PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Cooke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dexter Cooke has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cooke
vs
Barker

190 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

165 cm
23
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dexter Cooke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Barker!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Darius Henderson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barker moves away.
Barker is looking to land body kicks.
Barker scores with a hook to the body. Cooke takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Barker throws a right and a left that Cooke avoids nicely.
Cooke is looking for a counter combo.
Cooke throws an overhand right that lands on Barker's shoulder, as Barker tries to avoid the shot.
Cooke with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Barker to counter with a crisp jab.
Cooke really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Barker throws a sloppy head kick and Cooke moves out of range easily.
Cooke needs to keep his hands up - Barker had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cooke paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barker throws a right hand that Cooke ducks under and follows up with a left that Cooke also avoids with ease.
Barker scores with a decent looking hook.
Barker throws a nice looking combination but Cooke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cooke takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A slapping body kick lands there for Barker.
Barker swings away with a body shot that misses

and Cooke counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cooke misses with a short punch on the inside.

Cooke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cooke connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barker. Barker circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Barker connects with a solid leg kick.
Cooke is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Barker misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker connects with a solid leg kick.
Barker lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Barker tries to clinch up but Cooke circles away and keeps his distance.
It looked like Cooke wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cooke misses with a hook. Barker ducked under it nicely.

Cooke tries to keep at a distance but Barker has taken the fight into the clinch.
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!
Barker has Cooke pushed against the cage.

Cooke gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Cooke seems to be working for a kimura but Barker defends the submission attempt.

Cooke is trying to work for a kimura but Barker is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cooke is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barker sees it coming and defends easily.
Barker tries to kick Cooke off but Cooke keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cooke will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Barker makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Barker goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cooke tries to counter by clinching up but Barker breaks away and moves out of range.
Cooke swats away the attempt to clinch by Barker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker scores with a three punch combo!
Cooke misses with an uppercut
and Barker counters with a slapping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Barker.
Cooke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barker throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cooke misses with an uppercut.
Cooke misses the jab.
Barker throws a series of strikes that have Cooke backpedaling.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cooke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Barker dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cooke.
Paul Barker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barker tries to clinch
and Barker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cooke is looking to counter punch.
Cooke misses with a hook.
As Cooke backs off Barker throws a huge counter combo but Cooke manages to avoid it all.
Barker throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

so Cooke counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Cooke gets to his feet. Barker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cooke takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barker circles away quickly and effectively.
Barker falls off balance throwing a combination

and Cooke counters by clinching up.
Cooke stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Barker lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barker taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Barker scores with a shot to the side of Cooke's head.

Barker breaks from the clinch.
Barker tries to clinch up.
Barker changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Barker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barker tries to clinch there but Cooke circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke swinging wildly here.
Barker tries to clinch there but Cooke circles away.
Barker pushes Cooke away with a front kick.
Barker connects with a solid leg kick.
A head kick misses from Barker.
Paul Barker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cooke takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cooke swats away the attempt to clinch by Barker.
Barker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cooke was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Barker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker lands a glancing blow to the side of Cooke's head.
Barker scores with a three punch combo!
Cooke throws a body punch but Barker moves out of range.
Barker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barker.
Cooke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cooke moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBarker.
Barker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barker scores with a one two! Cooke had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Cooke is rocked!
Barker lets his hands go wild with a nice combination. Left! Right! Uppercut! Spinning backfist! Cooke goes down and covers up as Barker starts wailing on him! The ref watches the action closely before stepping in and putting a stop to the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Paul Barker!