PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Orion Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joerome Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Orion Cook has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cook
vs
Strong

184 cm
33
197 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

190 cm
22
195 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
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 12 - 7 - 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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joerome Strong!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cook doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Strong counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Strong pushes Cook up against the cage in a clinch.
Strong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cook blocks it with crossed arms.
Strong gets underhooks to prevent Cook's takedown attempt.
Strong throws an elbow but it misses.
Cook avoiding damage as Strong throws knees to the body.
Cook avoids a wild elbow strike from Strong.

Cook wants the takedown. Strong is fighting it off but Cook persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Strong's guard against the cage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cook won't allow Strong to sweep him here.

Cook thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cook working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cook with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cook is looking to work some ground and pound but Strong has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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 landing with the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cook accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cook throws a big elbow that misses.
Cook with a nice head shot there.
Cook in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cook throwing strikes from guard but Strong blocks nicely.
Strong working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cook.
Cook loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Strong can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cook loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cook trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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.
Cook throws a big elbow that misses.
Cook landing with the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cook postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cook keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Strong's head.
Cook throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cook tries to free his leg and advance position but Strong is retaining full guard.
Cook stands up over Strong, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Strong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cook missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cook is looking to work some ground and pound but Strong has wrist control.
Strong working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cook.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cook throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cook throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cook looking to pass the guard.
Cook throwing strikes from guard but Strong blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Strong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cook throws a big right hand that misses.
Cook loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Strong avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cook missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Strong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Strong 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 working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cook throwing strikes from guard but Strong blocks nicely.
Cook throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Strong closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Strong 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 managing to block the knees to the body from Strong.

Cook pulls Strong into guard.

Cook had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Strong defends it easily.
Cook working a defensive guard but Strong passes into half guard.
Cook manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cook is on top in guard.
Cook loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cook missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cook with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cook scoring with some ground and pound.
Strong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cook loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cook loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Orion Cook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cook pushing down on Strong's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

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 he's never going to get it from there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strong is doing well to control the position and prevent Cook from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cook is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Cook wants to work for an arm triangle but Strong is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cook throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cook throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cook lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cook working Strong over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook thows a huge punch but Strong dodges it nicely.
Strong regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cook.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cook accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cook postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cook with a nice head shot there.
Cook is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Strong can do to turn this around?
Cook missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cook pushes down on Strong's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cook not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orion Cook dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Strong closes the distance and clinches.
Cook tries to pull guard but Strong forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
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 Strong walks away with a smile on his face. Cook gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cook throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Strong counters with a body kick.

Strong clinches.
Strong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cook.
Strong comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cook blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cook has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Strong after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orion Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strong stops a takedown attempt from Cook.
Strong trying to control the position but instead, Cook has worked for underhooks and has pushed Strong into the cage.
Strong throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong stalling in the clinch.
Strong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cook.
Cook fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cook wants a takedown.
Strong tries to stall but Cook uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Cook manages to break the clinch.

Strong closes the distance and clinches.
Cook jumps guard but Strong stands there with Cook around his waist. Cook gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Strong's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Cook jumps guard and drags Strong to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cook thows a huge punch but Strong dodges it nicely.
Cook slips a nice elbow through Strong's hands, connecting with Strong's forehead.
Ground and pound from Cook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cook not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cook passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Strong!
Poor strikes thrown by Cook there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Cook lands a big shot there that rocks Strong but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

It looks like Joerome Strong has been cut.
Cook working the ground and pound effectively.
Cook postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Strong looks a forlorn figure.
Strong taking shots to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cook cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Strong is rocked!
Cook sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Cook misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Orion Cook is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cook looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Cook connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Strong is still in real trouble! Can Cook finish him?
Cook scoring with strikes but Strong is staying in there.

That has opened up Joerome Strong's cut even more.
Strong takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strong takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Cook's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Orion Cook!
Orion Cook decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.