.
Panayotov misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panayotov tries a head kick but it misses.
Panayotov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cooke counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Nice uppercut lands for Cooke. That snapped Panayotov's head back.
Panayotov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cooke under the eye.
Matt Cooke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Panayotov connects with a body shot.
Nice jab there from Panayotov.
Panayotov misses with an uppercut. Cooke saw that one coming.
Cooke scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Panayotov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cooke moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panayotov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cooke.
Cooke looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Panayotov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cooke.
Cooke throws a lazy uppercut
and Panayotov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cooke thows a leg kick but Panayotov checks it
and Panayotov counters with a head kick. That will keep Cooke thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Cooke wants to slow Panayotov down by chopping away at his legs.
Cooke throws a half hearted mid kick.
Panayotov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Panayotov lands a slapping body shot.
Panayotov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Panayotov ducks under a wild hook from Cooke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panayotov cracks Cooke with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Cooke on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Panayotov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Panayotov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cooke throws a low kick but Panayotov avoids it.
Panayotov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cooke misses with a shot to the body
letting Panayotov counter with a right hand.
Panayotov lands with an overhand left.
Cooke throws a right hand that misses
and Panayotov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cooke throws a head kick that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Panayotov dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Cooke looks to land a left hand but Panayotov moved out of range nicely.
Panayotov throws a looping overhand right but Cooke ducks down to avoid it.
Cooke throws a big counter head kick but Panayotov avoids it with no problem.
Panayotov loads up on a big right hand but Cooke slips the punch.
Panayotov connects with a looping right hand.
Panayotov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cooke makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Panayotov misses with a few strikes there.
Cooke throws a jab but it's blocked by Panayotov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke misses with a two punch combination.
Panayotov misses with a head kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cooke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panayotov jabs Cooke right on the nose. Cooke blinks but takes it well.
Cooke misses with a low kick.

Panayotov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Panayotov advances to mount.
Panayotov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cooke tries to hold on but Panayotov postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooke is looking to get to half guard.

Panayotov get's back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Cooke.
Panayotov throws a head kick but Cooke moves out of range.
Cooke swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cooke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cooke throws a body kick that misses.
A leg kick checked by Panayotov.
Cooke is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Cooke throws out a leg kick but Panayotov moves out of range and Cooke only half commits.
Panayotov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Panayotov lands with an uppercut that bounces Cooke off the cage and back into range.
Panayotov connects with a high kick.
Cooke thows a leg kick but Panayotov checks it
and Panayotov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Panayotov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Panayotov throws a sloppy head kick and Cooke moves out of range easily.
Cooke has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cooke misses with a body punch
and Panayotov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Panayotov scores with a hook to the body. Cooke takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cooke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Panayotov manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panayotov slips under a jab.
Panayotov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cooke.
Cooke misses with a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Panayotov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Panayotov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cooke.
A swing and a miss from Cooke.
Nikolay Panayotov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cooke takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cooke misses with a head kick.
Panayotov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cooke can do to turn this around?
Panayotov scores with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolay Panayotov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Panayotov 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolay Panayotov!
An out of breath Nikolay Panayotov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.