PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludwig Van Normayen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Shawn Cook has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Cook
vs
Van Normayen

190 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

5th Round Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shawn Cook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ludwig Van Normayen!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cook clinches up against the cage.
Cook lands a nice shot to the body.

Van Normayen manages to break the clinch.
Cook misses with a takedown attempt

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.

Van Normayen has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Cook regains guard immediately.
Van Normayen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cook has a closed guard, preventing Van Normayen from standing up.
Van Normayen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ludwig Van Normayen.
Cook fails with the takedown.
Shawn Cook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cook closes the distance and clinches.
Cook stops a takedown attempt from Van Normayen.
Van Normayen landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Van Normayen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Cook wants to sweep but no luck.
Cook being controlled here, momentarily.
Cook throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cook working a defensive guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Van Normayen gets to his feet - Cook follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Normayen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cook with a poor takedown

and Van Normayen counters with a shoot takedown. Cook fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cook working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Van Normayen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Van Normayen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Van Normayen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Van Normayen controls from within his opponent's guard.

Van Normayen stands up and waves to Cook to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cook moves into the clinch.
Van Normayen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Cook jumps guard.
Van Normayen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cook wants to stand and escape but Van Normayen is having none of it.
Cook is breathing heavily.
Cook controls Van Normayen momentarily but Van Normayen frees himself.
Cook has his hands on Van Normayen's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Shawn Cook.
A solid body kick from Van Normayen.
Cook doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.
Van Normayen lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Van Normayen obliges.
Van Normayen with a knee to the head.
Cook prevents a takedown attempt there.

Van Normayen gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Van Normayen controlling from the top position.
Cook is trying to control the position but Van Normayen postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Normayen controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Van Normayen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Van Normayen lands a head kick!
Cook with a poor takedown

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.
Cook tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Normayen smiles and moves away.
Van Normayen wants to clinch.
Cook defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Van Normayen.

Van Normayen has Cook up against the cage in a clinch.
Cook has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Van Normayen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cook's efforts to push away.
Cook takes a knee right on the jaw!

Van Normayen has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Cook clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Van Normayen. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Normayen not allowing Cook to control his hands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Normayen is punishing Cook with some ground and pound.
Van Normayen just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Cook trying to control the action but Van Normayen just sinks the hooks in.
Van Normayen trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Cook doesn't escape.
Ludwig Van Normayen has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Cook trying to control but not successfully.
What can Cook do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ludwig Van Normayen.
Van Normayen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Van Normayen.
Cook fails to land with a series of punches.
Cook with a lazy takedown attempt

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.
Cook is trying to force a seperation but Van Normayen has the dominant position.
Van Normayen looking for a takedown.

Van Normayen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cook rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Normayen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Cook closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Normayen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Van Normayen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Van Normayen uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Shawn Cook is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cook keeps the fight on the outside.

Cook moves into the clinch.
Van Normayen controlling the action here for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Normayen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Van Normayen moves into the clinch.
Van Normayen blocking some punches.
Van Normayen is pressed up against the cage. Cook has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Van Normayen down to the mat. Van Normayen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cook stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cook wants it to stay on the feet.

Cook closes the distance and pushes Van Normayen back into the cage.
Van Normayen 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.
Cook fails to pull guard.

Cook escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cook tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Normayen swivels and escapes.

Cook closes the distance and clinches.

Van Normayen has Cook pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Van Normayen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Cook tumbling to the mat - Van Normayen dives into Cook's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Normayen tries to free his leg and advance position but Cook is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Van Normayen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Both fighters circling a little - Van Normayen finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Cook has Van Normayen up against the cage in a clinch.
Van Normayen tries a knee to the head but Cook blocks it.

Van Normayen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cook looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Van Normayen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cook paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Cook instigates a clinch.
Van Normayen takes a shot to the head.

Cook pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cook can't break the clinch.
Van Normayen stalling the fight.

Van Normayen pulls guard successfully.
Cook lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cook lands a couple of digs.

Van Normayen kicks Cook off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Normayen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Van Normayen controlling the pace.
Cook tries to get to full guard but Van Normayen has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Van Normayen stands up from half guard.
Cook avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Van Normayen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cook's knee momentarily.

Van Normayen has closed the distance and engaged Cook in a clinch.

Van Normayen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cook gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Van Normayen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cook!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Cook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Normayen controlling the pace for now.
Cook is wriggling around trying to escape.
Van Normayen avoids the attempt from Cook to control.
Van Normayen controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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.
Van Normayen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Ludwig Van Normayen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ludwig Van Normayen wasn't active enough on the ground.

Van Normayen drives through with a takedown into Cook's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Cook can't keep his opponent in guard - Van Normayen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Van Normayen stands up and beckons Cook to join him on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cook shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Van Normayen moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ludwig Van Normayen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Van Normayen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Roberts scores the fight for Ludwig Van Normayen!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Ludwig Van Normayen!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Ludwig Van Normayen!

Ludwig Van Normayen wins by unanimous decision!