PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Cooke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Obuhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Cooke had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Cooke
vs
Obuhov

185 cm
18
203 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Cooke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anton Obuhov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obuhov throws a looping overhand right but Cooke ducks down to avoid it.
Cooke scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Anton Obuhov has been cut.
Cooke has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Obuhov lands a really nice looking cross but Cooke seems unphased.
Obuhov throws a hook but Cooke avoids it easily.
Obuhov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cooke.
Cooke cracks Obuhov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A good leg kick by Cooke.
Obuhov misses with a wild combination.
Cooke throws a jab when Obuhov was well out of range.
Obuhov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cooke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Obuhov.
Nice body kick from Cooke.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cooke looks to score with a jab to the body but Obuhov is just out of range.
Obuhov's coach down at St Petersburg MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Obuhov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Cooke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Obuhov misses with a series of wild punches.
Obuhov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cooke's waist but Cooke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Obuhov off to one side.
Obuhov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooke misses with a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cooke.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cooke.
Cooke buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Obuhov avoids a punch combination nicely.

Cooke tries to sprawl but Obuhov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Obuhov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cooke does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cooke pushes Obuhov off looking to stand but Obuhov dives back in and keeps control.

Cooke manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Obuhov manages to avoid it.

Cooke gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Obuhov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Obuhov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov wants to control from the top but Cooke keeps moving.
Cooke keeping full guard, as Obuhov tries to pass.
Cooke wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Obuhov manages to pass to side control.

Obuhov is working for a kimura but Cooke is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooke is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cooke manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Obuhov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cooke.
Cooke rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Obuhov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Obuhov.

Cooke manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
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!
Obuhov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cooke smiles and moves away.
Matt Cooke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anton Obuhov.
Nice defenses there by Obuhov.
Obuhov scores with a jab to the body.
Obuhov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Obuhov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cooke as he jumps to the side.
Obuhov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Obuhov.
Jab, jab by Cooke - just one landing.
Cooke slips a jab from Obuhov.
Obuhov avoids the body shot from Cooke.
Cooke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Obuhov.
Cooke ducks under a wild hook from Obuhov.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Obuhov is defended easily by Cooke.
Obuhov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Cooke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Obuhov, pushing him back against the cage.
Cooke stalling against the cage.
Obuhov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cooke to keep the fight standing.
Cooke cracks Obuhov with a nice body shot.
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 Anton Obuhov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cooke misses with a double jab.
Cooke throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Obuhov drops his hands momentarily and Cooke takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cooke throws a head kick that misses.
Obuhov feints the counter takedown.
Obuhov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matt Cooke is winning the standup battle so far.
Obuhov tries for a takedown but Cooke sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cooke throws a quick counter head kick but Obuhov was just out of range.
Obuhov scores with a decent looking hook.
Cooke swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Obuhov.
Obuhov misses with a hook.
Cooke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cooke jabs Obuhov right on the nose. Obuhov blinks but takes it well.
Cooke scores with a spinning back kick!
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!
Obuhov shoots for a takedown but Cooke saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Obuhov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cooke can pounce on him.
Cooke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Obuhov can do to turn this around?

Obuhov gets the takedown into side control.

Cooke throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Obuhov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Obuhov looking to score a takedown here. Cooke is defending well but Obuhov drives through and ends up in Cooke's guard.

Cooke manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Cooke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Obuhov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Obuhov throws a jab when Cooke was well out of range.
Obuhov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cooke slips a straight right by Obuhov.
Cooke scores with a head kick. Obuhov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Obuhov is rocked!
Cooke just misses with a punch to the body.
Cooke feints and then cracks Obuhov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Obuhov down.
Cooke scores with a body shot.
Matt Cooke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Obuhov throws out a loose jab but Cooke uses good head movement to avoid it.

Cooke closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Matt Cooke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anton Obuhov.
Cooke lands a left hand.
Cooke gets through Obuhov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Cooke.
Obuhov is still on wobbly legs! Can Cooke finish him?
Obuhov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cooke to keep the fight standing.
Cooke can't find room to land a body shot as Obuhov controls the action.
Obuhov seems to have recovered his senses.
Obuhov is trying to pull guard but Cooke has him pressed against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Cooke.
A left hand lands to the body for Cooke.
Cooke stalling the fight.
Obuhov jumps guard but Cooke turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cooke has Obuhov pushed against the cage.
Obuhov tries to pull guard but Cooke won't allow it.
Cooke throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Obuhovs head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cooke takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Obuhov.
Obuhov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cooke smiles and moves away.
Obuhov lands a nice shot to the body.
Cooke buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cooke's corner calls for a 1-2. Cooke obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Cooke throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cooke with a hook.
Cooke looks to land a body kick but Obuhov moved away.
Obuhov shoots in for a takedown but Cooke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cooke misses with a body kick.
Cooke connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cooke's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cooke duly obliges.
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 tries to work over Obuhov's front leg with a kick but Obuhov checks it.
Obuhov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Obuhov shoots in but no luck this time.
Cooke throws a head kick but Obuhov moves out of range.
Cooke throws a sloppy head kick
and Obuhov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cooke misses with a hook to the body
and Obuhov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cooke swings for the body but Obuhov moves out of range.
Obuhov throws a hook but Cooke blocks it.
Cooke scores with a punch to the head.
Obuhov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooke throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Obuhov shoots in and drives through. Cooke sprawls well.
Cooke throws a push kick but Obuhov slaps the foot to one side.
Obuhov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Cooke dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Anton Obuhov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cooke lands with a shot to the body.
Obuhov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cooke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Obuhov.
Obuhov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cooke digs a good body shot into Obuhov's ribs.
Cooke leaves Obuhov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Obuhov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Obuhov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nice takedown defense from Cooke. No joy for Obuhov on that attempt.
Cooke slaps away a takedown attempt from Obuhov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matt Cooke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anton Obuhov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooke scores with a kick to the body.
Obuhov shoots in but Cooke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Obuhov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obuhov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cooke is looking to land body kicks.
Cooke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Obuhov manages to avoid it.
Cooke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Obuhov misses with a takedown attempt
and Cooke counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Obuhov avoids the head kick by Cooke.

Cooke has managed to clinch.
Cooke slows down the pace here.
Obuhov tries to pull guard but Cooke won't allow it.

Cooke manages to break the clinch.
Obuhov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cooke circles away quickly and effectively.
Cooke digs a good body shot into Obuhov's ribs.
Cooke scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nice straight punches there by Cooke. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Cooke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Cooke misses its target.
Cooke lands a leg kick that knocks Obuhov off balance momentarily.
Obuhov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cooke scores with a nice strike.
Obuhov shoots for a double leg takedown but Cooke sprawls well. He's pushed Obuhov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Obuhov scores with a punch to the head.
Cooke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Obuhov circles away quickly and effectively.
Cooke misses with a hook

and Obuhov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cooke looks like he's trying to stand up.

Obuhov is working for a submission of some sort.

Obuhov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooke wants to get back to his feet.
Anton Obuhov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cooke is not content to let Obuhov control the position.
Obuhov is taking a breather. Cooke 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Obuhov trying to control from half guard but Cooke is working away.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cooke is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matt Cooke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Obuhov lands a jab to Cooke's midsection.
A head kick misses from Cooke.
Cooke misses with a head kick.

Obuhov gets a takedown into half guard.

Cooke makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Obuhov 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.
Nice sprawl there from Cooke as Obuhov shoots in.
Obuhov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cooke.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Cooke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cooke 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Cooke!
An out of breath Matt Cooke thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.