PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Felix Basilan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sanji Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanji Cook will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Basilan
vs
Cook

182 cm
20
179 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
175 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Powerful

Kobra Clothing Inc.
Kobra Clothing Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Felix Basilan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sanji Cook!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Basilan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Basilan misses the jab.

Basilan clinches.
Basilan can't get the takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Basilan fails to land.
Basilan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cook lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Felix Basilan has been cut.
Basilan stalling against the cage.
Cook throws an elbow but it misses.
Cook creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Basilan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cook has had enough of the clinch but Basilan keeps him there for the moment.
Basilan works on Cook's body with a couple of short punches.
Cook misses with an elbow strike.
Basilan dodges an elbow strike from Cook.

Basilan works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cook is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cook being controlled here, momentarily.
Basilan cracks Cook with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basilan throws a big right hand that misses.
Cook avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cook looking to hit a scissor sweep but Basilan is one step ahead there.
Basilan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Basilan trying to control the position from guard on top but Cook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Felix Basilan.
Basilan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Basilan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook circles away from the clinch attempt.
Basilan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Basilan throws a leg kick
and Cook counters with a three punch combo that has Basilan backing up. Basilan nods at Cook to acknowledge the strikes.
Cook avoids the body shot from Basilan.
Basilan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Basilan scores with a jab to the body.
Sanji Cook is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cook lands a nice leg kick that just misses Basilan's sensitive parts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Basilan staying out of range there.
Basilan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cook. Cook obviously looking to wear him down.
Basilan misses with a wild body shot.
Cook moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Basilan is looking to wear down Cook with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Basilan thows a body shot but no joy.

Cook rushes Basilan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cook lands a nice knee to the body.
Basilan managing to block the knees to the body from Cook.
Cook is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cook tries a knee to the head but Basilan blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook throws a knee to the head but misses.
Basilan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cook trying to land knees to the body.
Basilan lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cook or not.
Basilan tries to work over Cook's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Basilan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Basilan avoiding damage as Cook throws knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Basilan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cook trying to land knees to the body.
Basilan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Basilan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cook with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Basilan scores with a hook to the body.
Cook looking to throw knees to the head but Basilan is blocking nicely.
A short right from Basilan on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basilan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Basilan leaning against his opponent.
Cook trying to land knees to the body.
Basilan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cook misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Basilan.
Cook trying to land knees to the body.
Basilan tries for a takedown but Cook manages to get underhooks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Basilan tries a knee to the head but Cook blocks it.
Basilan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Cook fails to land.
Cook blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Basilan works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cook tries to land knees in the clinch but Basilan avoids the damage to the body.
Basilan wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Basilan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cook looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cook trying to land knees to the body.
Cook tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Basilan avoids it.
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 Felix Basilan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Felix Basilan's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Basilan connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cook. Cook circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Cook forces Basilan back against the cage and clinches.
Cook takes a knee to the side of the body.
Cook with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cook misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Basilan.
Cook prevents a body shot from Basilan.
Basilan pushes Cook back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cook trying to stall but Basilan improves his position.
Basilan tries to throw a body punch but Cook avoids it by throwing Basilan back against the cage.
Basilan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cook backwards.
Basilan misses with a punch to the body.
Basilan takes an elbow to the forehead.
Basilan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cook tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Basilan avoiding damage as Cook throws knees to the body.
Felix Basilan has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Basilan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cook is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Basilan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Basilan tries to throw a body punch but Cook avoids it by throwing Basilan back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Basilan.
Cook misses with a knee to the head.
Good body shot from Basilan.
The referee is keeping an eye on Basilan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cook trying to land knees to the body.
Basilan lands a shot to the body.
Basilan misses with a body punch.
Basilan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Basilan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Cook looking to throw knees to the head but Basilan is blocking nicely.
Basilan lands a body punch.
Cook tries to land knees in the clinch but Basilan avoids the damage to the body.
Basilan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Basilan lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Basilan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Basilan is stalling here.
Basilan scores with a shot to the side of Cook's head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Basilan managing to block the knees to the body from Cook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cook looking to throw knees to the head but Basilan is blocking nicely.
Cook misses with a knee strike.
A bit of stalling here from Basilan.
Basilan seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Felix Basilan.
Cook lands a nice leg kick that just misses Basilan's sensitive parts.
Cook finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Basilan 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Cook lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cook blocks a leg kick.
Basilan tries to clinch up but Cook circles away and keeps his distance.
Cook throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cook throws a leg kick
and Basilan counters with a straight right hand.
Felix Basilan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cook takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Cook scores with a decent looking hook.
Cook takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Basilan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cook was well out of range. Poor timing from Basilan.
Nice body punch from Basilan.

Cook clinches up with Basilan and pushes him back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Basilan.
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!
Basilan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cook.
Basilan misses with a punch to the body.
Basilan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basilan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cook tries to land knees in the clinch but Basilan avoids the damage to the body.
Cook's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cook misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Basilan.
Nice elbow from Cook.
Cook trying to land knees to the body.
Cook blocks a body shot from Basilan.
Basilan stalling the fight.
Basilan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Basilan taking a breather.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cook throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cook tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cook tries to land knees in the clinch but Basilan avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Basilan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Felix Basilan's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cook throws a body kick that misses.
Basilan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Basilan lands the left hand.
Basilan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Basilan lands a jab to Cook's midsection.

Cook clinches up against the cage.
Cook trying to land knees to the body.
Basilan lands with a light punch inside.
Basilan lands a body punch in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Basilan.
A right hook to the body lands for Basilan.
Cook trying to land knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Basilan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Basilan gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Basilan is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Basilan slows the pace down in half guard.
Basilan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Basilan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cook takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Basilan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Cook keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Basilan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cook's head.
Cook is looking for a sweep. Basilan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Basilan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Basilan wants to free his trapped foot but Cook is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Basilan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Felix Basilan wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A chopping leg kick lands by Basilan.
Sanji Cook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basilan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Good leg kick by Basilan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Basilan.
Basilan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cook on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cook misses with a body kick.
Basilan tries to clinch up but Cook circles away and keeps his distance.
Basilan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cook. That did some damage!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Basilan slips a straight right by Cook.
Cook throws out a loose jab but Basilan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cook avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Basilan blocks the body kick.
Basilan blocks a low kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cook tries to sprawl but Basilan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Basilan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cook defending well though.
Basilan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cook is trying to control but can't.
Basilan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Basilan wants to free his trapped foot but Cook is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cook regains full guard. Nicely done.
Basilan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cook works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Felix Basilan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Basilan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cook working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A big right from Cook misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basilan scores with a nice strike.
Basilan throws a hook to the side of Cook's head but Cook sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cook on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cook sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Felix Basilan is winning the standup battle so far.

Cook gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cook putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Basilan in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Basilan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Basilan goes for a takedown attempt but Cook pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Basilan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cook moves away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cook has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Basilan finds it's way round the side to connect with Cook's head.
Basilan misses with a wild body shot.
Cook wants to slow Basilan down by chopping away at his legs.
Basilan misses with a hook. Cook ducked under it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Basilan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Basilan 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix Basilan!