|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Cooke (ranked 272 p4p, 40 weight class) and Jim Fitzsimmons (ranked 1169 p4p, 163 weight class). This should be fireworks!
 |
|
 |
| 185 cm
35
203 lbs
27 - 10 - 1 |
|
188 cm
43
203 lbs
44 - 27 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
|
Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
27 - 10 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Cooke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
44 - 27 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Fitzsimmons!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooke on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cooke connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cooke keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons tries to work over Cooke's front leg with a kick but Cooke checks it.
Cooke misses with a low kick.
Cooke uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fitzsimmons has time to react.
Fitzsimmons swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cooke.
Cooke moves out of range of the strikes.
Fitzsimmons dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jim Fitzsimmons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitzsimmons comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cooke lands a slapping body shot.
Fitzsimmons checks the leg kick nicely there.
Fitzsimmons throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitzsimmons ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cooke moves away.
Cooke ducks under a wild hook from Fitzsimmons.
Cooke works Fitzsimmons's body with a nice hook.
Fitzsimmons fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fitzsimmons lunges at Cooke with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cooke's hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cooke misses with a straight right.
Cooke on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Fitzsimmons throws a lazy uppercut
and Cooke counters with a nice leg kick.
Fitzsimmons throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fitzsimmons checks the leg kick nicely there.
Fitzsimmons is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Fitzsimmons throws an off balance right hand
and Cooke counters with a nice body kick.
Fitzsimmons takes a kick to the side of the head.
Cooke misses with an uppercut. Fitzsimmons saw that one coming.
Fitzsimmons doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cooke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cooke connects with a good right hand that stumbles Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cooke displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fitzsimmons throws out the jab.
Nice defenses there by Cooke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitzsimmons misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Cooke counters with a series of strikes. Fitzsimmons will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Cooke misses.
Cooke defending well as Fitzsimmons loads up on a big left hand.
Cooke throws a looping overhand right but Fitzsimmons ducks down to avoid it.
Cooke connects with a leg kick. Fitzsimmons looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fitzsimmons uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cooke.
Cooke misses with a looping left.
Fitzsimmons throws a lazy uppercut
and Cooke makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cooke scores with a body shot.
Cooke throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fitzsimmons sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fitzsimmons doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cooke lands a nice shot that snaps Fitzsimmons's head back.
Fitzsimmons takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Cooke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Fitzsimmons connects with a right hand. Cooke shakes it off.
Cooke tries to land a front kick but Fitzsimmons steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A big right from Cooke misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons lunges at Cooke with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cooke's hand.
Nice shot by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons punishes Cooke's body with a nice straight punch.
Fitzsimmons swings for the body but Cooke moves out of range.
Cooke lands a nice leg kick that just misses Fitzsimmons's sensitive parts.
Cooke's corner calls for a 1-2. Cooke obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A jab lands there for Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Cooke wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Fitzsimmons throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cooke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cooke throws a head kick but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons throws out a counter right but Cooke avoids it with no problem.
Cooke is looking to land body kicks.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cooke.
Cooke moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitzsimmons throws a push kick but Cooke slaps the foot to one side.
Cooke gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fitzsimmons has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Fitzsimmons throws a jab but it's blocked by Cooke.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cooke moves away.
Fitzsimmons throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cooke counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body punch
and Cooke counters with a head kick. That will keep Fitzsimmons thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
It looks like Jim Fitzsimmons has been cut.
Nice shot by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Fitzsimmons ducks under a wild hook from Cooke.
Fitzsimmons flicks out a counter leg kick but Cooke steps away.
Fitzsimmons misses with a straight right.
Cooke swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cooke waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fitzsimmons.
Cooke fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Fitzsimmons thuds a left hand into Cooke's body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fitzsimmons throws a solid leg kick but Cooke takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Fitzsimmons.
Cooke digs a good hook to Fitzsimmons's body.
Cooke misses with a straight right.
Fitzsimmons connects with a body shot.
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 Matt Cooke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jim Fitzsimmons's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Fitzsimmons throws a body punch but Cooke moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons scores with a shot to the body.
Fitzsimmons throws a right hand that misses
and Cooke counters with a stiff right hand.
Cooke connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cooke blocks a jab.
Fitzsimmons moves out of range of the leg kick from Cooke.
Matt Cooke is winning the standup battle so far.
Cooke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fitzsimmons.
A big left from Cooke misses.
Fitzsimmons appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A slow jab from Cooke misses its intended target.
Cooke connects with a nice looking jab.
Fitzsimmons tries to work over Cooke's front leg with a kick but Cooke checks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fitzsimmons. Cooke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cooke throwing a counter right hand but Fitzsimmons manages to avoid it.
Cooke throws a front kick aimed at Fitzsimmons's knee but Fitzsimmons avoids it well.
Fitzsimmons on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Cooke. Fitzsimmons shrugs it off though.
Fitzsimmons has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cooke.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Fitzsimmons might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Cooke has got the better of the exchanges.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke misses with a hook
and Fitzsimmons counters with a stiff right hand.
Fitzsimmons tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cooke was well out of range. Poor timing from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fitzsimmons throws a poor cross that misses
and Cooke counters with a straight right hand.
Fitzsimmons loads up on a big right hand but Cooke slips the punch.
Cooke fails to land with a series of punches.
