PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Cooke (ranked 1464 p4p, 2546 weight class) and Harold Nicolas (ranked 190 p4p, 317 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cooke
vs
Nicolas

185 cm
44
184
45 - 23 - 3

187 cm
41
211
37 - 22 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Conquer

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 45 - 23 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt Cooke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Harold Nicolas!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicolas uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cooke stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nicolas tries to move into range but Cooke moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cooke smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Cooke looks to score with a jab to the body but Nicolas is just out of range.
Nicolas appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Nicolas swings for the body but Cooke moves out of range.
Matt Cooke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooke falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nicolas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cooke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sloppy strikes from Cooke. Those never looked like landing.
Nicolas throws out a counter right but Cooke avoids it with no problem.
Cooke has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Silverback MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Cooke jabs at Nicolas's body.
Cooke scores with a jab to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cooke lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nicolas lands a slapping body shot.
Cooke defending well as Nicolas loads up on a big left hand.
Cooke lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicolas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cooke connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nicolas throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Cooke scores with a four punch combination!
Cooke walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Cooke lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Decent striking displayed by Cooke there.
Donk. Nicolas catches Cooke right on the button with a cross.
Cooke dips to his left and cracks Nicolas with an uppercut!
Nicolas misses with a double jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooke cracks Nicolas with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cooke misses with the combination.
Nicolas looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cooke looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicolas misses with a straight left.
Cooke scores with a hook.
Nicolas has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Cooke scores with a jab. Nicolas acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Some wild striking there from Cooke.
Cooke uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nicolas.
Good exchange - Cooke coming out on top.
Nicolas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cooke.
An inside leg kick lands from Cooke.
Cooke moves out of range as Nicolas strikes.
Nicolas walks into a left hand.
Cooke misses with a jab, cross combination.
A countering left hand to the body from Nicolas misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nicolas staying out of range there.
Nicolas appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Nicolas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cooke.
Cooke fails to land with a series of punches.
Nicolas moves out of range as Cooke strikes.
Cooke tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nicolas is able to avoid easily.
Cooke throws a lazy right hand but Nicolas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nicolas misses the jab.
Nicolas fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cooke is out of range.
Cooke scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cooke is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Cooke lands a jab.
Cooke lands with a nice body punch.
Nicolas takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke slips a jab from Nicolas.
Cooke lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nicolas at a distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooke ducks under a wild hook from Nicolas.
Cooke walks into a jab.
Cooke scores with a three punch combo!
Nicolas throws a body shot but no joy.
Cooke throws a series of strikes that have Nicolas backpedaling.
Cooke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nicolas.
Cooke throws an overhand right that lands on Nicolas's shoulder, as Nicolas tries to avoid the shot.
Nicolas looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nicolas misses with a double jab.
Cooke works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nicolas looks to land a right hand but Cooke moved out of range.
Nicolas sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cooke swings widly with a right hand
and Nicolas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Cooke dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Cooke cracks Nicolas with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A combination from Cooke does no damage.
A little jabbing left from Nicolas on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cooke throws a looping overhand right but Nicolas ducks down to avoid it.
Cooke's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nicolas under the eye.
Cooke lands a head shot.
Cooke missing with a left hand there. Nicolas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nicolas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nicolas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cooke.
Cooke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nicolas.
Nicolas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cooke.
Cooke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Nicolas.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cooke.
Nicolas moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Cooke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cooke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cooke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nicolas can do to turn this around?
Nicolas walks into a left hand.
Nicolas connects with a leg kick.
Cooke throws a head kick but Nicolas moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Cooke - just one landing.
Nicolas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nicolas takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Cooke here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Cooke swings for the body but Nicolas moves out of range.
Cooke blocks a jab.
Cooke lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cooke looks to throw the jab but Nicolas is out of range.
Nicolas defending well as Cooke loads up on a big left hand.
Cooke tries a low kick but Nicolas avoids it.
Nicolas looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicolas moves forwards but Cooke connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nice cross by Cooke.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cooke misses with a series of wild punches.
Cooke lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nicolas tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cooke is able to avoid easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Cooke misses its target.
