PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Konstantin Magomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cook is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by motherlover. Konstantin Magomedov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Magomedov
vs
Cook

188 cm
18
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Konstantin Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Damien Cook!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Cook.
Cook avoids the body shot from Magomedov.
Cook shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Magomedov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cook's guard.
Magomedov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Magomedov preventing the sweep.
Magomedov content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Magomedov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Konstantin Magomedov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cook misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cook sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cook lands a glancing blow to the side of Magomedov's head.
Magomedov wants to slow Cook down by chopping away at his legs.
Cook checks a leg kick.

Magomedov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cook did well to prevent Magomedov getting side control.
Magomedov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Magomedov could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Magomedov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cook on the ground.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Konstantin Magomedov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cook misses with a takedown

and Magomedov counters by moving into the clinch.
Cook wants to get back to striking at distance but Magomedov won't allow it.
Cook misses with a hook to the ribs.
Magomedov is working for takedown but Cook is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Magomedov throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Magomedov throws an elbow but misses.
Cook tries to break free but Magomedov pushes him back against the cage.
Cook wants to break free but Magomedov has control.
Magomedov misses with a knee to the head.

Cook breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cook drives through with a takedown into Magomedov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Magomedov pulls Cook in close to prevent any damage.
Cook trying to control but Magomedov is working from the bottom.
Cook preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov has Cook pulled in close to control his posture.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cook avoids the body shot from Magomedov.
Magomedov dodges the punch combination from Cook.
Cook tries to bum rush Magomedov with a series of wild strikes but Magomedov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Cook closes the distance and pushes Magomedov back into the cage.
Magomedov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cook blocks it with crossed arms.
Magomedov has Cook pressed against the cage, preventing Cook from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Magomedov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Magomedov keeps control of Cook as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Magomedov trying to land knees to the body.
Magomedov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cook wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Magomedov has him pressed against the cage.

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.
Magomedov taking a breather.

Cook manages to break the clinch.
Cook misses with the combination.

Magomedov pushes Cook up against the cage in a clinch.

Cook breaks from the clinch.
Cook shoots and misses

and Magomedov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cook's guard.
Konstantin Magomedov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Cook.
Magomedov controlling from the top position.
Magomedov won't allow Cook to sweep him here.
Cook looks gassed!
Magomedov controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Magomedov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Magomedov slips a jab and a cross from Cook.
Magomedov throws the left hand but Cook avoids the punch easily.

Cook moves into range and clinches up with Magomedov.
Cook working hard to break the clinch.
Cook on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Magomedov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cook misses with some punches.
Cook can't break the clinch.
Cook is trying to break the clinch but Magomedov has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cook wants to get back to striking at distance but Magomedov won't allow it.
Magomedov keeps control of Cook as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Magomedov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cook's brow.
Magomedov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cook is trying to break the clinch but Magomedov has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook wants to break free but Magomedov has control.
Cook misses with some punches.
Magomedov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cook avoids it.
Cook lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Cook manages to break the clinch.
Magomedov throws a leg kick but Cook checks it.
Magomedov misses with a looping left.
Cook throws a lazy right hand but Magomedov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Magomedov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Cook checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Magomedov throws a leg kick that misses.
Cook closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A looping hook to the body misses from Magomedov. Cook does a little dance to reset his feet.

Cook takes the fight into the clinch.
Cook has had enough of the clinch but Magomedov keeps him there for the moment.
Cook is looking to break free of the clinch but Magomedov has double underhooks.
Magomedov looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cook up against the cage.
Cook tries to break the clinch but Magomedov is controlling the position.
Good body shot from Cook.
Cook is trying to push Magomedov away but Magomedov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Magomedov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Magomedov tries a body shot but Cook blocks it.
Magomedov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Cook tries to break the clinch but Magomedov is controlling the position.
Cook tries to break the clinch but Magomedov is controlling the position.
Magomedov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cook up against the cage.
Magomedov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cook is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cook breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Cook misses.
A punch combination from Cook misses.
Magomedov motions for Cook to come forward. Magomedov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Magomedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cook moves away.
Cook lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Magomedov circles away quickly and effectively.
Cook checks a leg kick nicely.
Magomedov throws a looping overhand right but Cook ducks down to avoid it.

Cook darts in and clinches Magomedov up against the cage.
Cook wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cook is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Magomedov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cook's elbow.
Magomedov misses with a knee to the head.
Magomedov throws a punch but it's blocked by Cook.
Cook tries to circle away but Magomedov has him pinned against the cage.
Magomedov prevents Cook from breaking the clinch.

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 wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cook tries to break the clinch but Magomedov is controlling the position.
Cook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cook avoiding damage as Magomedov throws knees to the body.
Cook is trying to break the clinch but Magomedov has him pressed against the cage.
Magomedov missing with knees to the body.
Magomedov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Magomedov stalling in the clinch but Cook improves position.
Cook gets underhooks to prevent Magomedov's takedown attempt.
Cook blocks an uppercut.
Magomedov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cook.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cook is trying to break free.
Cook managing to block the knees to the body from Magomedov.
Magomedov trying to land knees to the body.
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 fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cook lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cook.
Magomedov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cook keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cook will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Magomedov misses with a lunging right hand

and Cook counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cook.
Magomedov trying to stall but Cook improves his position.
Cook is trying to break the clinch but Magomedov is controlling him.
Magomedov tries to throw a body punch but Cook avoids it by throwing Magomedov back against the cage.
Cook avoids the elbow strike from Magomedov, against the cage.
Magomedov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cook avoids the damage to the body.
Magomedov just leaning against Cook, taking a breather.
Magomedov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cook has had enough of the clinch but Magomedov keeps him there for the moment.
Cook is trying to break free.
Magomedov missing with knees to the body.
Magomedov keeps control of Cook as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov misses with an elbow strike.
Cook is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cook tries to break free but Magomedov pushes him back against the cage.
Cook avoiding damage as Magomedov throws knees to the body.
Cook wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Magomedov has him pressed against the cage.
Magomedov tries to work over Cook's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cook is trying to break free.
Cook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Magomedov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cook up against the cage.
Magomedov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cook is defending well for now.
Cook is trying to force a seperation but Magomedov has the dominant position.
Magomedov missing with knees to the body.

That's two 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 breaks the clinch.

Magomedov shoots in and bounces Cook off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Magomedov won't allow Cook to get back to his feet.
Magomedov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cook wants to sweep here but Magomedov controlling him for the moment.
Magomedov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Konstantin Magomedov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nice uppercut there from Cook.
Cook lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Magomedov swings for the body but Cook moves out of range.
Cook moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cook checks a leg kick.
Magomedov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cook pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Damien Cook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cook fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Magomedov, pushing him back against the cage.
Magomedov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cook avoids the damage to the body.
Cook is trying to push Magomedov away but Magomedov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cook is trying to break free.

Cook's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Magomedov slips a straight right by Cook.
Cook throws a series of punches but Magomedov avoids them all with ease.
Cook takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Magomedov clinches up against the cage.
Magomedov looking to throw knees to the head but Cook is blocking nicely.
Cook blocking some punches.
Magomedov misses with an elbow over the top.
Cook is trying to push Magomedov away but Magomedov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Magomedov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cook pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Magomedov misses with a punch to the body.

Cook breaks from the clinch.
Cook swinging wildly here.

Cook closes the distance and pushes Magomedov back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Magomedov tries to land knees in the clinch but Cook avoids the damage to the body.
Cook is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cook tries to circle away but Magomedov has him pinned against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien Cook comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cook has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

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