PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tank Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Cook has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Cook

191 cm
24
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tank Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Cook!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith rushes Cook and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Smith has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Cook is trying to keep an underhook but Smith manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Smith trying to control from Cook's half guard. Cook has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Smith sitting in guard here, content to control.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Cook gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Cook from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Smith is looking to stand up but Cook isn't so interested in that idea.
Smith will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Cook wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith pulls Cook in close to his closed guard and prevents Cook from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cook is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tank Smith.
A slow jab from Cook misses its intended target.

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Smith trying to control from Cook's half guard. Cook has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Cook has wrist control.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Cook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cook looking to control.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Smith manages to pass to side control.
Smith is trying to control. Cook wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith thows a huge punch but Cook dodges it nicely.
Cook keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cook's head.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cook's head.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tank Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cook ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Cook has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.

Cook gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cook keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith postures up in Cook's guard and throws a big left but Cook blocks it.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Cook's brow.
Smith cracks Cook with a solid left hand.
Cook keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith stops Cook from standing up.
Cook being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith passes Cook's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cook blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Cook's head.
Cook tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cook is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith thows a huge punch but Cook dodges it nicely.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cook is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cook wants to get back to his feet.
Cook is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Smith 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tank Smith dominated that second round.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cook.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cook.
Cook moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cook fails to land with a series of punches.

Smith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith is looking to stall here but Cook recovers full guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Cook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Cook's brow.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tank Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Tank Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cook keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Smith throws a strike but Cook rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Cook trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cook wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith has his hands on Cook's head, controlling the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Tank Smith wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cook lands a jab to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Cook tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cook manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tank Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cook moves away.
Cook is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Paul Cook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice sprawl there from Cook as Smith shoots in.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tank Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight for Tank Smith!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Tank Smith!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Tank Smith!

Tank Smith wins by unanimous decision!