PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Duane Cooke (ranked 23869 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Ashford (ranked 6128 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Cooke
vs
Ashford

208 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

174 cm
18
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Duane Cooke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, David Ashford!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ashford moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ashford looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Cooke fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ashford sprawls well initially but Cooke persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ashford pushes Cooke off but Cooke dives into side control.
Cooke landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Cooke decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Cooke scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ashford pushes Cooke off but Cooke dives into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cooke looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ashford wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Cooke stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke has a takedown stuffed.
Ashford swings for the body but Cooke moves out of range.

Cooke instigates a clinch.

Cooke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cooke shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cooke showed some decent athleticism there.

Cooke decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Cooke manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ashford on his heels. He'll look to pass Ashford's guard now, I'm sure.
Ashford is looking to stand back up but Cooke counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ashford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Cooke decides to stand up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cooke fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cooke is defended easily by Ashford.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duane Cooke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooke fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashford throws a leg kick

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

Cooke gets to his feet. Ashford looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cooke closes the distance and clinches up with Ashford, looking for a takedown. Cooke pushes Ashford against the cage but Ashford circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ashford lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cooke circles away quickly and effectively.
Ashford leaves Cooke with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Cooke drives through with a takedown into Ashford's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ashford is wriggling around but Cooke manages to pass to half guard.
Ashford looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cooke stops Ashford from getting back to his feet.
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.

Cooke decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
David Ashford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cooke misses with a takedown attempt - Ashford sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cooke shoots in for a takedown but Ashford shows good takedown defense.
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!
Ashford tries to bum rush Cooke with a series of wild strikes but Cooke uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Cooke darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ashford wants to stand back up but Cooke manages to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duane Cooke 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.

Cooke has a takedown stuffed.
Cooke fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ashford! But no joy.
Ashford moves into range and connects with a jab.

Cooke clinches.

Ashford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cooke showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ashford.
Ashford is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ashford sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cooke somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duane Cooke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ashford jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cooke appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashford misses with a wild body shot.
David Ashford seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cooke misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Cooke scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ashford is looking to get back to is feet but Cooke passes into side control.

Cooke has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Cooke tries for a takedown but Ashford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cooke or perhaps it was just good defense by Ashford, which made it look bad.
Cooke tries for a takedown but Ashford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cooke closes the distance and clinches up with Ashford, looking for a takedown. Cooke pushes Ashford against the cage but Ashford circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke shoots in for a takedown but Ashford shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ashford throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cooke shoots in for a takedown but Ashford shows good takedown defense.
Ashford throws a series of punches but Cooke moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ashford finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ashford throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cooke.
It seemed like Ashford was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ashford lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cooke circles away quickly and effectively.
Cooke looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick misses from Ashford.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashford falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cooke counters with a series of strikes. Ashford will be more careful next time no doubt.
Duane Cooke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ashford defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cooke.
David Ashford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ashford throws a shot to the body.
Cooke misses with a takedown
and Ashford counters with a two punch combo.
Ashford throws a series of punches but Cooke moves out of range.
Ashford displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cooke.
Ashford lands a jab to the head.
Cooke shoots in but no luck this time.
Ashford just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ashford counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ashford looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ashford swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cooke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cooke looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ashford is fending him off so far but Cooke persists. Nope, Ashford circles away and we're back to standing.
Ashford appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ashford paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ashford throws a head kick but Cooke moves out of range.
Ashford has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cooke throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ashford's waist but Ashford gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cooke off to one side.
Ashford swinging wildly here.
Ashford throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cooke counters with a two punch combo.
Cooke tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ashford sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cooke somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Ashford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ashford throws a body punch but Cooke moves out of range.
Ashford tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Cooke shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ashford pushes Cooke off but Cooke dives into side control.

Cooke working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Cooke thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ashford wants to get back to his feet but Cooke drags him back down.
Ashford is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Cooke stands up.

Cooke scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ashford wants to stand back up but Cooke manages to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke scores with a couple of short elbows.

Cooke working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Cooke decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Cooke closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ashford circles away.
Ashford swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cooke shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ashford is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duane Cooke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ashford lands a nice shot to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cooke.
Ashford displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cooke.
Ashford throws a series of punches but Cooke moves out of range.
Ashford throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cooke counters with a series of strikes. Ashford will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ashford throws a push kick but Cooke slaps the foot to one side.
Ashford stuffs the takedown.
Cooke avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashford lands a nice looking body shot.
Ashford throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cooke.
A punch combination from Ashford misses.

Cooke decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ashford manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Ashford looks to score with a jab to the body but Cooke is just out of range.
Cooke throwing a counter right hand but Ashford manages to avoid it.
Cooke blocks a head kick by Ashford.
Ashford throws a series of punches but Cooke avoids them all with ease.
Cooke swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've been informed that Ashford has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Cooke shoots in looking for a takedown but Ashford manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cooke's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ashford pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cooke avoids the head kick by Ashford.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Ashford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ashford 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Ashford!