PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jerome McCool (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davor Sakic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakic has chosen Hail mary Tupac Shakur as his entrance music. Jerome McCool had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

McCool
vs
Sakic

182 cm
25
185 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

188 cm
25
196 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jerome McCool!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Davor Sakic!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCool misses with a jab, cross combination.

McCool lands a big head kick that sends Sakic tumbling to the mat! McCool takes a step backwards and waves Sakic back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Davor Sakic has been cut.
McCool looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sakic is fending him off so far but McCool persists. Nope, Sakic circles away and we're back to standing.
McCool tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sakic swivels and escapes.
McCool shoots in for a double leg but Sakic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome McCool. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McCool drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sakic has an active guard here but McCool has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sakic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

McCool stands up from Sakic's guard - McCool perhaps looking for a knockout.
No luck for McCool with that takedown attempt.
McCool shoots for a takedown but Sakic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCool shoots in for a takedown but Sakic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
McCool is breathing heavily.

Sakic clinches up against the cage.

Sakic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sakic leaves McCool with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McCool shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McCool fails with the takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sakic scores with a knee to the head.
Sakic landing knees to the head.
Sakic tries to score a body lock takedown but McCool shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Sakic turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCool tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sakic wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sakic scoring with punches and elbows.
Sakic landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
McCool is looking for a sweep.
McCool is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sakic's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
McCool avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sakic.
McCool slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McCool keeping moving, preventing Sakic from controlling successfully.
Sakic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McCool controls Sakic momentarily but Sakic frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakic throwing strikes but missing.
McCool is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sakic is controlling him.
McCool manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sakic in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakic is in all sorts of trouble here.

McCool stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Sakic blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCool shoots in but Sakic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sakic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McCool.
McCool tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sakic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McCool somewhat.
Sakic looks to land a combination. McCool sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
McCool shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sakic as he jumps to the side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McCool gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sakic to score an easy takedown into full guard.
McCool trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome McCool dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Davor Sakic's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McCool gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Sakic to counter with a crisp jab.
McCool tries for a takedown but Sakic circles away easily

and Sakic counters with a single leg into guard. McCool didn't expect that.
Sakic content to stall in guard here.
Sakic trying to control but McCool is working from the bottom.
Sakic working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

McCool working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sakic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCool throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sakic throwing strikes from guard but McCool blocks nicely.
McCool keeping moving, preventing Sakic from controlling successfully.
Sakic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCool is keeping the position for now.
McCool looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McCool lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sakic!
McCool tries to control but Sakic wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
McCool prevents Sakic from getting the reversal.
Sakic regains half guard.

McCool is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sakic defends it well.
Sakic won't allow McCool to pass to mount.
Sakic wants to get back to full guard.

McCool stands up out of the half guard.
Jerome McCool seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCool with a poor takedown

and Sakic counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome McCool. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCool is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sakic in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
McCool tries to escape but Sakic is in control.
Sakic wants to control but McCool is keeping him busy.
McCool wants to control but Sakic postures up.
McCool takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
McCool tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McCool really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sakic landing shots from mount.
Sakic lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Davor Sakic has got the better of the ground game so far.
McCool sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
McCool is trying to control but can't.
McCool is looking to improve his position.
Sakic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sakic not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McCool tries to kick Sakic off but Sakic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sakic throwing shots but McCool is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davor Sakic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Davor Sakic'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!

McCool is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sakic's half guard.
McCool looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Sakic actively working from the bottom here.
McCool winds up and cracks Sakic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sakic punching from the bottom.
McCool wants to free his trapped foot but Sakic is holding on for dear life with his legs.
McCool has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
McCool avoids the attempt from Sakic to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCool landing strikes from the mount and Sakic is in trouble!

McCool stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Sakic takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McCool shoots and misses
and Sakic counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sakic has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Nice sprawl there from Sakic as McCool shoots in.

Sakic feints and as McCool raises his hands in defense, Sakic changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
McCool lands with a heel strike from the guard.

Sakic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sakic postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCool is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

McCool is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sakic sees it coming and defends easily.
McCool thows a huge punch but Sakic dodges it nicely.
McCool is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Sakic reverses the position - he's now on top in McCool's guard.
McCool keeping moving, preventing Sakic from controlling successfully.
Sakic scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCool is trying to keep Sakic in close.

McCool looking for a guillotine here but Sakic defends easily.
Sakic won't allow McCool to sweep him here.
Sakic wants to pass the guard but McCool is keeping the position.
Sakic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakic passes easily into side control. Nice work.
McCool gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCool works his way to full guard. Good work.
McCool looking for a sweep. Not yet McCool, not yet.
Sakic throwing strikes but missing.
McCool manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sakic manages to get himself to full guard.
McCool works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McCool wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakic keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McCool escapes and gets back to his feet.
McCool shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and McCool takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerome McCool showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McCool 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerome McCool!