PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Orion Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonel Lutsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonel Lutsky will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cook
vs
Lutsky

184 cm
30
197 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

188 cm
24
200 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 7 - 5 - 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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leonel Lutsky!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cook looks to land a left hand but Lutsky moved out of range nicely.
Cook shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cook loads up on a big right hand but Lutsky slips the punch.
Lutsky slips a jab and a cross from Cook.
Lutsky throws a body kick that misses.
Cook shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lutsky throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Cook throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lutsky was covering up waiting for the punch and Cook finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lutsky wants to sweep here but Cook controlling him for the moment.
Cook stops Lutsky from standing up.
Lutsky really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cook. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cook postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cook throws and elbow that misses. Lutsky uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cook's guard. Nice move by Lutsky!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cook wants to sweep here but Lutsky controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cook working for a triangle but Lutsky defends it easily.
Cook looking for a sweep. Not yet Cook, not yet.
Lutsky must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cook doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cook looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cook is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cook thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lutsky wants to control but Cook is keeping busy.
Cook throwing shots but Lutsky is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook prevents Lutsky from improving his position.
Lutsky is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Cook looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lutsky with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Cook is trying to work for a kimura but Lutsky is defending well.
Cook looks to land a strike but Lutsky avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cook in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lutsky preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cook working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook throwing strikes but missing.
Cook in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cook scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lutsky preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cook pushes down on Lutsky's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cook has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cook thows a huge punch but Lutsky dodges it nicely.
Lutsky trying to control but Cook postures up.
Lutsky avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cook.
Lutsky trying to control from the bottom.
Lutsky avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cook lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Cook is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lutsky has managed to free his arm - good work.

Cook is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lutsky is just riding it out for now. Cook eventually gives up the hold.
Cook throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cook thows a huge punch but Lutsky dodges it nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cook thows a huge punch but Lutsky dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orion Cook dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lutsky stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lutsky wants it to stay on the feet.
Lutsky blocks a jab.
Cook throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lutsky sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A left lands for Lutsky.
Lutsky cracks a nice hook into Cook's ribs.
Lutsky displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cook throws out the jab.
Cook shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lutsky pinned against the cage. Lutsky gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lutsky connects with a high kick.
Lutsky lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cook loads up on a big right hand but Lutsky slips the punch.
Cook looks to land a right hand but Lutsky moved out of range.
Lutsky fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cook has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A telegraphed right hand from Cook misses the target.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Lutsky. Cook shrugs it off though.

Lutsky has closed the distance and engaged Cook in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Lutsky - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A right handed body shot lands from Lutsky.
Lutsky crunches a lovely knee into Cook's ribcage.
Lutsky makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lutsky landing knees to the head.
Lutsky is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lutsky lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lutsky trying to land knees to the body.
Cook on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cook goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lutsky prevents it.
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.
Cook has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lutsky is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lutsky tries to land knees in the clinch but Cook avoids the damage to the body.
Lutsky crunches a lovely knee into Cook's ribcage.
A knee to the head by Lutsky.
Lutsky lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Lutsky with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Lutsky unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cook lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lutsky with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cook takes a knee to the side of the body.
Cook can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lutsky throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cook blocks it with crossed arms.
Lutsky misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cook.
Lutsky tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lutsky swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lutsky is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cook is keeping busy.
Lutsky with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lutsky tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cook avoids it.
Cook on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cook prevents a body shot from Lutsky.
Lutsky tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cook jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lutsky walks away with a smile on his face. Cook gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lutsky is looking to clinch.
Lutsky moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Leonel Lutsky is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cook missing with a left hand there. Lutsky was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Leonel Lutsky seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cook throws a looping overhand right but Lutsky ducks down to avoid it.
Lutsky slaps away a takedown attempt from Cook, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cook gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lutsky moves into the clinch.
Cook jumps guard but Lutsky stands there with Cook around his waist. Cook gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Leonel Lutsky seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lutsky.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonel Lutsky showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lutsky gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lutsky trying to land knees to the body.
Lutsky scores with a knee to the head.
Lutsky 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.
Lutsky misses with a knee to the head.
Cook looking for a takedown.
Cook tries to pull guard but Lutsky holds him up against the cage and eventually Cook drops back down to his feet.
Lutsky tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lutsky misses with a body punch.
Cook's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lutsky lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lutsky lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cook backwards.
Lutsky tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lutsky connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cook's face.
Cook tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orion Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lutsky throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cook blocks it with crossed arms.
Lutsky fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cook goes for a takedown attempt but Lutsky pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lutsky scores with a jab.
Cook rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lutsky counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Cook tries to bum rush Lutsky with a series of wild strikes but Lutsky uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook dives in and grabs Lutsky's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lutsky pushes down on Cook's head and hops out.
Lutsky feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cook's calf.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Lutsky.
Cook doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Lutsky tests Cook's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lutsky goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lutsky lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cook at a distance.
Lutsky throws a head kick but Cook moves out of range.

Lutsky gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lutsky with a knee to the head.
Lutsky connects with a knee to the head.
Cook blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lutsky tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lutsky unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cook lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lutsky tries to land a knee to the head but Cook blocks with his arms.
Lutsky landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Lutsky tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lutsky throws a head punch that misses.
Cook managing to block the knees to the body from Lutsky.
A nice left hand lands by Lutsky.
Lutsky misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cook.
Cook tries to pull guard but Lutsky won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lutsky tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cook tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lutsky swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lutsky tries a knee to the head but Cook blocks it.
Lutsky has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lutsky creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cook will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lutsky up against the cage.
Lutsky misses with a knee strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lutsky lands with a right to the head.
Lutsky utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonel Lutsky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lutsky 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonel Lutsky!
A very excited looking Leonel Lutsky rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.