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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akoni Gray (ranked 9 p4p, 3 weight class) and Matt Cooke (ranked 15 p4p, 5 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Matt Cooke was going to win. Let's see if he was right.
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| 189 cm
32
210 lbs
25 - 3 - 1 |
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185 cm
32
203 lbs
26 - 9 - 1 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
25 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Akoni Gray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
26 - 9 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Cooke!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooke throws a sloppy head kick and Gray moves out of range easily.
Cooke lands a jab to the head.
Gray tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cooke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cooke looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cooke motions for Gray to come forward. Cooke throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cooke just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromGray.
Cooke misses with a hook.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cooke.
Cooke throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Gray counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cooke pushes Gray away with a front kick.
Matt Cooke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooke scores with a leg kick.
Gray darts in and clinches Cooke up against the cage.
Gray misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooke.
Gray working aggressively here.
Gray gets through Cooke's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cooke throws a punch but it's blocked by Gray.
Cooke throws a punch but it's blocked by Gray.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gray prevents a body shot from Cooke.
Cooke misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cooke lands an uppercut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cooke lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gray or not.
Gray lands a shoulder strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gray.
Cooke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
An inside leg kick lands from Cooke.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gray checks a leg kick.
Gray appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cooke throws a head kick but Gray moves out of range.
Gray tries to clinch
and Cooke counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Cooke - that will leave a mark!
Cooke swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gray.
Gray keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gray moves out of range of the strikes.
Gray is looking to counter with a body kick.
Gray turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Gray.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gray lands a jab to Cooke's midsection.
Cooke with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Gray as he checks the leg kick.
Cooke throws a leg kick but Gray sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cooke throws out a leg kick but Gray moves out of range and Cooke only half commits.
Cooke misses with a low kick.
Gray checks a low kick from Cooke.
Cooke darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A leg kick checked by Gray.
A quick step to the side and Gray tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gray darts in and clinches Cooke up against the cage.
Gray misses with a punch to the body.
Gray lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.
Gray misses with some punches.
Gray tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cooke can't find room to land a body shot as Gray controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gray.
Gray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cooke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gray tries to throw a body punch but Cooke avoids it by throwing Gray back against the cage.
Cooke misses with some punches.
Gray looking to slow down the pace here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke lands with a short shot to the head.
Cooke blocks a body shot from Gray.
Cooke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cooke scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cooke lands with a left to the head.
Cooke tries to break free but Gray pushes him back against the cage.
Cooke lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cooke misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cooke tries to throw a body punch but Gray avoids it by throwing Cooke back against the cage.
Gray scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A hook to the body from Gray.
Cooke lands with a light punch inside.
Cooke lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gray backwards.
Gray fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gray softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice left hand lands by Cooke.
Gray has Cooke pressed against the cage.
Good body shot from Cooke.
Cooke misses with the head strike.
Cooke tries to work over Gray's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cooke lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gray backwards.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cooke chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cooke.
Gray is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cooke.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cooke.
Cooke takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cooke jabs at Gray's body.
Nice body kick from Gray.
Cooke takes one to the chin there.
Cooke throws a jab when Gray was well out of range.
Cooke delivers a nice body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooke throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Gray was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Cooke.
Cooke throws a leg kick which misses Gray's front leg but catches the back leg as Gray tries to avoid it.
Gray moves in looking to clinch but Cooke pushes him off.
Cooke throws an off balance right hand
and Gray counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Matt Cooke dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Cooke throws a low kick but Gray moves out of range easily.
Gray takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Matt Cooke seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cooke misses with a low kick as Gray jumps back.
Gray tries to clinch there but Cooke circles away.
A good leg kick by Cooke.
A low kick from Cooke misses
and Gray counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cooke's knee momentarily.
Gray throws a leg kick but Cooke sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cooke turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gray closes the distance but Cooke moves to the side
and Cooke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gray is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gray tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gray throws a right hand that misses
and Cooke counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cooke throws a leg kick but Gray moved away.
Gray connects with a right hand. Cooke shakes it off.
Cooke tried to score with a low kick but Gray checks it.
Cooke connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray throws a body kick that misses.
Gray backing away here, and Cooke unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cooke.
Cooke missing with a left hand there. Gray was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gray was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cooke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cooke connects with the punch.
Cooke shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gray dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gray ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cooke throws a hook but Gray blocks it.
Gray moves into the clinch successfully.
Cooke working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cooke.
Matt Cooke seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cooke.
Cooke throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Grays head.
Gray lands a hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gray scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gray misses with a short punch on the inside.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gray doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gray misses with a body punch.
Gray scores with a shot to the side of Cooke's head.