Cooke does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Nice defenses there by Cooke.
Nicolas fails to land with a series of punches.
Cooke throws the left hand but Nicolas avoids the punch easily.
Nicolas throws a jab but it's blocked by Cooke.
Nicolas slips a straight right by Cooke.
Cooke lands with a hook. Nicolas tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matt Cooke is winning the standup battle so far.
Nicolas takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nicolas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cooke.
Nicolas throws out a counter right but Cooke avoids it with no problem.
Nicolas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cooke.
Cooke throws a low kick but Nicolas avoids it.
Cooke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nicolas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nicolas swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cooke looks to land a combination but Nicolas avoids it well.
Cooke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nicolas has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nicolas goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cooke lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cooke throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nicolas counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cooke's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Cooke. Beautiful body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nicolas feints and then cracks Cooke's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cooke down.
Nicolas moves out of range as Cooke strikes.
Cooke throws an overhand right that lands on Nicolas's shoulder, as Nicolas tries to avoid the shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Nicolas misses.
Cooke throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nice uppercut there from Cooke.
Cooke throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nicolas is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cooke dips to his left and cracks Nicolas with an uppercut!
Cooke looks to land a right hand but Nicolas moved out of range.
Cooke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nicolas was well out of range. Poor timing from Cooke.
Cooke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nicolas.
Nicolas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cooke.
Nicolas misses with a right hand
and Cooke counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Cooke dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cooke lands with an overhand left.
Cooke on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nicolas moves away from the strike by Cooke.
Cooke misses with a looping left.
Cooke backing away here, and Nicolas unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Cooke misses with a right hand
and Nicolas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cooke moves away from the strike by Nicolas.
Nicolas throws a body kick that misses.
Nicolas throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cooke stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nicolas throws a jab but it's blocked by Cooke.
Nicolas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke thows a left - swing and a miss!
A telegraphed right hand from Cooke misses the target.
Cooke throws out a loose jab but Nicolas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cooke throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nicolas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cooke tries to bum rush Nicolas with a series of wild strikes but Nicolas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cooke is looking to chop away at Nicolas's legs.
A lazy left from Cooke finds it's target.
Nicolas swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cooke throws a series of strikes that have Nicolas backpedaling.
Nicolas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nicolas blocks a leg kick.
Cooke looks to land a left hand but Nicolas moved out of range nicely.
Nicolas falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Cooke to counter with a crisp jab.
Cooke lands a nice looking body kick.
Cooke throws a looping overhand right but Nicolas ducks down to avoid it.
Nicolas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Cooke. That snapped Nicolas's head back.
Cooke misses with a hook
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.
Nicolas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cooke throws out the jab.
Cooke misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Nicolas counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cooke just misses with a punch to the body.
Cooke connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cooke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cooke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Sloppy strikes from Cooke. Those never looked like landing.
Nicolas scores with a hook.
Cooke throws an overhand right that lands on Nicolas's shoulder, as Nicolas tries to avoid the shot.
Nicolas lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nicolas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cooke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nicolas's head backwards.
Nicolas slips a straight right by Cooke.
Nicolas misses with a body kick.
Nicolas misses with a looping right.
Cooke avoids a kick to the body.
Nicolas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cooke turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cooke throws an off balance right hand
and Nicolas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Nicolas throws a jab when Cooke was well out of range.
Cooke avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cooke looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A punch combination from Cooke misses.
Cooke takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicolas takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nicolas throws a jab but it's blocked by Cooke.
Cooke throws a hook but Nicolas blocks it.
Nicolas is looking for the big counter here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cooke darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cooke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nicolas tries a quick counter leg kick but Cooke is wise to it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cooke connects with a jab.
Harold Nicolas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cooke throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cooke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nicolas.
Cooke scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cooke lands a nice shot to the body.
Matt Cooke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nicolas looks to land a right hand but Cooke moved out of range.
Cooke was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Nicolas misses the body punch
and Cooke counters with a leg kick.
Nicolas throws a leg kick
and Cooke counters with a good low kick that Nicolas was not able to check.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Cooke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cooke 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

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