PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Orion Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Orion Cook has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cook
vs
Morgan

184 cm
52
197 lbs
26 - 25 - 0

187 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Orion Cook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Scott Morgan!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cook misses with a wild body shot.
Morgan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morgan lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cook.
Cook digs a good hook to Morgan's body.

Cook feints and as Morgan raises his hands in defense, Cook changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cook throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Cook is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Morgan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Morgan has escaped and now he's on top!

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morgan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan wants to control from the top but Cook keeps moving.
Cook wants to sweep but no luck.

Cook is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morgan is aware though and is defending well.

Cook is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cook being controlled here, momentarily.
Morgan won't allow Cook to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Cook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cook. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Morgan wants to get up but he can't break Cook's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Morgan stopping the sweep attempt from Cook.
Cook has a closed guard, preventing Morgan from standing up.
Morgan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cook is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cook being controlled here, momentarily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Cook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cook is on top in guard.

Morgan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cook is controlling him.
Morgan managing to control the position.
Cook connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cook postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Morgan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morgan looking for a sweep. Not yet Morgan, not yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morgan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Morgan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cook.
Cook works over Morgan with some ground and pound from guard.
Cook postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Morgan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cook throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Morgan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cook accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cook throwing strikes but missing.
Morgan wants to stand and escape but Cook is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orion Cook dominated that round.
That's time! Cook's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cook swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Morgan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Morgan wants it to stay on the feet.
Morgan tries to counter with a clinch but Cook shakes him off and moves away.
Morgan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cook swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cook misses with a body punch
enabling Morgan to counter with a crisp jab.
Cook throws an off balance right hand
and Morgan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cook misses with a hook.
As Cook backs off Morgan throws a huge counter combo but Cook manages to avoid it all.
Orion Cook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Cook misses.
Cook shoots for a double leg takedown but Morgan sprawls well. He's pushed Cook's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cook blocks a head kick by Morgan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook takes one on the button.
Morgan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cook's head.
Morgan looks to score with a jab to the body but Cook is just out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Morgan.
Morgan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Cook shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Morgan is trying to defend but Cook finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Morgan is trying to get back to full guard.
Morgan is pressing down on Cook's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Morgan wants to stand up but Cook is controlling him.
Cook missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cook drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Morgan manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cook has Morgan in his guard.

Morgan being controlled here momentarily.
Morgan is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan wants to stand but Cook is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cook wants to sweep here but Morgan controlling him for the moment.
Morgan wants to stand but Cook is controlling his posture from full guard.
Morgan controls from within his opponent's guard.
Morgan trying to control but Cook is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cook wants to sweep here but Morgan controlling him for the moment.
Morgan wants to control from the top but Cook keeps moving.
Cook thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cook gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Morgan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orion Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cook has a takedown stuffed.
Morgan now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Morgan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Morgan throws a hook to the side of Cook's head but Cook sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cook is trying hard to land a takedown here. Morgan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Morgan is looking for the big counter here.
Morgan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cook has his takedown stuffed
and Morgan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cook shoots in for a takedown but Morgan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Morgan steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orion Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cook fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A nice side step and Morgan releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cook with a poor takedown
and Cook takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cook takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Morgan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cook takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Danga de danga de dang - Morgan scores with a four punch combination!
Morgan throws a head kick but Cook moves out of range.
Cook doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Morgan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cook thinking.
Morgan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Morgan instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morgan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cook swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Morgan counters with a left and a right that stings 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!
Left hook, right uppercut from Morgan.
Orion Cook is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morgan scores with the left hand. Cook knows he should have avoided that one.
Morgan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cook moves away.
Cook fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Morgan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Morgan.
Morgan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Morgan throws a series of punches but Cook moves out of range.
Cook drops down looking for a counter takedown but Morgan sprawls and moves away.
Nice body punch from Morgan.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morgan. That's going to slow Cook down.
Morgan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cook.
A combination from Morgan does no damage.
Cook misses with a hook.
Cook changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Morgan tries to avoid it but Cook manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Morgan to the ground. Morgan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan works the jab nicely.
Cook misses with an uppercut
and Morgan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cook takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morgan swings for the body but Cook moves out of range.
Cook throws a predictable looking body shot
and Morgan counters with a series of strikes. Cook will be more careful next time no doubt.
Morgan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Morgan lands with a shot to the body.
Morgan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cook is out of range and Morgan settles back down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Morgan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morgan 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Morgan!