PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Martin Jahjah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jahjah
vs
Cook

183 cm
18
233 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

192 cm
23
230 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Martin Jahjah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leon Cook!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jahjah misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cook looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Jahjah fails with an attempt to clinch.
Martin Jahjah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jahjah closes the distance and clinches.
Cook tries to break the clinch but Jahjah is controlling the position.
Cook blocks an elbow strike from Jahjah.
Jahjah prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jahjah drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cook pulls his leg out and moves away.

Jahjah decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Jahjah thows a huge punch but Cook dodges it nicely.
Jahjah wants to take a breather but Cook is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jahjah not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cook avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jahjah.
Jahjah seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jahjah thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Jahjah seems to be looking for submissions.
Jahjah tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cook controls his leg.
Cook is trying to maintain the position but Jahjah is very close to passing his half guard.

Jahjah gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Jahjah moves in looking to clinch but Cook pushes him off.
Jahjah shoots for a double leg takedown but Cook sprawls well. He's pushed Jahjah's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Jahjah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cook keeps the fight on the outside.
Cook keeps the fight on the outside.
Jahjah tries to clinch there but Cook circles away.

Jahjah gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jahjah throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Jahjah looking for subs off his back but Cook has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cook wants to stand but Jahjah has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Jahjah is refusing to be controlled, as Cook sits in half guard.
Cook stalling.
Cook seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jahjah does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jahjah kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Jahjah is trying to stand.
Jahjah pushes Cook off but Cook dives into side control.
Jahjah striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cook shoots for a takedown but Jahjah saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Cook looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Jahjah!
Cook avoids the attempt from Jahjah to control.
Jahjah is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Jahjah regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jahjah throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Jahjah is trying to stand back up but Cook is controlling him
Jahjah avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cook.
Jahjah throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Jahjah looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jahjah flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Jahjah throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Cook manages to pass to side control.
Jahjah is trying to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cook misses with a takedown attempt - Jahjah sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Martin Jahjah will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jahjah tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cook swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jahjah shoots in and drives through. Cook sprawls well.
Jahjah fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jahjah wants to clinch.
Cook misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

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

Jahjah manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jahjah tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Martin Jahjah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cook shoots in but no luck this time.
Jahjah tries to clinch there but Cook circles away.
Cook shoots in and drives through. Jahjah sprawls well.
Martin Jahjah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Cook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jahjah stuffs the takedown attempt from Cook. Cook gets slowly back to his feet.
Cook fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook works over Jahjah's head and body with a nice combination.
Jahjah doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cook counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Jahjah breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jahjah tries to clinch but Cook moves away

and Cook counters with a single leg into guard. Jahjah didn't expect that.
Cook tries to free his leg and advance position but Jahjah is retaining full guard.
Jahjah is looking to stand up but Cook isn't so interested in that idea.
Cook thows a big elbow that misses.
Cook stops Jahjah from standing up.

Jahjah is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jahjah is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook passes Jahjah's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Jahjah tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cook moves in looking to clinch but Jahjah pushes him off.
Jahjah tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cook counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cook.
Jahjah prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cook has Jahjah pushed against the cage.
Cook connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jahjah's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jahjah blocks the elbow strike.
Jahjah is trying to break the clinch but Cook has him pressed against the cage.
Cook misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cook tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jahjah has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cook is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jahjah lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Jahjah wants a takedown.
Cook blocks an elbow strike from Jahjah.

Cook lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Jahjah tries to get to full guard but Cook has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jahjah manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Jahjah striking off his back but it's not causing Cook any problems.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jahjah looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Jahjah is looking for a triangle but Cook pushes his legs off easily.

Cook drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cook jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Jahjah keeping moving, preventing Cook from controlling successfully.
Jahjah is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jahjah misses with a takedown

and Cook counters with a single leg into guard. Jahjah didn't expect that.
Jahjah wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Cook manages to pass to side control.
Cook content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Cook showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jahjah darts in trying to clinch

and Cook counters by clinching up.
With the fighters up against the cage, Jahjah throws an elbow but misses.

Jahjah breaks from the clinch.
Jahjah closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cook counters with a two punch combo.
Jahjah misses with a takedown attempt

and Cook decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Jahjah's guard.
Cook stands and throws Jahjah's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Jahjah knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cook on the ground.

Cook working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Jahjah wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jahjah is trying to improve his position.
Cook wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jahjah keeps working.
Jahjah tries to escape but Cook is in control.
Leon Cook has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jahjah is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cook off and has taken his back!
Cook just trying to survive but Jahjah is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Cook defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Jahjah has Cook flattened out and is raining down punches.

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.
Jahjah lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Cook tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Cook tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jahjah with the ground and pound from mount.
Jahjah avoids the attempt from Cook to control.
Cook really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Jahjah is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cook can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Jahjah scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cook?
Cook tries to lock up and control but Jahjah gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jahjah punishing his opponent with strikes.

Jahjah is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Cook has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Cook!
Jahjah is looking to stand up but Cook isn't so interested in that idea.
Jahjah is striking but Cook is not phased and passes to half guard.
Cook wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jahjah keeps working.
Jahjah tries to kick Cook off but Cook keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jahjah tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Cook manages to move to mount!
Jahjah is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Jahjah really wants to buck Cook off and get back to his feet.
Cook lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Jahjah hang on?
Jahjah's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Jahjah is in all sorts of trouble here.
Jahjah is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Cook wants to control the pace but Jahjah is squirming around nicely.
Cook blocks Jahjah's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leon Cook comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cook 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

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