PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Cooke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cole has chosen I Won't Back Down as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Cooke
vs
Cole

185 cm
24
203 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

175 cm
23
200 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear
Hellbent

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Cooke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Cole!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooke takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cole shoots in for a takedown but Cooke shows good takedown defense.
Cooke is looking to counter punch.
Cooke looks to throw the jab but Cole is out of range.
Cooke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cole was well out of range. Poor timing from Cooke.
Cole slips a straight right by Cooke.
Nice cross by Cole.
Cooke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cooke throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Michael Cole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooke throws a lazy right hand but Cole sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Cooke drops Cole with a beautiful combination! Cole stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Cooke is looking for the KO!

Cole is rocked!

It looks like Michael Cole has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cole clinches with his opponent.
Cole is still on wobbly legs! Can Cooke finish him?
Cooke lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cooke breaks the clinch.
Cooke drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cole fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cole seems to have recovered his senses.
Cole tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cooke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A quick step to the side and Cooke tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cooke.
Cole shoots in for a double leg but Cooke sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cole looks to throw the jab but Cooke is out of range.
Cooke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Cole forces Cooke back against the cage and clinches.
Cooke prevents a body shot from Cole.
Cole tries to work over Cooke's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cooke slowing the pace effectively.
A short body shot lands from Cole as the two fighters clinch.
Cooke scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cole misses with the head strike.
Cole goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cooke lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short uppercut from Cooke.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cooke slows down the pace here.

Cooke breaks from the clinch.

Oooooh!!! Cooke has knocked Cole down with a huge combo! Cooke steps away and waves a wobbly Cole back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Cooke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Cole shoots in and gets a takedown into Cooke's guard.

Cooke wriggles free and stands up.
We've been told by Cooke's head coaches at Thunder MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole avoids a kick to the body.
Cooke throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cole.
Cole fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cooke checks it well.

Cole rushes Cooke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cooke is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cooke looking to stall.
Cooke scores with a shot to the side of Cole's head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cole as Cooke tries to tie him up.
Cooke lands a shoulder strike.
Cole lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.
Cole misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cole.
Cooke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cole doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cole lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Cooke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooke swats away the attempt to clinch by Cole.
Cole throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cole looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cole checks a low kick from Cooke.
Cole with the counter takedown but Cooke avoids it easily.
Cole throws a body punch but Cooke moves out of range.
Cooke appears to be looking for a big counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Cooke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Cole's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cooke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cooke circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cole slips a jab from Cooke.
Cooke lands an overhand right.
Cooke throws a push kick but Cole slaps the foot to one side.
Cole pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cole ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cooke moves away.
Cooke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cole can do to turn this around?
Cole lands with a straight right. Cooke didn't see that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cooke swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cole scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cole ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cooke moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cole moves into the clinch.
Cooke working hard to break the clinch.
Cooke blocks an uppercut.
Cole swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cooke digs a right hand underneath Cole's ribcage. Cole let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cole misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cooke stalling in the clinch but Cole improves position.
Cole misses with some punches.
Stalling in the clinch from Cooke.
Cole misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cole struggles to land a body shot inside as Cooke controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Cooke.
Cooke wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cole tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cooke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cole tries a body shot but Cooke blocks it.
Cole working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Michael Cole seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nice body punch from Cole - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Cooke blocks a body shot from Cole.
A left hand lands to the body for Cole.
Cole lands a nice shot to the body.
Cole throws a head punch that misses.
Cooke is looking to control Cole's arms but Cole gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cooke has his back to the cage.
Cooke throws a punch but it's blocked by Cole.

Cooke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cole with a nice cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cooke doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cole closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cooke circles away.

Cole bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cole throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Cole looks up at the clock and then as Cooke takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Cole smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Cole working his ground and pound in the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cole grinds an elbow into Cooke's temple.
Cooke wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Cole lands a nice forearm strike.
Cooke tries to escape but Cole is in control.
Cole working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cole lands a few punches from side control.
Cole trying to control the position but Cooke is working away.
Cooke managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Cole.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooke is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Cole is looking to take a break and control but Cooke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cooke stops Cole from passing to mount.
Cole working the body and head with strikes.
Cole creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cooke sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cooke is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Cole showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Cole's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cooke moves out of range of the strikes.
Cole tries to clinch up
letting Cooke counter with a right hand.
Cooke tries to work over Cole's front leg with a kick but Cole checks it.
Cole lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cooke swats away the attempt to clinch by Cole.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Some bone on bone action there as Cole checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Cole gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Cooke fails to land.
Cooke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cooke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cole lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cole struggles to land a body shot inside as Cooke controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cole.
Cooke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cole's elbow.
Cole lands a body punch.
Cooke stalling in the clinch but Cole improves position.
Cole tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cooke lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cole backwards.
Cole blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cole lands with a left to the head.
Cole tries to throw a body punch but Cooke avoids it by throwing Cole back against the cage.
Cole blocks an uppercut.
Cole taking a breather.
Cole pushes Cooke back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cole.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cooke is trying to break free.
Cole misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cole struggles to land a body shot inside as Cooke controls his hands.
Cole works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A body shot lands from Cole.
Cooke blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cooke misses with the head strike.
Cooke is looking to control Cole's arms but Cole gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cooke has his back to the cage.
Cole is leaning against Cooke and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short uppercut from Cole.
Cole is working Cooke over against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Cole.
Cooke has a couple of punches blocked by Cole.
Cole goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cooke just leaning against Cole, taking a breather.
A short left from Cole.
Cole doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke misses with the head strike.
Cooke is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short uppercut from Cole.
Cole lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cole lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.
Cole throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cookes head.
Cole can't find room to land a body shot as Cooke controls the action.

