PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bozigit Atayev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damien Cook will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Atayev
vs
Cook

193 cm
20
240 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

214 cm
25
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bozigit Atayev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Damien Cook!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Patrick Alders and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cook tries to bum rush Atayev with a series of wild strikes but Atayev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cook misses with a wild combination.
Bozigit Atayev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cook works over Atayev's head and body with a nice combination.

Cook shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Atayev is trying to defend but Cook finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cook throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cook throwing shots but Atayev is blocking nicely.
Cook thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cook not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cook throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cook slips a nice elbow through Atayev's hands, connecting with Atayev's forehead.
Atayev wants to control but Cook is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cook sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Atayev defending well though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cook looks to land a combination but Atayev avoids it well.
Atayev misses with a combination
and Cook counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook slaps away a takedown attempt from Atayev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Atayev tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cook counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Atayev is working for takedown but Cook is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cook tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Atayev smiles and moves away.
Atayev wants to clinch up but Cook keeps it at a distance.
Cook tries to clinch but Atayev is having none of it.
Atayev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cook counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cook throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Atayev.
Cook ducks under a wild hook from Atayev.
Atayev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cook counters with a two punch combo.

It looks like Bozigit Atayev has been cut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bozigit Atayev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Atayev is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cook fails in his attempt to clinch.
Atayev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cook counters with a shoot takedown. Atayev fights it but they end up in guard.
Cook throwing strikes but missing.
Cook throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cook cracks Atayev with a solid left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cook scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Atayev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cook.
Cook lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cook with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cook throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Atayev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cook accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Atayev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cook missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cook throwing strikes from guard but Atayev blocks nicely.
Cook working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Atayev's head.
Cook keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Atayev's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Atayev slips a jab and a cross from Cook.

Cook has Atayev up against the cage in a clinch.
Cook is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Atayev is trying to drag Cook to the mat but Cook just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Atayev tries to stall but Cook uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cook fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Atayev breaks the clinch.
Cook scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cook wants to clinch up but Atayev keeps it at a distance.
Atayev misses with a takedown attempt
and Cook counters with a one-two to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cook.
Atayev tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cook counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cook is looking to work some ground and pound but Atayev has wrist control.
Cook keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Atayev's head.
Cook wants to pass the guard but Atayev is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Cook dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bozigit Atayev's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cook throws a series of punches but Atayev moves out of range.
Atayev falls off balance throwing a combination

so Cook counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cook throwing strikes from guard but Atayev blocks nicely.
Cook throws a strike but Atayev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Atayev is looking to stand up but Cook won't let him.
Cook throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cook striking off his back but it's not causing Atayev any problems.
Cook throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Atayev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cook swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cook throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cook is looking to clinch.
Atayev throws a big shot that misses.
Atayev misses with a double jab

and Cook counters by clinching up.
Cook wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cook letting Atayev take a breather here.
Atayev tries to circle away but Cook has him pinned against the cage.

Atayev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Atayev throws a head kick but Cook moves out of range.
Cook checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cook moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cook darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bozigit Atayev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cook misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cook wants to clinch up but Atayev keeps it at a distance.
Atayev throws a left and a right that both miss

and Cook counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Atayev!
Cook scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Cook lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Cook raining down shots from the mount!
Cook landing shots from mount.
Atayev wants to hold on but Cook pushes him away.
Cook looking to finish Atayev with some ground and pound. This is bad for Atayev!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cook has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Atayev's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atayev takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Cook working the ground and pound effectively.
Cook lands with some strikes.
Atayev wants to control but Cook is having none of it.
Cook has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Atayev keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cook postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Atayev looks a forlorn figure.
Cook lands a big elbow.
Cook working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Damien Cook has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee warns Atayev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Cook scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Atayev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Cook looking to finish with strikes here!
Cook punishing his opponent with strikes.
The referee warns Atayev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Cook landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cook throws a wild left hand from mount and Atayev manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atayev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Cook showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bozigit Atayev'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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Atayev misses with a double jab

and Cook counters with a single leg into guard. Atayev didn't expect that.
Atayev has momentary wrist control but Cook slips an elbow through the middle.
Cookis looking to pass into half guard but Atayev pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Atayev is in guard.
Atayev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cook trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cook tries to strike from the bottom.
Cook throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Atayev stands and steps away. Cook gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cook scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Atayev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Atayev throws a sloppy head kick and Cook moves out of range easily.
A punch combination from Cook misses.

Cook gets a takedown into half guard.
Cook thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Atayev's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atayev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cook.
Cook sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Atayev defending well though.
Cook thows a huge punch but Atayev dodges it nicely.
Atayev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cook.
Cook working over Atayev with some ground and pound. Atayev looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cook throwing shots but Atayev is blocking nicely.
Cook working over Atayev with some ground and pound. Atayev looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Atayev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Cook counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Atayev has momentary wrist control but Cook slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook won't allow Atayev to sweep him here.

Atayev is looking for a triangle but Cook pushes his legs off easily.
Cook prevents Atayev from getting back to his feet.
Cook working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cook postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cook lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Atayev wants to sweep here but Cook controlling him for the moment.
Cook working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cook lands a couple of digs.
Cook missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook throws and elbow that misses. Atayev uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cook's guard. Nice move by Atayev!
Atayev wants to control from the top but Cook keeps moving.
Atayev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cook striking off his back but it's not causing Atayev any problems.
Cook will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Cook will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Atayev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cook lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cook tries to pull guard but Atayev holds him up against the cage and eventually Cook drops back down to his feet.

Atayev jumps into guard, dragging Cook to the mat.

Cook got a little sloppy there for a moment and Atayev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cook has managed to get both his arms back between Atayev's legs - danger averted.
Cook must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook postures up.
Cook postures up and lands a big shot to Atayev's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cook throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Atayev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Atayev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cook throws a big right hand that misses.
Cook with a nice head shot there.
Cook thows a big elbow that misses.
Bozigit Atayev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Damien Cook is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cook postures up in Atayev's guard and throws a big left but Atayev blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 26:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 26:30

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