PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Graig Cooke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Salahadeen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Cooke
vs
Salahadeen

174 cm
18
151 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

179 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Graig Cooke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ali Salahadeen!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salahadeen shoots in for a takedown but Cooke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Salahadeen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Salahadeen dives in and grabs Cooke's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cooke pushes down on Salahadeen's head and hops out.
Graig Cooke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ali Salahadeen.
Cooke moves out of range of the body kick from Salahadeen.
Salahadeen fails with the takedown.
Salahadeen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cooke as he jumps to the side.

Cooke has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke effectively controlling the action here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salahadeen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cooke is fending him off so far but Salahadeen persists. Nope, Cooke circles away and we're back to standing.
Salahadeen wants to clinch up but Cooke keeps it at a distance.

Cooke shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cooke was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cooke is working Salahadeen over with some ground and pound from side control.

Cooke decides to stand back up.

Salahadeen clinches.

Cooke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cooke swats away the attempt to clinch by Salahadeen.

Cooke closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Salahadeen's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salahadeen is trying to keep Cooke in close.
Cooke has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Cooke drops back looking for a leg! Salahadeen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Salahadeen manages to kick Cooke off! Cooke jumps back into Salahadeen's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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 drops back looking for a leg! Salahadeen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Salahadeen manages to kick Cooke off! Cooke jumps back into Salahadeen's guard.
Cooke scoring with some ground and pound.
Cooke postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cooke connects with a couple of short punches.
Cooke landing some decent shots from guard.
Cooke is working Salahadeen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke preventing the sweep.
Cooke is looking to work some ground and pound but Salahadeen has wrist control.
Cooke connects with a couple of short punches.
Cooke landing some decent shots from guard.
Cooke scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Salahadeen looks winded!
Cooke makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cooke thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cooke works over Salahadeen with some ground and pound from guard.
Cooke throws a big elbow that misses.
Cooke is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cooke won't allow Salahadeen to sweep him here.
Salahadeen has momentary wrist control but Cooke slips an elbow through the middle.
Cooke working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Salahadeen's head.
Cooke postures up and lands a big shot to Salahadeen's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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 lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Cooke drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Salahadeen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cooke has Salahadeen in his guard.

Salahadeen tries to free his leg and advance position but Cooke is retaining full guard.
Salahadeen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cooke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cooke manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Salahadeen manages to get himself to full guard.

Salahadeen is looking to stand up but Cooke isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graig Cooke dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cooke has Salahadeen up against the cage in a clinch.

Cooke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cooke has a takedown stuffed.
Salahadeen shoots in but no luck this time.
Cooke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Salahadeen.
Salahadeen tries to close the distance and clinch but Cooke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cooke gets the takedown into side control.

Cooke is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Salahadeen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cooke scoring with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Salahadeen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cooke's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Cooke is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Salahadeen is just riding it out for now. Cooke eventually gives up the hold.
Cooke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salahadeen can do to turn this around?
Salahadeen is breathing heavily.
Cooke winds up and cracks Salahadeen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cooke winds up and cracks Salahadeen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Cooke is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Salahadeen trying to hold on to Cooke's head to control him but Cooke postures up.

Cooke is working for a kimura but Salahadeen is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cooke is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Salahadeen defends it well.
Salahadeen wants to get back to full guard.

Cooke is trying to work for a kimura but Salahadeen is defending well.
Cooke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Cooke seems to be working for a kimura but Salahadeen defends the submission attempt.
Salahadeen regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke is looking to stand up but Salahadeen won't let him.
Cooke with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cooke in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cooke is looking to work some ground and pound but Salahadeen has wrist control.
Cooke content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooke with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Salahadeen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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 postures up and lands a big shot to Salahadeen's brow.
Cooke distracts Salahadeen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cooke wants to stand and escape but instead Salahadeen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Salahadeen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salahadeen preventing the sweep.
Cooke lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cooke lands a couple of digs.
Cooke landing with the ground and pound.
Salahadeen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Salahadeen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cooke is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graig Cooke dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cooke showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Salahadeen.
Nice takedown defense from Salahadeen. No joy for Cooke on that attempt.
And Salahadeen tries to counter it with a takedown but Cooke pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Graig Cooke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salahadeen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Salahadeen shoots in for a takedown but Cooke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Salahadeen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Cooke darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Salahadeen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Salahadeen is defending against the submission attempts here by Cooke.

Cooke decides to stand and escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salahadeen shoots in for a takedown but Cooke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Salahadeen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cooke moves away.
As Salahadeen tries to get set, Cooke tries to push him back and clinch up but Salahadeen manages to avoid the attempt.
Salahadeen keeps the fight on the outside.
Cooke fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Graig Cooke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooke shoots in for a double leg but Salahadeen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Cooke drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Cooke is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Salahadeen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Salahadeen tries to buck Cooke off but Cooke is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cooke is trying to get an arm triangle but Salahadeen is defending well.
Check out the look on Cooke's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Salahadeen defending against the ground and pound.
Cooke connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Salahadeen some visible discomfort.

Cooke goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Salahadeen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cooke but great work by Salahadeen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Salahadeen is looking to take a break and control but Cooke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cooke is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salahadeen stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Salahadeen shoots in but no luck this time.
Salahadeen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cooke moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Cooke has closed the distance and engaged Salahadeen in a clinch.
Cooke manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The referee calls for Cooke to work.

Cooke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Salahadeen shoots for a double leg takedown but Cooke sprawls well. He's pushed Salahadeen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cooke is looking to counter the offense by Salahadeen and move into the clinch.
Ali Salahadeen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salahadeen swats away the attempt to clinch by Cooke.

Cooke closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Salahadeen quickly recovers to half guard.

Cooke is working for a kimura but Salahadeen is defending it quite comfortably.
Cooke is thwarting Salahadeen's attempts to control the position.
Salahadeen punching from the bottom.
Cooke is taking a breather. Salahadeen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ali Salahadeen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Graig Cooke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Graig Cooke.
Well Cooke has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27

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