A swing and a miss from Fitzsimmons.
Cooke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Fitzsimmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cooke swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cooke waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cooke, right into the meat.
Fitzsimmons throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cooke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cooke cracks Fitzsimmons with an open hand slap.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitzsimmons is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cooke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cooke misses with an uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Fitzsimmons.
Cooke tries to work over Fitzsimmons's front leg with a kick but Fitzsimmons checks it.
Nice shot lands for Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body shot.
Cooke swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Fitzsimmons looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fitzsimmons uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cooke.
Fitzsimmons slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fitzsimmons. Cooke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cooke misses with the combination.
Fitzsimmons steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Fitzsimmons scores with a jab to the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws out a leg kick but Cooke moves out of range and Fitzsimmons only half commits.
Fitzsimmons misses with an uppercut. Cooke saw that one coming.
Fitzsimmons tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cooke was well out of range. Poor timing from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons defending well as Cooke loads up on a big left hand.
Cooke scores with a decent looking hook.
Cooke slips a jab from Fitzsimmons.
Cooke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fitzsimmons moves away.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook
and Cooke counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A shot to the liver by Cooke. Beautiful body shot.
Cooke throws out a loose jab but Fitzsimmons uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fitzsimmons misses with a looping left.
Cooke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fitzsimmons.
Cooke slips under a jab.
Fitzsimmons takes a swing at Cooke's ribcage but misses.
Sloppy strikes from Cooke. Those never looked like landing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Fitzsimmons misses.
Cooke quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Cooke slips a jab from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons thows a leg kick but Cooke checks it
and Cooke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fitzsimmons tried to score with a low kick but Cooke checks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitzsimmons misses with a wild body shot.
Cooke lands a front kick.
Fitzsimmons throws a body punch but Cooke moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Cooke misses the body punch
and Fitzsimmons counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cooke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons misses with a double jab
and Cooke counters with an outside leg kick.
Fitzsimmons misses with an attempted mid kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cooke. Fitzsimmons does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cooke throws a head kick that Fitzsimmons semi-blocks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Matt Cooke dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jim Fitzsimmons's cut.
That's time! Cooke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Cooke walks into a stiff left hand from Fitzsimmons.
Cooke bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Cooke lands a lovely overhand right.
Fitzsimmons jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cooke connects with the punch.
Fitzsimmons's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nice defenses there by Cooke.
Cooke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Fitzsimmons throws a jab but it's blocked by Cooke.
It looked like Cooke wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cooke smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Fitzsimmons scores with a punch to the head.
Cooke moves away from the strike by Fitzsimmons.
Cooke will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A head kick misses from Cooke.
Fitzsimmons swings widly with a right hand
and Fitzsimmons takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fitzsimmons scores with a spinning back kick!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke blocks a jab.
Fitzsimmons throws a jab when Cooke was well out of range.
Fitzsimmons takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Fitzsimmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fitzsimmons rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cooke counters with a nice uppercut.
Fitzsimmons swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cooke.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick
enabling Cooke to counter with a crisp jab.
Cooke misses with a body shot
and Fitzsimmons counters with a good low kick that Cooke was not able to check.
Cooke avoids the body shot from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A low kick from Fitzsimmons misses
and Cooke counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fitzsimmons waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cooke.
Fitzsimmons keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fitzsimmons throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cooke.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Fitzsimmons scores with a jab to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitzsimmons throws a big shot that misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Cooke misses the target.
Cooke slips under a jab from Fitzsimmons.
Cooke is looking to counter punch.
Fitzsimmons missing with a left hand there. Cooke was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fitzsimmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cooke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Fitzsimmons throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fitzsimmons blocks a head kick by Cooke.
Cooke throws a hook but Fitzsimmons avoids it easily.
Fitzsimmons with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Fitzsimmons scores with a nice strike.
Fitzsimmons lands a nice looking body shot.
Cooke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fitzsimmons manages to avoid it.
Fitzsimmons misses the shot to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws a big shot that misses.
Fitzsimmons swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cooke throws a quick counter kick to the body but Fitzsimmons avoids it.
Fitzsimmons misses with a looping left.
Cooke fails to land with a series of punches.
Fitzsimmons throws a jab when Cooke was well out of range.
Cooke avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cooke punishes Fitzsimmons's body with a nice straight punch.
Fitzsimmons scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cooke throws a right and a left that Fitzsimmons avoids nicely.
Cooke throws a good cross that connects.
Cooke takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A slow jab from Cooke misses its intended target.
Fitzsimmons takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook but Cooke blocks it.
Jim Fitzsimmons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Cooke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Fitzsimmons darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab by Fitzsimmons.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cooke.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cooke. That's going to slow Fitzsimmons down.
Fitzsimmons misses with a straight left.
Fitzsimmons walks into a stiff left hand from Cooke.
A slow jab from Fitzsimmons misses its intended target.
The fighters circling - Fitzsimmons throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fitzsimmons misses with a looping right.
Fitzsimmons takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fitzsimmons misses with a looping left.
Cooke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cooke counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cooke moves out of range as Fitzsimmons strikes.
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 Matt 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Cooke!
Matt Cooke decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
In defeat, Jim Fitzsimmons stepped up to the mic, saying 'A jolly good scrap, old chum! I say, will you join me for a spot of gin and tonic?'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
77% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
