PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Cooke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holy War (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). War is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Pretty Reckless - Heaven Knows. Holy War has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cooke
vs
War

190 cm
30
290 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

197 cm
27
237 lbs
8 - 0 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Namunamu Clothing
SP Ultimate Nutrition

Bullet Proof System

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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eric Cooke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Holy War!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
War lands with a cross.
Cooke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but War was well out of range. Poor timing from Cooke.
Cooke definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cooke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cooke swings widly with a right hand
and War cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cooke throws a sloppy head kick
and War makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
War lunges at Cooke with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cooke's hand.
Cooke has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from War.
War throws a head kick that misses.
Cooke misses with a body kick.
War uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
War misses with a head kick.
Cooke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Cooke shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. War manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cooke throws an elbow that misses. War uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cooke's guard. Nice move by War!

Cooke 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.
War trying to control but Cooke is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
War postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
War trying to control but Cooke is working from the bottom.
War sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cooke's guard.
War frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Cooke is desperately trying to improve his position but War has a good base and remains in mount.
War with a couple of short strikes.
War trying to control but Cooke is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
War is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Cooke manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Cooke trying to control here.
War wants to take a breather but Cooke is having none of it.
War is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
War lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cooke hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
War in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Cooke taking shots to the head.
War throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cooke because War loaded up on that one.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cooke can't escape the position.
War tries to control but Cooke wriggling away.
War cracks Cooke with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Cooke is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke tries to lock up and control but War gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
War tries to control but Cooke wriggling away.
War landing punches.
Cooke is squirming around, avoiding War's attempts to control the action.
War lands a big shot there that rocks Cooke but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Cooke is in a horrible position here. War smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Cooke is trying to escape the mount.
War looking to control but Cooke is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Holy War dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

War lands a high kick!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for War. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
War ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cooke moves away.
Cooke throws a leg kick that misses.
Cooke scores with a kick to the body.
War steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cooke.
War throws a low kick, looking for Cooke's leg but Cooke calmly moves out of range.
Holy War seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooke pushes War away with a front kick.
War connects with a leg kick. Cooke looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
War throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cooke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
War just misses with a punch to the body.
Cooke fails with the takedown
and War counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Cooke throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
War takes a swing at Cooke's ribcage but misses.
War is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cooke rather than just go for the knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
War stuffs the takedown.
Cooke wants to land a leg kick but War is out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from War! But no joy.
Cooke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
War doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
War throws a leg kick
and Cooke counters with an outside leg kick.
Cooke looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cooke tries to score a power double leg takedown but War sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cooke somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Cooke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by War.
War ducks under a wild hook from Cooke.
Cooke blocks a leg kick.
A head kick from War lands but Cooke takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke throws a body shot but no joy.
Cooke wants to clinch up but War keeps it at a distance.
War throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cooke feinted with a counter takedown.
Cooke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cooke walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooke fails with a takedown attempt.
War jabs at Cooke's body.
A jab from War does it's job there.
War scores with the left hand. Cooke knows he should have avoided that one.
Holy War is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
War lands a nice looking body kick.
Cooke fails with a takedown attempt.
Cooke throws a leg kick but War checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
War lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cooke's sensitive parts.
Cooke looks to land a body kick but War moved away.
Cooke throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
War tries a quick counter leg kick but Cooke is wise to it.
A chopping leg kick lands by War.
A nice leg kick lands there from War.
War fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cooke manages to avoid it.
Cooke thinks about countering with a body kick.
War throws a sloppy body shot
and Cooke counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
War dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
War fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cooke on the side of the head.
War lands with a nice body kick.
Nice body kick there by Cooke.

Cooke decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half 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!
War wants to control but Cooke is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cooke wants to control but War is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
War trying to hold on to Cooke's head to control him but Cooke postures up.
War is staying active underneath Cooke, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cooke passes the guard and advances to mount!

Cooke is going oldschool here, as he tries to force War to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so War shrugs it off.
War tries to reverse the position but Cooke maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Holy War will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

War misses with an uppercut. Cooke saw that one coming.
Cooke lands a jab to the nose.

Cooke moves into range and clinches up with War.
A head punch blocked on the inside by War.
War can't find room to land a body shot as Cooke controls the action.
Cooke presses War against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooke.
War tries to throw a body punch but Cooke avoids it by throwing War back against the cage.
Cooke stalling the fight.
War lands a hook that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Cooke.
War scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cooke makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

It looks like Holy War has been cut.
War lands with a light punch inside.
War can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke lands a left hand that snaps the head of War backwards.
Cooke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
War has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
War blocking some punches.
Cooke tries a body shot but War blocks it.
Cooke blocking some punches.
Cooke misses with a body punch.
Cooke lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cooke is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but War is defending well.
War wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cooke trying to stall but War improves his position.
A nice left hand lands by War.
War misses with a short punch on the inside.
War struggles to land a body shot inside as Cooke controls his hands.
Cooke throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
War goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cooke tries to stall but War uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
War softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
War struggles to land a body shot inside as Cooke controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Cooke fails to land.
War lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
War misses with a short punch on the inside.

War breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cooke throws a series of punches but War avoids them all with ease.
Cooke takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cooke takes a shot to the body in his stride.
War catches Cooke with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
War lands with a thumping leg kick.
War throws a lazy right hand but Cooke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says War as he avoids it easily.

Cooke shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. War manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
War is trying to control the position but Cooke postures up.
Cooke is in close to War's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Eric Cooke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cooke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cooke wants to pass the guard but War is keeping the position.
War lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

War got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cooke has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, War has managed to get both his arms back between Cooke's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke keeping moving, preventing War from controlling successfully.
Holy War has got the better of the ground game so far.
War is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
War's corner is telling him to maintain position.
War trying to control but Cooke is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Holy War.
Well War has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Holy War!
Holy War was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.