PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clifford Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Cooke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Cooke

197 cm
35
258 lbs
23 - 17 - 0

190 cm
29
290 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 23 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Clifford Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eric Cooke!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith checks a low kick from Cooke.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cooke is defended easily by Smith.
Cooke throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
Cooke throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Cooke throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Cooke fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Cooke 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.
Cooke shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
A cross from Smith lands.
Cooke ducks under a wild hook from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cooke looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.
Smith takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Smith lands with a right hand.
Cooke throws a leg kick but Smith sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cooke connects with a solid leg kick.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Cooke moves out of range easily.
Cooke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cooke.
Clifford Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Cooke.
Cooke throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Cooke lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

It looks like Clifford Smith has been cut.
A decent looking cross lands there for Smith.
Cooke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jab, jab by Cooke - just one landing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooke throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Smith on the side of the head.
Cooke dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Cooke's head and hops out.
Cooke throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cooke shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cooke gets slowly back to his feet.
Cooke tried to score with a low kick but Smith checks it.
Clifford Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cooke throws a sloppy body shot
and Smith counters with a left to the body.
Cooke misses with a straight right.
Smith with a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith.
Eric Cooke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cooke shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Cooke takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cooke throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Cooke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Cooke on that attempt.
Cooke avoids the body shot from Smith.
Cooke throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cooke off to one side.
Cooke lands with an uppercut that bounces Smith off the cage and back into range.
Cooke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cooke fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
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!
Cooke looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Cooke throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eric Cooke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Clifford Smith's cut.
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.

Cooke throws a solid leg kick but Smith takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Cooke.
Cooke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cooke throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Cooke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.

Cooke looking to score a takedown here. Smith is defending well but Cooke drives through and ends up in Smith's guard.
Cooke stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Cooke advances position into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cooke off and has taken his back!
Cooke is in bad spot here.
Smith controls the action.
Cooke rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cooke tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to advance to full mount but Cooke doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cooke pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cooke keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Cooke.
Cooke seems keen to control Smith's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Smith postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Smith misses with a lunging right hand
and Cooke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith's corner calls for a 1-2. Smith obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Cooke looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.

Cooke throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Cooke finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cooke with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cooke is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cooke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cooke is stalling in the full guard.
Cooke is continuing to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cooke looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Cooke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Clifford Smith's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Smith scores with a hook.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big right from Cooke misses.
Eric Cooke seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cooke throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Cooke throws a lazy body kick

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cooke keeps working.
Smith sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke is doing well to control the position and prevent Smith from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cooke keeps working.
Cooke trying to control but Smith postures up.
Smith has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smith looking to control but Cooke is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith avoids the attempt from Cooke to control.

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.
Smith has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cooke's face.
Cooke is trying desperately to improve position.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Smith with a couple of short strikes.
Smith trying to control but Cooke is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smith lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Smith lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Smith avoids the attempt from Cooke to control.
Smith tries to control but Cooke wriggling away.
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Clifford Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cooke is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Cooke tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Smith wants to control the pace but Cooke is squirming around nicely.
Cooke is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cooke tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clifford Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cooke 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Cooke!
In his post fight interview, Eric Cooke started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.