PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Orion Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jiro Chiba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chiba has chosen http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=metallica+enter+sandman&aq=3 as his entrance music. Jiro Chiba told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Cook
vs
Chiba

184 cm
27
197 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
24
192 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Orion Cook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jiro Chiba!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chiba slips under a jab.
Cook is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chiba.

Cook closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cook trying to control the position but Chiba is working away.
Cook tries to advance position but instead Chiba slips a leg back in to half guard.
Cook seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chiba is refusing to be controlled, as Cook sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Orion Cook.
Cook bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Chiba's head.

Cook closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cook lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chiba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Chiba wants to get back to his feet but Cook is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cook trying to control but Chiba is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook looking to pass the guard.
Cook works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Cook is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Cook is looking for a kimura but Chiba is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cook to get the leverage.
Cook throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook trying to pass the guard but Chiba defending well.
Cook throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Chiba wants to get back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cook connects with a nice short shot to Chiba's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cook not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cook throwing shots but Chiba is blocking nicely.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cook misses with an uppercut.
Cook looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Chiba is fending him off so far but Cook persists. Nope, Chiba circles away and we're back to standing.
Chiba tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Cook shoots in and bounces Chiba off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cook working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Chiba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cook.
Chiba keeping moving, preventing Cook from controlling successfully.
Cook is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cook tries to free his leg and advance position but Chiba is retaining full guard.
Chiba wants to stand and escape but Cook is having none of it.
Cook wants to control from the top but Chiba keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cook is defended easily by Chiba.
Cook avoids the head kick by Chiba.
Cook looks to land a left hand but Chiba moved out of range nicely.
A punch combination from Cook misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cook connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Chiba leaves Cook with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Chiba tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jiro Chiba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orion Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cook changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Chiba tries to avoid it but Cook manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Chiba to the ground. Chiba escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

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

It looks like Orion Cook has been cut.
Cook misses with a straight right.
Cook misses with a straight right.

Cook gets the takedown into side control.
Chiba is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cook asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chiba is not content to let Cook control the position.
Cook lands a few punches from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cook is looking to take a break and control but Chiba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cook tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cook wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Chiba, who protects the arm well.
Cook taking a breather here.
Cook tries to move to mount but Chiba blocks the move with his legs.

Cook looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four 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.

Cook goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Chiba rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cook's guard! Nice work there by Chiba!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chiba trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cook's guard.
Chiba won't allow Cook to sweep him here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Cook is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Chiba defends well.
Cook wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Chiba would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jiro Chiba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Orion Cook's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cook shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Chiba as he avoids it easily.
Cook lands a jab to the nose.
Cook looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Chiba is fending him off so far but Cook persists. Nope, Chiba circles away and we're back to standing.
Cook pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cook.
Cook wants to control but Chiba is keeping him busy.
Chiba tries to escape but Cook is in control.
You can see the frustration on Chiba's face as Cook controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook with the ground and pound but Chiba regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Chiba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cook.
Chiba blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cook.

Cook is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Chiba defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cook wants to pass the guard but Chiba is defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Chiba stuffs the takedown attempt from Cook. Cook gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orion Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Cook throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cook shoots in and drives through. Chiba sprawls well.

Cook shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Chiba's guard.
Chiba keeping full guard, as Cook tries to pass.
Chiba can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cook controls the pace.

Cook has gone for a leg lock! Chiba slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cook's guard.
Chiba wants to get up but he can't break Cook's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cook had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Chiba defends it easily.

Cook had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Chiba defends it easily.
Chiba is looking to stand up but Cook won't let him.
Cook not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Chiba preventing the sweep.
Chiba has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cook is proving hard to escape from.

Cook is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Chiba has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cook is proving hard to escape from.
Orion Cook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Chiba throws a sloppy head kick and Cook moves out of range easily.
Chiba takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cook changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Chiba tries to avoid it but Cook manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Chiba to the ground. Chiba escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cook misses with a wild combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cook shoots in but no luck this time.
A big left from Cook misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Orion Cook showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cook 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

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