PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rod Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Salvatore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cook
vs
Salvatore

193 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

189 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rod Cook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Toni Salvatore!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salvatore fails with the takedown.
Cook was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cook tries to score a power double leg takedown but Salvatore sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cook somewhat.

Salvatore closes the distance and pushes Cook back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cook doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Salvatore lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cook backwards.

Cook manages to break the clinch.
Salvatore fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cook shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Salvatore is looking to improve his position.
Salvatore is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Salvatore keeps trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore gets full guard.
Cook with a nice head shot there.
Cook working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Salvatore has control of Cook's left arm, preventing Cook from doing any damage.
Cook postures up in Salvatore's guard and throws a big left but Salvatore blocks it.
Salvatore is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Salvatore is continuing to stall.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook chips away with some ground and pound.

Salvatore looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cook is looking to work some ground and pound but Salvatore has wrist control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Salvatore shoots in looking for a takedown. Cook tries to sprawl out of it but Salvatore keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cook manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cook seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rod Cook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Salvatore.
Salvatore shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cook pinned against the cage. Cook gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Salvatore has a takedown stuffed.
Cook feinted with a counter takedown.

Cook closes the distance and clinches.

Salvatore pulls guard effortlessly.
Salvatore has a closed guard, preventing Cook from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Salvatore wants to sweep here but Cook controlling him for the moment.
Salvatore striking off his back but it's not causing Cook any problems.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rod Cook will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cook's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Salvatore shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cook defends it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Cook misses the target.
Salvatore tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cook defends well and Salvatore ends up having to push Cook into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cook is looking to counter punch.
Salvatore shoots and misses
and Cook counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rod Cook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Salvatore.
Salvatore fails with a takedown attempt.
Salvatore tries to clinch up but Cook circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salvatore throws a wild body kick that Cook sees coming a mile off.
Cook appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Salvatore shoots and misses
and Cook counters with a two punch combo.

Cook has closed the distance and engaged Salvatore in a clinch.
Salvatore is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvatore is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cook is keeping busy.
Salvatore blocks a body shot from Cook.

Salvatore jumps guard and drags Cook to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cook has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cook makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cook throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salvatore works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salvatore preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Salvatore trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cook accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Salvatore is looking to sweep but instead, Cook has passed into half guard.
Cook sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Salvatore defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cook not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Salvatore blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cook.
Rod Cook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nice strikes from Cook there.
Salvatore is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Cook lands strikes from half guard.
Cook not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cook throwing shots but Salvatore is blocking nicely.
Salvatore trying to control from the bottom.
Cook lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook looks to land a strike but Salvatore avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Salvatore working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cook.
Cook throws a big elbow that misses.
Cook won't allow Salvatore to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Cook as Salvatore shoots in.

Cook darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Salvatore manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Cook keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Cook is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salvatore can do to turn this around?

Cook breaks the clinch.
Salvatore tries to clinch but Cook moves out of range.
Toni Salvatore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore tries for a takedown but Cook sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cook forces Salvatore back against the cage and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cook jumps guard but Salvatore stands there with Cook around his waist. Cook gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cook has had enough of the clinch but Salvatore keeps him there for the moment.
Salvatore wants a takedown.
Salvatore keeps control of Cook as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cook keeps control of Salvatore as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Salvatore fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Salvatore is trying to pull guard but Cook turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rod Cook dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Salvatore misses with a head kick.
It looked like Cook was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Salvatore.
Salvatore misses with a takedown attempt
and Cook counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Salvatore shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cook sprawls well. Cook wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Salvatore gets slowly back to his feet.
Salvatore with a poor takedown
and Cook counters with a right hand to the body.
Rod Cook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Salvatore.
Cook fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Cook breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salvatore takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvatore fails in his attempt to clinch.
Salvatore stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cook.
Salvatore gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cook counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cook is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Salvatore drives through and clinches with Cook against the cage.
Cook tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salvatore just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cook avoids the elbow strike from Salvatore, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore trying to stall but Cook improves his position.

Salvatore pulls guard effortlessly.
Cook postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Cook gets to his feet - Salvatore follows without any prompting.
Cook wants to clinch.
Cook throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Salvatore's waist but Salvatore gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cook off to one side.
Cook swats away the attempt to clinch by Salvatore.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore fails to land the takedown.
Salvatore tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cook defends well and Salvatore ends up having to push Cook into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cook feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Cook shoots for a takedown but Salvatore saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Salvatore is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cook swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cook lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Toni Salvatore has been cut.
Salvatore misses with a takedown
letting Cook counter with a right hand.
Cook circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Salvatore. No joy for Cook on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cook closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Salvatore's guard.

Salvatore looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cook's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Salvatore wants to stand but Cook is controlling the position.

Salvatore looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cook drops back looking for a leg! Salvatore is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Salvatore manages to kick Cook off! Cook jumps back into Salvatore's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rod Cook showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cook, 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rod Cook!