PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Cook (ranked 4105 p4p, 4121 weight class) and Yaniz Blanqacuco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cook
vs
Blanqacuco

187 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Cook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yaniz Blanqacuco!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cook tries for a takedown but Blanqacuco sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cook closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Blanqacuco throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Blanqacuco shoots in but Cook avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cook was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cook tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Cook drives through with a takedown into Blanqacuco's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blanqacuco tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cook stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blanqacuco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cook trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Blanqacuco looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cook passes into half guard.

Cook stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cook rushes Blanqacuco and presses him up against the cage.
Blanqacuco changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cook fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Cook moves into the clinch.
Cook lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Blanqacuco tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cook just stands there and leans against the cage.
John Cook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yaniz Blanqacuco.
Blanqacuco avoiding damage as Cook throws knees to the body.
Blanqacuco gets underhooks to prevent Cook's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cook misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Blanqacuco.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cook just misses with a elbow thrown towards Blanqacuco's brow.
Cook is looking to take this one to the mat.

Cook gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Blanqacuco pushes Cook off but Cook dives into side control.
Cook working away.
Cook knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Blanqacuco on the ground.
Blanqacuco sneaks back into half guard.
Blanqacuco moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blanqacuco is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook tries to roll over but Blanqacuco keeps him under control.
Blanqacuco trying to pass the guard but Cook defending well.
Blanqacuco wants to take a breather but Cook is having none of it.
Blanqacuco prevents Cook from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blanqacuco wants to stand but Cook has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Blanqacuco is looking to take a break and control but Cook is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cook regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cook trying to control the position.
Blanqacuco trying to control the position from guard on top but Cook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cook is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Cook will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Blanqacuco fails with the takedown

and Cook counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cook.
Blanqacuco can't get the takedown.
Blanqacuco avoids the elbow strike from Cook, against the cage.

Blanqacuco pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cook throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cook is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cook looking to sit in guard and control but Blanqacuco gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanqacuco wants to pass the guard but Cook is keeping the position.
Cook seems keen to control Blanqacuco's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanqacuco trying to control but Cook is working from the bottom.
Cook controlling Blanqacuco's posture.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Cook manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Blanqacuco is trying to stall.
Cook fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Come on Cook - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Cook really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cook changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Blanqacuco fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cook tries a low kick but Blanqacuco avoids it.
Cook tries a head kick but it misses.
John Cook is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cook avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blanqacuco changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cook tries to avoid it but Blanqacuco manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cook to the ground. Cook escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cook appears to be looking for a big counter.
John Cook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yaniz Blanqacuco.
Cook uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Blanqacuco.

Cook gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Blanqacuco missing with knees to the body.
Cook lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cook is trying to force a seperation but Blanqacuco has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanqacuco wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cook has him pressed against the cage.
Cook managing to block the knees to the body from Blanqacuco.
Blanqacuco using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cook has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Blanqacuco is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cook pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Blanqacuco is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cook pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Blanqacuco goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cook prevents it.
Cook wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Blanqacuco has him pressed against the cage.

Cook manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Blanqacuco stands and throws Cook's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cook is looking to regain half guard here but Blanqacuco keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook can't do much from the bottom here.
Blanqacuco is looking to take a break and control but Cook is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cook tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Blanqacuco wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cook is not content to let Blanqacuco control the position.
Yaniz Blanqacuco has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cook tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Cook dominated that second round.
That's time! Cook's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Cook throws a chopping leg kick but Blanqacuco manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Cook looking to score a takedown here. Blanqacuco is defending well but Cook drives through and ends up in Blanqacuco's guard.

Blanqacuco is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Cook presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Cook is looking to break free of the clinch but Blanqacuco has double underhooks.
Cook keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Blanqacuco's efforts to push away.
Cook changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Blanqacuco fights it off and pushes away nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanqacuco stuffs the takedown.
And Blanqacuco tries to counter it with a takedown but Cook pushes his down on his head and steps out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cook shoots in but no luck this time.
Blanqacuco tries to clinch

and Cook counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blanqacuco wants to control but Cook is keeping busy.
Cook will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanqacuco moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Blanqacuco trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blanqacuco is on top in guard.

Blanqacuco is looking to stand up but Cook won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cook preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Cook looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Blanqacuco passes Cook's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Blanqacuco is trying to control the action in half guard but Cook is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Blanqacuco thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cook's head.
Blanqacuco trying to control the action but Cook is working from the bottom.
Blanqacuco not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cook is staying active underneath Blanqacuco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook is looking for a sweep. Blanqacuco is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cook is not content to let Blanqacuco control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Blanqacuco shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cook sprawls well. Cook wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Blanqacuco gets slowly back to his feet.
Blanqacuco tries for a takedown but Cook sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Blanqacuco shoots for a takedown but Cook saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Blanqacuco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cook paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Blanqacuco misses with a two punch combination.
Cook throws a leg kick but Blanqacuco sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cook circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook fails with a takedown attempt.
Blanqacuco tries to clinch but Cook moves out of range.
Blanqacuco throws a body punch but Cook moves out of range.
Cook swats away the attempt to clinch by Blanqacuco.
Cook is looking for a counter combo.
Blanqacuco misses with a looping left.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cook misses with a kick to the body
and Blanqacuco counters with a left and a right that stings Cook.
Blanqacuco closes the distance but Cook moves to the side

and Cook counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Blanqacuco makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

And that's the end of the fight!
Yaniz Blanqacuco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cook 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Cook!