PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Enzo Cooke (ranked 5606 p4p, 3016 weight class) and Ryan McCallum (ranked 446 p4p, 293 weight class). Ryan McCallum struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cooke
vs
McCallum

175 cm
24
157
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
24
167
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Enzo Cooke!
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, Ryan McCallum!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCallum throws a combination that misses

and Cooke decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McCallum's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Cooke postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Cooke is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cooke trying to control the position from guard on top but McCallum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cooke slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCallum is looking to escape.
Cooke trying to mount his opponent but McCallum defends it.
Cooke wants to control but McCallum is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cooke is trying to work for a kimura but McCallum is defending well.
McCallum pushes Cooke off looking to stand but Cooke dives back in and keeps control.
McCallum is trying to maintain the position but Cooke is very close to passing his half guard.
McCallum is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCallum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cooke not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Cooke is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McCallum has managed to free his arm - good work.

Cooke wants to work for an arm triangle but McCallum is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Cooke is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McCallum has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cooke moves into full mount! McCallum won't be happy about that!
McCallum is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
McCallum is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCallum bucks up and throws Cooke to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Cooke circles away from the clinch attempt

and Cooke counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cooke is trying to work for a kimura but McCallum is defending well.
McCallum is trying to stand back up but Cooke is controlling him
Cooke trying to control the pace.

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCallum pushes Cooke off looking to stand but Cooke dives back in and keeps control.

Cooke is working for a kimura but McCallum is defending it quite comfortably.
McCallum pushes Cooke off looking to stand but Cooke dives back in and keeps control.
McCallum is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Cooke seems to be working for a kimura but McCallum defends the submission attempt.
Cooke prevents McCallum from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Cooke seems to be looking for submissions.
Cooke is breathing heavily.
Cooke perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cooke prevents McCallum from improving his position.

Cooke is trying to work for a kimura but McCallum is defending well.
Cooke prevents McCallum from standing back up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ryan McCallum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCallum's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and McCallum duly obliges.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCallum throws a combination. Cooke tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo Cooke dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McCallum lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cooke fails with the takedown.
McCallum lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCallum feints a jab promting Cooke to slip. McCallum then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cooke slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
McCallum misses with a jab, cross combination.
As McCallum looks to move away, Cooke throws a big counter combo but McCallum just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCallum throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cooke.
McCallum throws a left and a right that both miss

and Cooke counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

McCallum has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Cooke has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Cooke swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Cooke turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Cooke manages to end up in side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCallum is not content to let Cooke control the position.
Cooke remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Cooke tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cooke has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on McCallum's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
McCallum tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Enzo Cooke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McCallum trying to get back to his feet but Cooke is in full control for now.

McCallum fending off the submission attempt from Cooke.

McCallum is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Cooke gets his way!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCallum wants to escape the position.

McCallum defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cooke's arms.
McCallum trying to control but not successfully.

Cooke looking to break McCallum's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. McCallum remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Cooke will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
McCallum wants to get back to his feet.
McCallum tries to escape but Cooke has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

McCallum defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cooke's arms.

Cooke looking for the choke but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCallum trying to get back to his feet but Cooke is in full control for now.

Cooke is persistently looking for the submission but McCallum is defending it well.
McCallum trying to get back to his feet but Cooke is in full control for now.
Cooke misses with an elbow to the head.
You can see the frustration on McCallum's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Cooke is trying to stick to McCallum's back but McCallum is turning into Cooke. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cooke's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by McCallum.
McCallum wants to stand and escape but instead Cooke has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cooke tries to free his leg and advance position but McCallum is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Enzo Cooke will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Left hook, right uppercut from McCallum.

Cooke shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McCallum napping and manages to drive through into side control!
McCallum is trying to get back to his feet.
Cooke wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCallum keeps working.
McCallum is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
McCallum is being controlled here.

Cooke wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McCallum, who protects the arm well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke trying to control the position but McCallum is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCallum wants to get back to his feet but Cooke drags him back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCallum keeps working.

Cooke tries for a kimura but McCallum is defending well.

Cooke tries for a kimura but McCallum is defending well.
McCallum is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cooke has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Cooke is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McCallum is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
McCallum wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
McCallum is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.

Cooke looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cooke prevents McCallum from escaping the position.

Cooke thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
McCallum is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cooke has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Cooke is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McCallum knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Cooke tries for a kimura but McCallum is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCallum pushes Cooke away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cooke gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

McCallum throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
McCallum stuns Cooke with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McCallum feints a jab promting Cooke to slip. McCallum then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cooke slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cooke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McCallum pinned against the cage. McCallum gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCallum throws a combination. Cooke tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A low kick from McCallum is predictable there

and Cooke counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McCallum!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCallum is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cooke has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ryan McCallum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cooke is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McCallum has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan McCallum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Enzo Cooke!