PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Cooke (ranked 24773 p4p, 0 weight class) and Florian Stancu (ranked 4607 p4p, 0 weight class). Stancu has chosen Stan Bush- On My Own as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cooke
vs
Stancu

186 cm
19
161 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aaron Cooke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Florian Stancu!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Summer Carpenter and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stancu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cooke defends it nicely.
Horrible takedown attempt by Stancu or perhaps it was just good defense by Cooke, which made it look bad.
Cooke darts in looking for a takedown but Stancu gets double underhooks and turns Cooke into the cage.

Cooke darts in and clinches Stancu up against the cage.
Stancu tries to break free but Cooke pushes him back against the cage.
Cooke lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cooke is trying to pull guard but Stancu has him pressed against the cage.
Stancu is trying to push Cooke away but Cooke has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stancu is trying to push Cooke away but Cooke has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke tries to throw a body punch but Stancu avoids it by throwing Cooke back against the cage.
Stancu is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cooke is defending well.
Aaron Cooke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Florian Stancu.
A knee to the head by Stancu.

It looks like Aaron Cooke has been cut.
Cooke lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cooke is trying to pull guard but Stancu has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cooke drags the fight down to the ground.

Cooke wriggles free and stands up.

Cooke shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Stancu is trying to defend but Cooke finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cooke looks to land a strike but Stancu avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Cooke gets to his feet. Stancu looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
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.
Stancu misses with a head kick.
Cooke attempts a counter takedown but Stancu avoids it well and moves away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stancu.

Cooke moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stancu tries to break the clinch but Cooke is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stancu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cooke tries to pull guard but Stancu holds him up against the cage and eventually Cooke drops back down to his feet.
Cooke tries to pull guard but Stancu holds him up against the cage and eventually Cooke drops back down to his feet.
Stancu managing to block the knees to the body from Cooke.
Cooke fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cooke landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cooke tries to land knees in the clinch but Stancu avoids the damage to the body.
Stancu tries to break the clinch but Cooke is controlling the position.
Stancu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cooke keeps control of Stancu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stancu wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stancu looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Cooke has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Stancu uses from the top position.
Cooke is striking from the bottom but Stancu uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stancu is trying to control. Cooke wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stancu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stancu is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Cooke manages to get to full guard.
Cooke keeping moving, preventing Stancu from controlling successfully.
Stancu is stalling in the full guard.
Cooke trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four 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.
Cooke wants to stand and escape but Stancu is having none of it.

Stancu stands up from Cooke's guard - Stancu perhaps looking for a knockout.
Stancu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Stancu wants to clinch

and Cooke counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cooke sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stancu defending well though.
Stancu trying to control here.
Stancu has hold of Cooke's hands but Cooke slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Cooke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Cooke's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stancu pushes Cooke up against the cage in a clinch.
Cooke stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cooke misses with a body punch.
Stancu has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cooke after a bit of a struggle.
Cooke tries to pull guard but Stancu forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stancu blocks an uppercut.
Stancu is trying to force a seperation but Cooke has the dominant position.
Cooke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stancu can do to turn this around?

Cooke ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cooke no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cooke throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cooke uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Stancu throws a lazy body kick

and Cooke counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Cooke looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cooke is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cooke is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cooke missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stancu has hold of Cooke's hands but Cooke slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Aaron Cooke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Stancu kicks off Cooke and gets to his feet.

Cooke darts in and clinches Stancu up against the cage.
Stancu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cooke fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cooke is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Stancu to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Cooke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooke has Stancu pressed against the cage, preventing Stancu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cooke jumps guard but Stancu turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cooke tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stancu smiles and moves away.
Stancu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cooke.
As Stancu tries to get set, Cooke tries to push him back and clinch up but Stancu manages to avoid the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Stancu wants to clinch up but Cooke keeps it at a distance.
Stancu thuds a left hand into Cooke's body.
Cooke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stancu pinned against the cage. Stancu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stancu looks for a takedown but Cooke sprawls well.
Stancu tries to land a front kick but Cooke steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A head kick misses from Stancu.
Cooke wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Stancu misses with a head kick.

Cooke has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stancu has had enough of the clinch but Cooke keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke is trying to force a seperation but Stancu has the dominant position.
Cooke lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Stancu manages to break the clinch.

Cooke moves into range and clinches up with Stancu.
Stancu works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cooke tries to pull guard but Stancu forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stancu working hard to break the clinch.
Cooke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cooke keeps control of Stancu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stancu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cooke tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stancu smiles and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stancu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stancu is looking to clinch but Cooke is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aaron Cooke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Aaron Cooke's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Stancu throws a head kick that misses.

Stancu tries to sprawl but Cooke drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Cooke gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Cooke closes the distance and clinches.
Cooke is trying to pull guard but Stancu turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cooke has Stancu pressed against the cage, preventing Stancu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stancu prevents a body shot from Cooke.
Cooke jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stancu walks away with a smile on his face. Cooke gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That kick from Stancu tenderised Cooke's leg. Cooke is trying to keep his angry face on.

Cooke moves into the clinch.
Stancu is trying to force a seperation but Cooke has the dominant position.
Cooke prevents Stancu from breaking the clinch.
Stancu is looking to control Cooke's arms but Cooke gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stancu has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stancu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stancu is trying to break free.
Cooke is trying to pull guard but Stancu has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Cooke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooke connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stancu's face.
Cooke jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stancu walks away with a smile on his face. Cooke gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cooke tries to clinch but Stancu moves out of range.
Stancu misses with a head kick.
Cooke walks forward, straight into a front kick from Stancu.
Stancu moves in looking to clinch but Cooke pushes him off.
Cooke is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stancu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stancu tries to counter with a clinch but Cooke shakes him off and moves away.
Stancu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cooke's sensitive parts.
A good leg kick by Stancu.
A good leg kick by Stancu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cooke clinches with his opponent.
Stancu tries to break the clinch but Cooke is controlling the position.
Aaron Cooke has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stancu tries to break the clinch but Cooke is controlling the position.
Stancu is looking to break free of the clinch but Cooke has double underhooks.

Cooke pulls guard effortlessly.
Cooke keeping moving, preventing Stancu from controlling successfully.
Cooke throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Stancu lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Stancu postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Cooke is working an open guard so Stancu takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stancu lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stancu scores with a push kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Stancu!
Florian Stancu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cooke slips under a jab.
Cooke feinted with a counter takedown.
Cooke avoids the head kick by Stancu.

Cooke rushes Stancu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cooke lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Stancu wants to get back to striking at distance but Cooke won't allow it.
Cooke fails to pull guard.
Stancu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stancu is trying to push Cooke away but Cooke has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cooke tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stancu is trying to break the clinch but Cooke has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stancu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cooke jumps guard but Stancu turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Stancu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stancu keeps the fight on the outside.
Stancu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Cooke has closed the distance and engaged Stancu in a clinch.
Stancu is trying to break the clinch but Cooke is controlling him.
Stancu jumps guard but Cooke stands there with Stancu around his waist. Stancu gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cooke scores with a knee to the head.
Stancu working hard to break the clinch.
Stancu is trying to break the clinch but Cooke has him pressed against the cage.
Florian Stancu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aaron Cooke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cooke lands a damaging elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Florian Stancu.
I think Cooke has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Cooke!