PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksey Markov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Cook has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cook
vs
Markov

188 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Mohito Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Cook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aleksey Markov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Bruno Hogan and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cook tries to clinch up.
Markov throws a right and a left that Cook avoids nicely.

Cook shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Markov's guard.
Cook postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cook trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cook lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cook throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Markov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cook controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cook wants to control from the top but Markov keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cook content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cook definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Markov is looking to stand up but Cook isn't so interested in that idea.
Markov keeping moving, preventing Cook from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cook stopping the sweep attempt from Markov.
Cook lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Markov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cook working some strikes from top position.
Markov is trying to control the position but Cook postures up.
Cook trying to control the position from guard on top but Markov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cook makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cook cracks Markov with a solid left hand.
Cook postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cook connects with a couple of short punches.
Cook works over Markov with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Markov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Markov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Markov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cook. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cook connects with a couple of short punches.
Markov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Markov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cook is controlling him.
Cook trying to control but Markov is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cook scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cook lands a couple of digs.
Cook postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cook trying to control the position from guard on top but Markov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Markov has momentary wrist control but Cook slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Markov is trying to keep Cook in close.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cook's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cook working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Markov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cook is on top in guard.

Cook 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 looking to pass the guard.
Cook postures up and lands a big shot to Markov's brow.
Markov wants to hit a switch here but Cook passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Markov there!
BOOM! Cook connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook lands a couple of good shots and Markov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Cook scores with punches and elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cook keeps control of the position as Markov tries to break free.
Cook lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Cook.
Markov rolls, trying to escape but Cook keeps control of the position.
Cook lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Cook.
Cook looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Markov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Cook's guard. Nice work there by Markov.
Markov is looking to work some ground and pound but Cook has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Cook dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Left hook, right uppercut from Markov.

It looks like James Cook has been cut.
Cook tries to clinch but Markov moves away
and Markov counters with a nice body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cook looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Markov is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Cook tries to clinch there but Markov circles away.
Markov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Cook misses with a takedown
and Markov counters with a right, left combo that wobbles Cook badly! Markov follows up with a massive right hook, straight to the bridge of the nose that knocks Cook out cold! Oh wow, what a finish! Very reminiscent of Koscheck vs Yoshida as Markov finished him against the cage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Aleksey Markov!
Aleksey Markov spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.