Cooke is looking to break free of the clinch but Gray has double underhooks.
Cooke lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cooke blocks a body shot from Gray.
Gray swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gray lands a shot to the body.
Cooke is breathing heavily.
Still in the clinch, Gray scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gray lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Gray.
Gray throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cookes head.
Gray misses with a punch to the body.
Gray tries to throw a body punch but Cooke avoids it by throwing Gray back against the cage.
Gray tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cooke's elbow.
Gray keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cooke's efforts to push away.
Gray is trying to maintain a safe position but Cooke gets an underhook and turns Gray into the cage.
Gray scores with a hook to the body.
Cooke blocking some punches.
Gray lands a left hand.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gray.
Gray lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cooke lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gray creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cooke.
Gray digs a right hand underneath Cooke's ribcage. Cooke let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gray working aggressively here.
Gray displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cooke up against the cage.
Gray swings wildly with an uppercut but Cooke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cooke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gray presses Cooke against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cooke has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gray misses with a punch to the body.
Gray swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A body shot lands from Gray.
Gray misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gray.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gray.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke tries to work over Gray's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gray goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cooke.
Gray fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gray tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cooke's elbow.
Gray works on Cooke's body with a couple of short punches.
Gray manages to break the clinch.
Gray turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cooke feints and then cracks Gray's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gray down.
Cooke ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gray tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cooke swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gray on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Cooke is looking to score with low kicks.
Cooke throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gray fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gray scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooke with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gray to score with a decent uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Akoni Gray dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Cooke clobbers Gray with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Both fighters circling a little - Gray finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Gray dodges the punch combination from Cooke.
Gray throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gray throws a jab when Cooke was well out of range.
Gray stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cooke shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gray was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cooke jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gray avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke throws a leg kick that is checked
and Cooke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gray tries to land a front kick but Cooke steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cooke feints and then cracks Gray's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gray down.
Gray wants to clinch up but Cooke keeps it at a distance.
Cooke defending well as Gray loads up on a big left hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke lands with an overhand left.
A bone on bone clash there as Cooke blocks the leg kick.
Cooke swings for the body but Gray moves out of range.
Nice shot by Gray.
Cooke looks for the body kick but Gray saw that one coming.
Gray moves out of range as Cooke throws a body kick.
Cooke slips a straight right by Gray.
Cooke takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gray digs a good body shot into Cooke's ribs.
Gray tries to clinch up but Cooke circles away and keeps his distance.
Gray checks a leg kick nicely.
Cooke has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Cooke motions for Gray to come forward. Cooke throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gray connects with a jab.
Cooke uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Good leg kick by Cooke there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke 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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cooke bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cooke lands with a cross.
Cooke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cooke throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gray tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cooke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cooke looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cooke swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cooke throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gray tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cooke paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Good work by Gray as he checks the leg kick.
Gray uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cooke.
A telegraphed right hand from Gray misses the target.
Cooke misses with a low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Gray checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Good leg kick by Cooke there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke wants to slow Gray down by chopping away at his legs.
Cooke lands a jab to the nose.
Cooke throws a leg kick that is checked
and Gray counters with a nice uppercut.
It looks like Gray has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Gray throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gray bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cooke's head.
Cooke scores with a jab to the head.
Cooke takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cooke cracks Gray with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gray looks to land a left hand but Cooke moved out of range nicely.
Gray tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cooke fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gray has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Good exchange - Cooke coming out on top.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gray will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Cooke moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke wants to land a leg kick but Gray is out of range.
Gray appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cooke throws a leg kick which misses Gray's front leg but catches the back leg as Gray tries to avoid it.
Gray lands with a nice body punch.
Cooke looks to land a left hand but Gray moved out of range nicely.
Cooke throws a push kick but Gray slaps the foot to one side.
Gray uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cooke.
Gray throws a body kick that misses.
Gray looks to land a left hand but Cooke moved out of range nicely.
Cooke fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gray has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Jab from Gray.
Gray staying out of range there.
Cooke throws a leg kick but Gray sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gray slips a straight right by Cooke.
Cooke takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gray scores with a three punch combo!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close third round but Matt Cooke just about did enough to take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Cooke lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cooke clobbers Gray with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gray misses with a hook. Cooke ducked under it nicely.
Gray takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gray fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cooke, pushing him back against the cage.
Cooke lands a shoulder strike.
Cooke tries a body shot but Gray blocks it.
Cooke lands a shoulder strike.
Gray misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cooke can't find room to land a body shot as Gray controls the action.
Cooke misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gray misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cooke lands a nice uppercut.
Gray misses with a body punch.
