PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Felipe Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Orion Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Felipe Machado has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Machado
vs
Cook

195 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

184 cm
25
197 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Felipe Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Orion Cook!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cook as he avoids it easily.
Machado tries to clinch up but Cook circles away and keeps his distance.
Cook shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Machado defends it nicely.

Cook scores with a takedown into Machado's guard.
Machado will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cook tries to free his leg and advance position but Machado is retaining full guard.
Machado utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cook pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machado is keeping the position for now.
Cook working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Machado working for a triangle but Cook defends it easily.

Machado has his foot on Cook's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cook works his way back into a safe position though.
Cook lands a couple of elbows.
Cook has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machado trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Machado ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cook moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado sizes up Cook with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
No joy there for Machado, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A punch combination from Machado misses.
Machado misses with a double jab.
A slow jab from Cook misses its intended target.
Cook throws a hook to the side of Machado's head but Machado sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Machado throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Machado wants to clinch.
Machado jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Machado misses with a wild combination.

Cook shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Machado's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machado is breathing heavily.

Cook is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook throwing strikes but missing.
Cook wants to control from the top but Machado keeps moving.

Machado looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cook cracks Machado with a solid left hand.
Cook passes Machado's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cook is pressing down on Machado's thigh, looking to free his foot. Machado is holding on for now.
Cook wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machado keeps working.

Cook seems to be working for a kimura but Machado defends the submission attempt.
Machado trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Machado does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Machado is looking to improve his position.

Machado looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Machado wants to improve his position but Cook is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cook moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Machado uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cook.

Cook looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Machado is staying active underneath Cook, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Machado is looking for a sweep. Cook is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook lands strikes from half guard.
Cook is looking to take a break and control but Machado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cook working Machado over with strikes.

Cook looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Cook is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cook working over Machado with some ground and pound. Machado looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Machado misses with a wild combination.
Cook misses with a double jab.
A slow jab from Machado misses its intended target.
Machado throws a shot from downtown. Cook moves away and avoids it.

Machado gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cook to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cook with a nice head shot there.
Machado tries to strike from the bottom.
Machado looking for a sweep. Not yet Machado, not yet.

Machado looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cook working some strikes from top position.
Cook trying to control the position from guard on top but Machado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Machado utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Machado throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cook avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machado takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cook throws a hook but Machado avoids it easily.
Machado throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cook counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Machado's guard now.

Cook thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cook trying to control but Machado is working from the bottom.

Cook drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cook jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Machado controls Cook momentarily but Cook frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cook is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Machado controls Cook momentarily but Cook frees himself.
Cook keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Machado's head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Machado throws a hook but Cook blocks it.
Machado misses with an uppercut.
Machado throws an overhand right that lands on Cook's shoulder, as Cook tries to avoid the shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Machado misses the target.
Felipe Machado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machado wants to clinch but Cook slips to the side
and Cook counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Machado throws a predictable looking body shot

and Cook counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cook pushing down on Machado's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook trying to control the action but Machado is working from the bottom.

Cook is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cook winds up and cracks Machado with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Machado tries to roll over but Cook keeps him under control.

Cook is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Machado has managed to free his arm - good work.
Machado is trying to get back to full guard.
Machado landing a few short strikes.
Machado on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cook is keen to just control but Machado is a slippery customer.

Cook is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Machado doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cook.
Cook thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Machado's head.
Machado tries to roll over but Cook keeps him under control.
Machado punching from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cook throws a series of punches but Machado moves out of range.
Machado moves away from the strike by Cook.
A jab from Cook misses.
Machado misses with a double jab

and Cook counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Machado's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orion Cook showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cook shoots in for a takedown but Machado shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Machado throws a jab but it's blocked by Cook.
Cook smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Machado missing with a left hand there. Cook was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Machado wants to clinch but Cook slips to the side

and Cook counters with a shoot takedown. Machado fights it but they end up in guard.
Cook tries to free his leg and advance position but Machado is retaining full guard.

Machado has his foot on Cook's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cook works his way back into a safe position though.
Cook postures up and lands a big shot to Machado's brow.
Cook postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Machado throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Cook escapes and throws Machado's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machado takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Machado trying to remain calm as Cook controls from the top position.
Cook trying to control the action but Machado is working from the bottom.
Cook lands some shots froms side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook is looking to take a break and control but Machado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Orion Cook has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machado taking a bit of punishment here - Cook scoring with strikes.
Cook moves into full mount!

Cook looking for a guillotine from mount but Machado is having none of it.
Cook looking to control but Machado is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Machado gets back to half guard.
Machado wants to control but Cook is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Felipe Machado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machado is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cook pulls his head out easily.
Cook is trying to control. Machado wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Machado wants to improve his position but Cook is controlling well.

Cook seems to be working for a kimura but Machado defends the submission attempt.

Machado looking for submissions off his back.
Cook lands with a punch from half guard.
Cook is trying to control. Machado wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Machado missing with punches from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Cook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machado is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cook pulls his head out easily.

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

Machado actively working from the bottom here.

Machado looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cook is keen to just control but Machado is a slippery customer.
Orion Cook is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Machado actively working from the bottom here.
Cook wants to take a breather but Machado is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cook controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Machado is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cook pulls his head out easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Machado takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Machado doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Cook counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cook wants to control from the top but Machado keeps moving.
Cook stands and throws Machado's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Machado taking punishment in the form of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Orion Cook comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cook has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Orion Cook!