PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cortland Cartwright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vernon Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Cartwright might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to St. Anger. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cartwright
vs
Cook

173 cm
28
219 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

181 cm
19
220 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Decent elbows
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cortland Cartwright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vernon Cook!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cook tries to score with a low kick but Cartwright moves his leg out of the way.
Cook looks to score with a jab to the body but Cartwright is just out of range.
Cook throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cartwright fails with the takedown.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cook!
Cook lands a nice looking body shot.
A shot to the liver by Cook. Beautiful body shot.
Cook lands a nice shot that snaps Cartwright's head back.
Cook scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cartwright doesn't seem bothered though.
Cartwright misses with a hook. Cook ducked under it nicely.
Cook ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cook bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cartwright's head.
Vernon Cook is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Cook.
Cook throws a chopping leg kick but Cartwright manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cartwright takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cartwright throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cook's head.
Cartwright misses with a takedown attempt
and Cook counters with a nice uppercut.
Cook clobbers Cartwright with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Cartwright feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cartwright missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cartwright 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.
Cartwright trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cook preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cartwright pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cook is keeping the position for now.
Cartwright is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cartwright being controlled here momentarily.
Cook avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook throws a series of punches but Cartwright moves out of range.
Cook tries to bum rush Cartwright with a series of wild strikes but Cartwright uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Donk. Cook catches Cartwright right on the button with a cross.
Cook lands a jab to Cartwright's midsection.
Cook fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cartwright manages to avoid it.
Cartwright shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cook as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cortland Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cook scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cook lands a nice looking body shot.
Vernon Cook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cartwright tried to score with a low kick but Cook checks it.
Cook has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cook fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Cook rushes Cartwright and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cook is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Knees to the body from Cook.
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!
Cook with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cook digs a right hand underneath Cartwright's ribcage. Cartwright let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cartwright tries for a takedown but Cook manages to get underhooks.
Cartwright tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cook just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cartwright is breathing heavily.
Cook softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cartwright's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cartwright jumps guard but Cook stands there with Cartwright around his waist. Cartwright gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Cook as the two fighters clinch.
Cook presses Cartwright against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Cook.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vernon Cook dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A jab from Cook does it's job there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Cartwright pulls guard effortlessly.
Cook engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Cartwright has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cook can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cook avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cook engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cartwright is looking for a triangle here but Cook uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cartwright wants to control but Cook postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cartwright tries to buck Cook off but Cook is having none of it.
Cartwright regains half guard.
Cartwright is trying to control but Cook manages to pass to mount!
Cook content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright is in all sorts of trouble here.
Cartwright sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cook with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Cartwright with the active half guard here but Cook passes nicely into side control.
Cartwright wants to control but Cook postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook controlling the position from side mount.
Let's hope that Cook has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Cartwright is trying to work for a sweep but Cook has mounted him!
Cartwright tries to hold on but Cook pushes him away.
Cook controlling from mount.
Cartwright tries to reverse the position but Cook maintains control.
Cartwright tries to hold on but Cook pushes him away.
Cook controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright tries to reverse the position but Cook maintains control.
Cartwright is working hard here to advance position.
Cook controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cartwright tries to lock up and control but Cook gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cook controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vernon Cook showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cook scores with a shot to the body.
Cook has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cook jabs at Cartwright's body.
Cook scores with a jab to the head.
Jab from Cook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cook. Cartwright does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cook swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cook thuds a left hand into Cartwright's body.
Cartwright is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cook.
Cartwright moves forwards but Cook connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cook is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cartwright rather than just go for the knockout.
Cook ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Vernon Cook seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook connects with a looping right hand.
Cartwright takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cook lands with a right hand.
Cook tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cartwright was well out of range. Poor timing from Cook.
Cartwright shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cook defends it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cook lands a nice shot that snaps Cartwright's head back.
Cook bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Cartwright is rocked!
Cook lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cook scores with a punch to the head.
Oh Cartwright is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cook drops Cartwright with a big left hand! Cartwright is injured, injured bad! Cook jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vernon Cook!
A very excited looking Vernon Cook made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Cortland Cartwright spoke after the fight, saying 'My opponent was a worth adversary. I will get better and come again.'.