A short right from Cooke.
Cooke scores with a nice hook to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cooke misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gray has Cooke pushed against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cooke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cooke looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cooke walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gray checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
As Cooke tries to get set, Gray tries to push him back and clinch up but Cooke manages to avoid the attempt.
A clash of legs there as Gray blocks the low kick.
Gray swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cooke is looking to slow Gray down with leg kicks.
Gray checks a leg kick.
Cooke misses with a body shot.
Cooke throws a low kick but Gray avoids it.
Cooke attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gray uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cooke.
A lazy body kick from Cooke
and Gray counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cooke feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Grays jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cooke chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gray can pounce on him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gray.
Cooke wants to slow Gray down by chopping away at his legs.
Gray throws a right and a left that Cooke avoids nicely.
Gray looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cooke throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gray.
Gray ducks under a wild hook from Cooke.
Gray just misses with a punch to the body.
That kick from Cooke tenderised Gray's leg. Gray is trying to keep his angry face on.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cooke throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cooke lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cooke does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gray throws a quick counter kick to the body but Cooke avoids it.
Gray showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cooke.
Cooke connects with a solid leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke misses with a series of wild punches.
Cooke swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gray.
Gray scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gray forces Cooke back against the cage and clinches.
Nice body punch from Cooke.
Gray swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Cooke.
Gray swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cooke tries a body shot but Gray blocks it.
Cooke lands a shoulder strike.
Gray misses with a punch on the inside.
Gray tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cooke's elbow.
Cooke struggles to land a body shot inside as Gray controls his hands.
Cooke lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A hook to the body from Gray.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray tries a body shot but Cooke blocks it.
Cooke blocks a body shot from Gray.
Gray scores with a hook to the body.
Cooke is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Gray prevents a body shot from Cooke.
Gray lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gray lands with a right to the head.
Gray working aggressively here.
Cooke has a couple of punches blocked by Gray.
Gray tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cooke's elbow.
Cooke working aggressively here.
Gray scores with a shot to the side of Cooke's head.
Gray effectively controlling the action here.
Cooke misses with a punch on the inside.
Gray tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cooke swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cooke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gray's elbow.
Cooke lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gray backwards.
Gray tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Matt Cooke dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Gray throws a right hand that Cooke ducks under and follows up with a left that Cooke also avoids with ease.
Gray checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cooke lands a leg kick that knocks Gray off balance momentarily.
Cooke misses with a body shot.
A slapping body kick lands there for Gray.
Gray lands a head shot.
Cooke pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gray is out of range and Cooke settles back down.
Gray looks to throw the jab but Cooke is out of range.
Gray throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cooke misses with a straight left.
Gray was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cooke feints and then cracks Gray's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gray down.
Cooke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cooke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray checks a low kick from Cooke.
Gray throws out a loose jab but Cooke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cooke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cooke throws a body punch but Gray moves out of range.
Gray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gray lands a jab to the nose.
Cooke finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cooke keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cooke has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cooke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cooke tries a low kick but Gray avoids it.
Gray wants to clinch.
Gray takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke stuns Gray with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cooke throws a low kick but Gray avoids it.
Cooke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sloppy strikes from Gray. Those never looked like landing.
Cooke misses with a low kick.
Cooke will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Cooke wants to land a leg kick but Gray is out of range.
Gray throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gray connects with an inside leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cooke checks a leg kick.
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!
Gray missing with a left hand there. Cooke was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cooke scores with a leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Gray blocks the leg kick.
Cooke gets tackled into the cage by Gray. Gray maintains the clinch.
Gray misses with the head strike.
Gray misses with a hook from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Gray scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cooke prevents a body shot from Gray.
Gray scores with a hook to the body.
Cooke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cooke waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gray.
Cooke throws a right hand that misses
and Gray counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gray rushes Cooke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cooke working aggressively here.
Gray blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gray can't find room to land a body shot as Cooke controls the action.
Cooke lands a shot to the body.
Gray tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gray tries to throw a body punch but Cooke avoids it by throwing Gray back against the cage.
Akoni Gray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Cooke is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke manages to break the clinch.
The fighters circling - Gray throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gray checks a leg kick nicely.
Cooke connects with a looping right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gray clobbers Cooke with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gray looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Some bone on bone action there as Gray checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
An inside leg kick lands from Cooke.
Cooke throws a leg kick which misses Gray's front leg but catches the back leg as Gray tries to avoid it.
Cooke looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cooke is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cooke buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cooke checks a low kick from Gray.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Akoni Gray.
I think Cooke 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 46:49
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 47:48
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Cooke!
Matt Cooke decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
75% |
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