PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Davidson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Davidson
vs
Cook

158 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

205 cm
18
260 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Davidson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Cook!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cook shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Davidson counters by moving into the clinch.
Cook blocks an elbow strike from Davidson.
Cook misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cook is trying to break the clinch but Davidson is controlling him.

Cook has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Davidson uses from the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Davidson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cook trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cook working a defensive guard here.
Cook seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cook trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Davidson tries to free his leg and advance position but Cook is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook keeping moving, preventing Davidson from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Cook.
Davidson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Cook clinches up with Davidson and pushes him back against the cage.

Davidson has hold of one of Cook's legs. Cook is fighting the takedown attempt but Davidson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Cook wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Davidson is now in half guard.

Cook is defending against the submission attempts here by Davidson.
Cook is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davidson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cook is looking to improve his position.
Davidson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cook trying to hold on to Davidson's head to control him but Davidson postures up.
Cook tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Cook won't allow Davidson to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cook manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cook not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Davidson stopping the sweep attempt from Cook.
Davidson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Davidson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cook's guard.
Cook tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cook is trying to control the position but Davidson postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Cook was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Davidson drives through with a takedown into Cook's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Cook is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Davidson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cook on the ground.
Cook trying to control the position.
Cook looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davidson trying to control but Cook is working from the bottom.
Cook wants to sweep but no luck.
Cook is trying to control the position but Davidson postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cook is defended easily by Davidson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cook closes this distance looking for a takedown but Davidson circles away.
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 Ben Davidson will probably get the nod.
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.

Davidson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cook moves to clinch but Davidson breaks away

and Davidson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Davidson throwing strikes from guard but Cook blocks nicely.
Cook trying to control the position here.
Davidson preventing the sweep.
Davidson looking to pass the guard.
Davidson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook controlling the position.

Ben Davidson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Davidson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cook's half guard.
Davidson is thwarting Cook's attempts to control the position.
Cook tries to kick Davidson off but Davidson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Davidson is thwarting Cook's attempts to control the position.
Cook is breathing heavily.
Davidson drops an elbow to the side of Cook's head.
Davidson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Davidson is working away from the top position though.
Cook moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Davidson controlling from the top position.
Davidson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ben Davidson.

Cook gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Davidson is in close to Cook's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Cook throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ben Davidson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Davidson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cook looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davidson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Davidson won't allow Cook to get back to his feet.
Davidson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Ben Davidson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Cook gets tackled into the cage by Davidson. Davidson maintains the clinch.

Davidson breaks from the clinch.
Cook misses with a low kick as Davidson jumps back.

Davidson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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!
Davidson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davidson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Davidson dominated that second round.
That's time! Davidson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A slow jab from Cook misses its intended target.

Davidson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Davidson lands in his opponent's guard.
Cook is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Davidson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Davidson tries to get out of the position.
Cook is taking a breather. Davidson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cook working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cook lands strikes from half guard.
Davidson gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davidson wants to stand but Cook is controlling the position.
Cook would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Davidson has his hands on Cook's head, controlling the position.
Cook passes into half guard.
Cook wants to lay and pray for a moment but Davidson keeps working.
Cook passes to side control.
Cook takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davidson is not content to let Cook control the position.
Davidson struggling a bit here.
Cook taking a breather here.
Davidson tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook tries to stand but Davidson is controlling his head.
Cook tries to advance to mount but Davidson denies him.
Cook looking to control but instead Davidson has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Davidson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davidson is staying active underneath Cook, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Cook.
Davidson throws a series of punches but Cook avoids them all with ease.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cook enables Davidson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cook manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cook is trying to keep Davidson in close.
Davidson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Davidson postures up and lands a big shot to Cook's brow.
John Cook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Davidson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cook has his foot on Davidson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Davidson works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Cook.
Well Davidson 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 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!