Cooke manages to break the clinch.
Cole moves in looking to clinch but Cooke pushes him off.
Cole scores with a nice strike.
Cole tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cooke defends well and Cole ends up having to push Cooke into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cole tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cooke fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cole checks it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke missing with a left hand there. Cole was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cole misses with a takedown attempt
and Cooke counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cole's knee momentarily.
Cole tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cooke swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cooke appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cole fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cooke keeps the fight on the outside.
Cole misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cooke.
Cooke throws a wild body kick that Cole sees coming a mile off.
A little jabbing left from Cole on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cole wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Cole really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Cole'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.

Cole throws a body punch but Cooke moves out of range.
Cooke throws a quick counter head kick but Cole was just out of range.
Cooke stuns Cole with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A swing and a miss from Cooke.
Cole lands an overhand right.
Cole tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cooke defends well and Cole ends up having to push Cooke into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cole tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cooke misses with a wild combination.
Cole tries to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cole tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cooke paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It looked like Cooke wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cole instigates a clinch.
Cooke lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cole backwards.
Cooke trying to stall but Cole improves his position.
Cole struggles to land a body shot inside as Cooke controls his hands.
Cooke tries to stall but Cole uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A left hand lands to the body for Cooke.
Cole throws a head punch that misses.
Cooke misses with some punches.
Cole lands a shot to the body.

Cooke breaks the clinch.

Cole moves into the clinch.
Cole keeps control of Cooke as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cole lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.
Cole struggles to land a body shot inside as Cooke controls his hands.
Cooke throws a punch but it's blocked by Cole.
Cole lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooke.
Cole is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cole tries to work over Cooke's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cole works on Cooke's body with a couple of short punches.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Cole throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cookes head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cooke throws a punch but it's blocked by Cole.

Cooke breaks the clinch.
Cole swings for the body but Cooke moves out of range.

Cole pushes Cooke up against the cage in a clinch.
Cole lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Cooke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cooke throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cole tries to clinch but Cooke is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cole gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cooke blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cooke is trying to maintain a safe position but Cole gets an underhook and turns Cooke into the cage.
Cole misses with a body punch.
Cooke misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Cooke fails to land.
Cooke blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cooke lands a nice uppercut.
Cooke wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cole tries to throw a body punch but Cooke avoids it by throwing Cole back against the cage.
Cooke wants to stall.
Cooke is trying to break the clinch but Cole has him pressed against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Cooke.
Cooke is struggling to control the position.
A short uppercut from Cole.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole digs a right hand into Cooke's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cooke's gas tank.
Cole lands an uppercut.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cole tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cole lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cole misses with some punches.
Cole lands a hook that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.
Cole lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cooke backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cole.
Cole misses with the head strike.
Cooke blocks a body shot from Cole.
Cooke tries to stall but Cole uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cole lands a shoulder strike.
Cooke looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cooke is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cooke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Cole dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Michael Cole's cut.
That's time! Cooke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cole scores with a hook to the body. Cooke takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cole goes for a double leg but Cooke avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cooke continues to drive forward.
Cooke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cole swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cooke slips a straight right by Cole.
Cooke pushes Cole away with a front kick.
Cole blocks a head kick by Cooke.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cooke swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cooke looks to throw a body kick
and Cole counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cole doesn't manage to clinch there - Cooke circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cole.
Cole is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cooke is looking for a counter combo.

Cole clinches up against the cage.
A short right from Cooke.
Cole throws a head punch that misses.
Cooke is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cooke blocks a body shot from Cole.
Cooke controlling the action here for a moment.
Cole tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matt Cooke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooke.
A right hand to the body from Cole.
Cole blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Cole.
Cole is pushing Cooke up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The crowd are getting on Cole's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Cooke content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cole.
Cole misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Cole fails to land.
Cooke blocking some punches.
Cole can't find room to land a body shot as Cooke controls the action.
Cooke working hard to break the clinch.
Cole lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke trying to control the position but instead, Cole has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cooke into the cage.
Cooke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cole misses with a punch to the body.
Still in the clinch, Cole scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cole tries to throw a body punch but Cooke avoids it by throwing Cole back against the cage.
Cooke blocks an uppercut.
Cooke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cole is looking to control Cooke's arms but Cooke gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cole has his back to the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cooke.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cole.
Cooke is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cooke is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cole working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cole tries to throw a body punch but Cooke avoids it by throwing Cole back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Cole fails to land.
Cole lands a right hand.

Cooke breaks the clinch.

Cole closes the distance and clinches.
Cooke can't find room to land a body shot as Cole controls the action.
Cooke lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cooke lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cooke lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cooke softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cooke misses with a hook from the clinch.
Good body shot from Cole.
Cole misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cooke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cooke prevents a body shot from Cole.
Michael Cole is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cooke throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Cole.
I think Cole has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 46:49
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 46:49
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Cole!
Michael Cole is the new middleweight champion!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Michael Cole made sure he mentioned MayheM sportswear, along with how happy he was to win his fight.