PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michel Cook (ranked 25060 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raghav Bhatnagar (ranked 6077 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Cook
vs
Bhatnagar

162 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michel Cook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Raghav Bhatnagar!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cook enables Bhatnagar to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cook manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Bhatnagar decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cook, up you get!

Cook is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bhatnagar tries to free his leg and advance position but Cook is retaining full guard.
Bhatnagar postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cook keeping moving, preventing Bhatnagar from controlling successfully.
Cook tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cook has momentary wrist control but Bhatnagar slips an elbow through the middle.
Cook looking for a sweep. Not yet Cook, not yet.

Bhatnagar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bhatnagar distracts Cook with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cook could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bhatnagar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bhatnagar stays in close to Cook's body and controls the position.
Cook keeping full guard, as Bhatnagar tries to pass.
Bhatnagar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cook keeping moving, preventing Bhatnagar from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bhatnagar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Cook looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bhatnagar.
Cook is letting Bhatnagar control him for a moment.
Bhatnagar works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Cook tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bhatnagar throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Bhatnagar is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cook knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cook manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Bhatnagar trying to control but Cook postures up.
Bhatnagar wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cook throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bhatnagar is trying to get back to full guard.
Bhatnagar misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Bhatnagar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cook.
Bhatnagar is controlling Cook's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bhatnagar throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bhatnagar tries to get to full guard but Cook has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raghav Bhatnagar dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bhatnagar closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cook did well to prevent Bhatnagar getting side control.

Bhatnagar seems to be looking for submissions.
Cook preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Bhatnagar tries to stand and escape but Cook actually recovers to full guard.
Cook might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cook keeping full guard, as Bhatnagar tries to pass.
Bhatnagar lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bhatnagar is looking to work some ground and pound but Cook has wrist control.
Bhatnagar wants to control from the top but Cook keeps moving.
Bhatnagar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cook is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cook is really struggling to control Bhatnagar but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Cook looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bhatnagar passes into side control.
Bhatnagar working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Bhatnagar goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cook rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bhatnagar's guard! Nice work there by Cook!
Bhatnagar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cook working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bhatnagar seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bhatnagar is trying to hold Cook in close to prevent damage but Cook has managed to pass into half guard.

Cook is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bhatnagar is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bhatnagar controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Bhatnagar is looking to get back to full guard here but Cook has managed to pass to side control instead.
Bhatnagar can't do much from the bottom here.

Cook goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bhatnagar has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cook but great work by Bhatnagar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bhatnagar trying to control the position but Cook is working away.

Bhatnagar stands up.

Cook tries to sprawl but Bhatnagar drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Raghav Bhatnagar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bhatnagar trying to control the action but Cook is working from the bottom.
Bhatnagar is thwarting Cook's attempts to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bhatnagar with the ground and pound but Cook uses the opportunity to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raghav Bhatnagar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cook enables Bhatnagar to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cook manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cook is trying to keep Bhatnagar in close.
Bhatnagar showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Bhatnagar drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cook looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cook looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cook!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bhatnagar is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cook off and has taken his back!

Bhatnagar has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Cook has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook is trying to break free.

Bhatnagar patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Cook rolls, trying to escape but Bhatnagar keeps control of the position.
Bhatnagar loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Cook hold on?
Bhatnagar lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Cook trying to control but not successfully.
Cook has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Bhatnagar.
Bhatnagar gets his hands free as Cook looks to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Despite being in a bad position, Cook is controlling the hands, preventing any submission attempts.

Bhatnagar is looking for a rear naked choke here but Cook reverses the position brilliantly into Bhatnagar's guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bhatnagar pushes Cook off and scrambles back to his feet.

Bhatnagar 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.
Bhatnagar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bhatnagar wants to control from the top but Cook keeps moving.
Bhatnagar is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cook is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook wants to stand but Bhatnagar is controlling his posture from full guard.
Bhatnagar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Raghav Bhatnagar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cook wants to stand but Bhatnagar has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bhatnagar controls Cook momentarily but Cook frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raghav Bhatnagar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bhatnagar 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raghav Bhatnagar!
A very excited looking Raghav Bhatnagar 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.