PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between David Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Nguyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cook
vs
Nguyen

184 cm
37
268 lbs
33 - 17 - 0

188 cm
31
286 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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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 33 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, David Cook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Nguyen!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nguyen misses with a jab, cross combination.

Cook closes the distance and clinches.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Nguyen has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Nguyen tries to land a knee to the head but Cook blocks with his arms.
Nice elbow from Nguyen.

It looks like David Cook has been cut.
Nguyen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cook dodges an elbow strike from Nguyen.
Nguyen can't find room to land a body shot as Cook controls the action.
Cook scores a nice knee to the body.
Nguyen trying to land knees to the body.
Cook takes a knee right on the jaw!

Cook escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cook throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nguyen was covering up waiting for the punch and Cook finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cook is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. David Cook wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cook fails with a takedown attempt.
Nguyen misses with an uppercut
and Cook counters with a good low kick that Nguyen was not able to check.
Nguyen looks to throw the jab but Cook is out of range.
Cook shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nguyen as he avoids it easily.
Nguyen scores with a jab to the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cook is defended easily by Nguyen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cook checks a low kick from Nguyen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Nguyen misses

and Cook holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nguyen lands a damaging elbow.
Nguyen trying to land knees to the body.
Nguyen scores with a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cook jumps into guard, dragging Nguyen to the mat.
Cook wants to sweep but no luck.
Nguyen wants to pass the guard but Cook is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nguyen throwing strikes from guard but Cook blocks nicely.
Nguyen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nguyen uses his free foot to push down on Cook's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cook.
Nguyen throwing strikes but Cook recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Nguyen wants to pass to mount but Cook is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cook looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cook is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nguyen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nguyen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nguyen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cook defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nguyen wants to advance to full mount but Cook doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Cook is adopting a defensive guard.
Cook working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nguyen.

Cook is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cook controlling Nguyen's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nguyen won't allow Cook to sweep him here.
Nguyen passes into half guard.
Nguyen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nguyen is pressing down on Cook's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cook is holding on for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cook moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nguyen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nguyen is looking to work some ground and pound but Cook has wrist control.

Cook looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Nguyen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on David Cook's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cook plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nguyen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nguyen wants it to stay on the feet.
Nguyen misses with a jab to the body
and Cook makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Nguyen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nguyen wants it to stay on the feet.
Cook shoots for a double leg takedown but Nguyen sprawls well. He's pushed Cook's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nguyen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nguyen misses with a body shot.
Nguyen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cook dodges the punch combination from Nguyen.
Cook throws a head kick that misses.
Nguyen scores with a nice head shot.
Michael Nguyen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nguyen is looking to clinch but Cook is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cook closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nguyen circles away.
A solid body kick from Cook.
Nguyen misses with a right hand
and Cook counters with a head kick.
Nguyen misses with a wild body shot.
Good leg kick by Cook there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nguyen. Cook does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nguyen leaves Cook with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nguyen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nguyen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nguyen is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nguyen tries to close the distance and clinch but Cook swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
David Cook is winning the standup battle so far.
Cook throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nguyen tries to keep at a distance but Cook has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nguyen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nguyen.
Cook avoiding damage as Nguyen throws knees to the body.

Cook manages to break the clinch.
Nguyen throws a hook to the side of Cook's head but Cook sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nguyen throws a head kick that misses
and Cook counters with a nice body shot.
Nguyen throws a right hand that misses

and Cook moves into the clinch.

Cook pulls Nguyen into guard.
Nguyen looking to pass the guard.
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 throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Nguyen to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Cook gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nguyen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cook manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nguyen misses with a double jab.

Cook darts in and clinches Nguyen up against the cage.
Nguyen can't find room to land a body shot as Cook controls the action.

Cook pulls guard.
Cook manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nguyen manages to get himself to full guard.
Cook is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
David Cook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Cook wants to control from the top but Nguyen keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of David Cook.
Nguyen tests Cook's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cook dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on David Cook's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cook shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nguyen's guard.

Cook stands and steps away. Nguyen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cook closes the distance and clinches up with Nguyen, looking for a takedown. Cook pushes Nguyen against the cage but Nguyen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nguyen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cook darts in looking for a takedown but Nguyen gets double underhooks and turns Cook into the cage.
Nguyen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cook is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cook blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Cook pulls guard successfully.

Cook pushes Nguyen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A jab from Nguyen does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cook counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nguyen is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Cook drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cook is looking to take a break and control but Nguyen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cook misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Cook throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook trying to control the position but Nguyen is working away.
You can see the frustration on Nguyen's face as Cook controls the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of David Cook.

Nguyen pushes Cook up against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

Cook has his feet on Nguyen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nguyen tries to land a front kick but Cook steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nguyen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook dives in for a single leg takedown but Nguyen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nguyen scores a nice knee to the body.
Nguyen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cook avoids it.
Cook blocks an uppercut.
Nguyen lands a knee to the body.
Nguyen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nguyen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nguyen swings wildly with an uppercut but Cook uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cook is looking for a takedown.
Nguyen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nguyen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Cook pulls Nguyen into guard.
Cook wants to sweep but no luck.
Nguyen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cook holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cook keeping full guard, as Nguyen tries to pass.
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.
Nguyen is trying to control but can't.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

We're going to have a standup here because David Cook wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cook changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nguyen tries to avoid it but Cook manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nguyen to the ground. Nguyen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A punch combination from Nguyen misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Nguyen.
I think Nguyen 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!