PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bowman Rook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randall Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rook
vs
Cunningham

180 cm
26
190 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

188 cm
26
201 lbs
12 - 6 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

LOD: Affordable Quality
Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Bowman Rook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Randall Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunningham throws a push kick but Rook slaps the foot to one side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rook.
Cunningham catches Rook with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cunningham fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Rook has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Rook fails with the takedown.
Cunningham walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rook checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rook throws a hook but Cunningham avoids it easily.
Bowman Rook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rook shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cunningham as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bowman Rook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cunningham. That's going to slow Rook down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

so Rook counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rook controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cunningham pulls Rook in to control the position.
Rook advances to half guard.
Cunningham has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Rook trying to pass the guard but Cunningham defending well.
Rook throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rook looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rook throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rook is trying to control the action in half guard but Cunningham is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rook not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rook throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Cunningham to regain full guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rook trying to control but Cunningham is working from the bottom.
Rook postures up in Cunningham's guard and throws a big left but Cunningham blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunningham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rook landing some decent shots from guard.
Rook in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rook trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rook won't allow Cunningham to sweep him here.
Cunningham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rook trying to control but Cunningham is working from the bottom.
Rook wants to pass the guard but Cunningham is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rook wants to control from the top but Cunningham keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bowman Rook.
Nice sprawl there from Cunningham as Rook shoots in.
Cunningham throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cunningham displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rook.
Cunningham wants to land a leg kick but Rook is out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rook shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cunningham as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bowman Rook dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cunningham does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cunningham misses with a body shot.
Cunningham defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rook.
Rook avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rook moves forwards but Cunningham connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Rook darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rook trying to mount his opponent but Cunningham defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rook frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Cunningham holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rook tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cunningham wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rook.
Rook lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham is looking to improve his position but Rook isn't that keen on the idea.
Rook sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Cunningham is squirming around, avoiding Rook's attempts to control the action.
Rook punching from mount but Cunningham doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Rook there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Bowman Rook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rook landing strikes from the mount and Cunningham is in trouble!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cunningham holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rook tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rook wants to control the pace but Cunningham is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rook wants to control but instead Cunningham manages to regain half guard.
Rook thows a huge punch but Cunningham dodges it nicely.
Rook not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rook thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cunningham regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Rook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham trying to control the position here.
Rook working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cunningham keeping moving, preventing Rook from controlling successfully.
Cunningham looking for a sweep. Not yet Cunningham, not yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rook sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bowman Rook dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rook shoots in for a takedown but Cunningham shows good takedown defense.
Rook lands a nice looking kick to the body. Cunningham takes a step back to recover.
Rook throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rook clobbers Cunningham with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rook throws a right and a left that Cunningham avoids nicely.
Cunningham tries to clinch there but Rook circles away.
Cunningham steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rook.
Bowman Rook is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham throws a solid leg kick but Rook takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Cunningham.
Cunningham misses with a body shot.
Cunningham misses with a wild body shot.
Cunningham is looking to score with low kicks.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rook.
Cunningham throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rook shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bowman Rook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rook throws a sloppy head kick
and Cunningham makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rook throws a jab but it's blocked by Cunningham.
Randall Cunningham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rook closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rook lands in his opponent's guard.
Rook throwing strikes but missing.
Rook stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cunningham swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rook trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cunningham looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rook trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bowman Rook just wasn't active enough.
Cunningham misses with an uppercut

and Rook counters with a takedown into side control.
Cunningham managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rook.
Cunningham is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rook wants to take a breather but Cunningham manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rook.
Cunningham pulls Rook in close to his closed guard and prevents Rook from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rook wants to pass the guard but Cunningham is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rook trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bowman Rook showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rook, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bowman Rook!
Bowman Rook spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.