PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Cooke (ranked 246 p4p, 37 weight class) and Marky Mark (ranked 119 p4p, 20 weight class). Mark is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Isä ei jätä. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Cooke
vs
Mark

185 cm
37
203 lbs
32 - 11 - 3

217 cm
27
211 lbs
22 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

UnderGround Clothing Co.
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 32 - 11 - 3, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Cooke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marky Mark!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooke looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Cooke tries to keep at a distance but Mark has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cooke lands a nice shot to the body.
Cooke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooke.
Mark misses with a body punch.
Mark tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cooke smiles and moves away.
Cooke throws a shot to the body.
Mark misses with a double jab.
Cooke scoring well with a low kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke connects with a body shot.
Mark throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cooke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cooke throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cooke seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Mark throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mark just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mark.
Mark slips under a jab.
Mark slips a jab and a cross from Cooke.
A countering left hand to the body from Mark misses.
A slapping body kick lands there for Mark.
Cooke feints and then cracks Mark's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mark down.
Cooke connects with a leg kick. Mark looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cooke chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cooke comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cooke throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cooke tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mark throws the kick towards the body but Cooke avoids it.
Mark lands with an uppercut that bounces Cooke off the cage and back into range.
Mark is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cooke keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mark tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mark takes one on the button.
Cooke tries to score with a low kick but Mark moves his leg out of the way.
Cooke lands a slapping body shot.
Mark sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cooke lands a nice looking body kick.
Mark takes one to the side of the head.
Cooke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matt Cooke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Mark has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mark throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cookes head.
A frustrated look appears on Mark's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cooke throws a head punch that misses.
Cooke tries to work over Mark's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cooke blocking some punches.
Cooke working aggressively here.
Mark working aggressively here.
Cooke blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Cooke as the two fighters clinch.
Mark throws a head punch that misses.
Mark lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mark.
Mark lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mark working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cooke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cooke lands a shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooke.
Mark lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.
Cooke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cooke blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooke.
Cooke throws a punch but it's blocked by Mark.
Mark misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mark lands a shoulder strike.
Cooke lands a hook that snaps the head of Mark backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cooke throws a punch but it's blocked by Mark.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cooke creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mark working hard to break the clinch.
Cooke scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mark lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mark swings wildly with an uppercut but Cooke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mark throws a punch but it's blocked by Cooke.
Cooke swings wildly with an uppercut but Mark uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mark lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mark prevents a body shot from Cooke.
Cooke scores with a shot to the side of Mark's head.
Mark tries to work over Cooke's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cooke lands a right hand.
Cooke scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cooke lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mark misses with a body punch.
Mark lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooke lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cooke works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cooke misses the shot to the body.
Marky Mark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cooke lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Matt Cooke is winning the standup battle so far.
Cooke misses with a body shot.
Cooke attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cooke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mark manages to avoid it.
Cooke slips a jab and a cross from Mark.
An inside leg kick from Cooke misses.
Mark tries to work over Cooke's front leg with a kick but Cooke checks it.
Cooke tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mark is looking to land body kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mark misses with a wild combination.
It looked like Cooke was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Mark.
Nice cross by Cooke.
Cooke just misses with a punch to the body.
Mark lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke connects with a jab.
Mark moves out of range of the body kick from Cooke.
Mark tries a head kick but it misses.
Mark defending well as Cooke loads up on a big left hand.
Cooke moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMark.
Mark swats away the attempt to clinch by Cooke.
Mark keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mark lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mark takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cooke loads up on a big right hand but Mark slips the punch.
Mark is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Cooke is looking to wear down Mark with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cooke misses with an attempted mid kick.
A jab lands there for Cooke.
Cooke drops his hands momentarily and Mark takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Mark connects with a jab.
Mark misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Mark. Beautiful body shot.
Mark bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mark avoids the body shot from Cooke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A chopping leg kick lands by Cooke.
Mark cracks the inside of Cooke's front leg.
Sloppy strikes from Cooke. Those never looked like landing.
Cooke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mark was well out of range. Poor timing from Cooke.
Cooke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mark manages to avoid it.
It seemed like Mark was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cooke tries to land a front kick but Mark steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mark misses with a series of wild punches.
Cooke throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mark.
Mark is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cooke jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cooke slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke connects with a high kick.
Mark looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mark throws a body punch but Cooke moves out of range.
Mark looks to score with a jab to the body but Cooke is just out of range.

Mark moves into the clinch.
Mark lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mark blocks a body shot from Cooke.
Mark can't find room to land a body shot as Cooke controls the action.
Mark prevents a body shot from Cooke.
Mark tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cooke smiles and moves away.
Cooke walks into a left hand.
Cooke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Cooke moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mark throws a head punch that misses.
Cooke misses with a punch to the body.
Mark blocks an uppercut.
Cooke working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cooke lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cooke swings wildly with an uppercut but Mark uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mark fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cooke misses with a punch on the inside.
Cooke misses with a punch to the body.
Cooke misses with some punches.
Mark swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cooke's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Marky Mark seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cooke tries to work over Mark's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cooke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mark lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cooke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mark's elbow.
Mark misses with the head strike.
Mark swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Cooke will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cooke ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mark's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cooke takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cooke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cooke looks to score with a jab to the body but Mark is just out of range.
Mark misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cooke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mark listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Mark looks to score with a jab to the body but Cooke is just out of range.
Mark has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cooke lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mark's sensitive parts.
Cooke lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mark's sensitive parts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick from Mark misses.
Cooke half committed to a counter leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cooke. That's going to slow Mark down.
Mark misses with a wild body shot.
Cooke takes a swing at Mark's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke misses with a low kick.
Cooke throws a head kick that Mark semi-blocks.
Mark throws a nice looking combination but Cooke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mark lands a front kick.
Cooke misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cooke scores with a hook to the body. Mark takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mark throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cooke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mark circles away quickly and effectively.
Mark stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cooke lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cooke misses with the body kick
and Mark connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mark doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mark throws a shot from downtown. Cooke moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mark scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cooke misses with a wild body shot.
Cooke looks for the body kick but Mark saw that one coming.
It seemed like Mark was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mark tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cooke was well out of range. Poor timing from Mark.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cooke.

Oooooh!!! Mark has knocked Cooke down with a huge combo! Mark steps away and waves a wobbly Cooke back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Cooke avoids the head kick by Mark.
Mark takes one on the button.
Mark looks to throw the jab but Cooke is out of range.
Mark throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cooke stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Mark misses with a head kick.
Cooke misses with the combination.
Mark steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mark checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mark follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Cooke connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mark takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cooke ducks under a wild hook from Mark.
Cooke throws a head kick but Mark moves out of range.
Mark throws a fast counter high kick but Cooke manages to duck under it in time.
Mark throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cooke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cooke.
Mark takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mark. That's going to slow Cooke down.
Mark on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cooke. Cooke obviously looking to wear him down.
A good leg kick by Cooke.
Mark avoids the head kick by Cooke.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mark! But no joy.
Matt Cooke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke scoring well with a low kick there.
Cooke feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mark's calf.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cooke throws a combination that misses
and Mark counters with a straight right hand.
Cooke takes a swing at Mark's ribcage but misses.
Mark comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mark pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cooke is looking for a counter combo.
Cooke takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cooke fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mark.
Cooke feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mark's calf.
Mark fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cooke manages to avoid it.
Mark swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mark thuds a left hand into Cooke's body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooke tried to score with a low kick but Mark checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marky Mark.
I think Cooke has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Matt Cooke!
Matt Cooke took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.