PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Toby Cook (ranked 6268 p4p, 443 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 5035 p4p, 399 weight class). Cook comes to the cage accompanied by Leave the Light on. Johnson has chosen suge as his entrance music. Toby Cook has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cook
vs
Johnson

190 cm
23
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Toby Cook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Cook, which made it look bad.
Cook misses with a looping right.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Cook bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A swing and a miss from Cook.
Johnson shoots in but Cook avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cook throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cook doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
Cook swings widly with a right hand
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cook scores with a one two! Johnson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cook's guard.
Cook is adopting a defensive guard.
Johnson postures up.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Cook blocks nicely.

Johnson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cook, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Cook as Johnson shoots in.
Toby Cook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Johnson.
A jab from Cook finds it's way through Johnson's defenses.
Some bone on bone action there as Johnson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.
No joy there for Cook, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cook shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cook fails to land with a series of punches.

Johnson looking to score a takedown here. Cook is defending well but Johnson drives through and ends up in Cook's guard.
Cook wants to get back to his feet but Johnson passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cook's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cook is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cook tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.

Johnson stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cook fails in his attempt to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Johnson's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Cook throws out a powerful jab.

It looks like Anthony Johnson has been cut.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Cook gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Johnson looks winded!

Cook moves into the clinch successfully.
Cook trying to stall but Johnson improves his position.
Cook is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cook definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cook wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Cook looking to slow down the pace here.
Johnson looking for a takedown.
Johnson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
Cook is trying to push Johnson away but Johnson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Cook dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Johnson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson looks for a takedown but Cook sprawls well.
Cook lands a jab to Johnson's midsection.
Toby Cook is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Cook.
Toby Cook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cook misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Cook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Cook is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cook has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cook stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cook.
Cook prevents the takedown attempt.
Toby Cook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Johnson.
Cook looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cook is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cook wants to break free but Johnson has control.

Johnson manages to pull guard.
Cook throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cook throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cook is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Johnson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Cook is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Cook wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cook trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cook throws a combination. Johnson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cook throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Cook lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Cook takes a jab right on the kisser.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Cook.
Cook missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sloppy strikes from Cook. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson throws a fast counter high kick but Cook manages to duck under it in time.
Cook swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cook cracks Johnson with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots and misses
letting Cook counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cook's half guard.
Johnson wants to control but Cook is keeping him busy.
Cook is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Cook is controlling Johnson's trapped leg to prevent Johnson from advancing to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cook is trying to stand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cook blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Cook dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Johnson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cook is looking to clinch.
Cook avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Toby Cook is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cook rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cook.
Cook throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A jab from Cook misses.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cook swivels and escapes.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Cook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Cook gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cook throws a looping overhand right but Johnson ducks down to avoid it.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cook.
Cook throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cook as he jumps to the side.
Toby Cook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Johnson.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Cook. Cook gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson shoots in but Cook avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cook throwing a counter right hand but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Cook moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice uppercut lands for Cook. That snapped Johnson's head back.
Cook misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cook.
Cook shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cook is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cook throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cook throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.
Cook avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Cook bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johnson's head.
Cook looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Cook throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Cook.
Johnson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cook throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Cook fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cook throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Cook stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cook throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cook misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Cook throws a low kick but Johnson moves out of range easily.
Cook scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Johnson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cook.
Johnson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cook.
Cook throws a shot from downtown. Johnson moves away and avoids it.
Cook pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cook fails with the takedown.
Anthony Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Toby Cook is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A right-left combo lands from Cook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toby Cook showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cook, 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toby Cook!
After the fight, Toby Cook was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Anthony Johnson spoke after the fight, saying 'he fought better then i did'.