PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul ONeill (ranked 4340 p4p, 4321 weight class) and Cole Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

ONeill
vs
Cole

175 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
200
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paul ONeill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cole Cole!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from ONeill enables Cole to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. ONeill manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

ONeill kicks Cole off and gets to his feet.
Cole Cole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
ONeill looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
ONeill tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cole sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten ONeill somewhat.
Cole pulls out of a head kick attempt.
ONeill lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A punch combination from Cole misses.

Cole gets tackled into the cage by ONeill. ONeill maintains the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from ONeill.
ONeill is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cole pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul ONeill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cole wants to get back to striking at distance but ONeill won't allow it.
Cole lands with a light punch inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Cole.
ONeill tries to throw a body punch but Cole avoids it by throwing ONeill back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ONeill looking for a takedown.
Cole has a couple of punches blocked by ONeill.

Cole pulls guard.
Cole seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
ONeill won't allow Cole to get back to his feet.

Cole has his feet on ONeill's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

ONeill rushes Cole and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Cole scores with a nice short uppercut.

ONeill's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Crunch! ONeill slams his shin into Cole's torso.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cole. ONeill does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ONeill fails in his attempt to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cole. ONeill does a little dance to reset his feet.
ONeill avoids the head kick by Cole.
ONeill uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cole.
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!
Cole dips to his left and cracks ONeill with an uppercut!
Cole lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but ONeill circles away quickly and effectively.
Cole tries to clinch there but ONeill circles away.

ONeill moves into the clinch.
ONeill keeps control of Cole as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cole is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

ONeill pulls guard.
Cole throwing strikes but missing.
Cole throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ONeill looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

ONeill has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Cole has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
ONeill is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cole pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cole misses with the head strike.
Cole is looking for a takedown.
Cole is trying to drag ONeill to the mat but ONeill just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cole looks winded!
Cole working hard to break the clinch.
Cole swings away with an uppercut that misses.
ONeill working some nice short punches in the clinch.

ONeill drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

ONeill is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Cole presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Cole jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as ONeill walks away with a smile on his face. Cole gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

ONeill moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cole tries to pull guard but ONeill forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
ONeill tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cole's elbow.

ONeill breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
ONeill slips a straight right by Cole.

ONeill takes the fight into the clinch.
ONeill gets underhooks to prevent Cole's takedown attempt.

ONeill jumps into guard, dragging Cole to the mat.
ONeill looking for a sweep. Not yet ONeill, not yet.
Cole postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paul ONeill will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

ONeill shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cole eats them both and turns towards ONeill to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Cole misses with a series of wild punches.
ONeill gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cole counters with a straight right hand.
Cole Cole seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cole misses with a wild combination.
Cole just misses with a punch to the body.
Paul ONeill is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cole tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but ONeill paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

ONeill fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cole, pushing him back against the cage.
Cole jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as ONeill walks away with a smile on his face. Cole gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Cole closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
ONeill holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cole is trying to break free.
Paul ONeill has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ONeill prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cole is breathing heavily.
Cole is trying to break the clinch but ONeill has him pressed against the cage.

ONeill's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cole throws a right hand that misses
and ONeill counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Cole is lucky that one didn't land flush.
ONeill keeps the fight on the outside.
ONeill takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
ONeill closes the distance and clinches up with Cole, looking for a takedown. ONeill pushes Cole against the cage but Cole circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cole throws a right and a left that both miss.
ONeill is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
ONeill changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cole tries to avoid it but ONeill manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cole to the ground. Cole escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul ONeill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Cole.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole throws a combination that misses
enabling ONeill to counter with a crisp jab.
ONeill tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cole swivels and escapes.
ONeill sets himself, and Cole steps forward looking for the clinch! ONeill avoids it this time.
A telegraphed right hand from Cole misses the target.
ONeill lands with a slapping head kick.

ONeill closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
ONeill is trying to pull guard but Cole turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cole working hard to break the clinch.
Cole misses with a punch on the inside.
ONeill displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cole up against the cage.
ONeill slowing the pace effectively.
ONeill tries for a takedown but Cole manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ONeill is trying to drag Cole to the mat but Cole just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cole is trying to pull guard but ONeill turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
ONeill keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cole's efforts to push away.
ONeill is looking for a takedown.
Cole is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
ONeill manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

ONeill manages to pull guard.
Cole working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
ONeill is adopting a defensive guard.
Cole is looking to stand up but ONeill won't let him.
ONeill avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cole missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Cole avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cole trying to stand up but can't free himself from ONeill's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paul ONeill will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cole tries to clinch there but ONeill circles away.
Cole throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
ONeill tries to clinch but Cole moves out of range.
Cole tries to clinch up but ONeill circles away and keeps his distance.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting ONeill here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
ONeill dives in and grabs Cole's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cole pushes down on ONeill's head and hops out.
Cole throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and ONeill counters with a one-two to the body.
ONeill defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cole.
The crowd cheers as Cole lands an impressive looking overhand right. ONeill doesn't seem phased though.
Cole shoots in and drives through. ONeill sprawls well.
ONeill seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
ONeill shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cole defends it nicely.
A right-left combo lands from ONeill.
Cole takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ONeill throws out a powerful jab.
Cole tries to clinch up.
ONeill half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
ONeill fakes the leg kick and cracks Cole in the body.
ONeill shoots in and drives through. Cole sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul ONeill. That's going to take a lot out of him.

ONeill has Cole up against the cage in a clinch.
ONeill with a knee to the head.

ONeill breaks from the clinch.
ONeill avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cole misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

ONeill moves into the clinch.
Cole gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from ONeill.

ONeill breaks from the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Cole. Those never looked like landing.
Cole lands a nice looking body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
ONeill fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
ONeill avoids a punch combination nicely.
ONeill lands with a slapping head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ONeill shoots in looking for a takedown. Cole tries to sprawl out of it but ONeill keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cole manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A combination from Cole does no damage.
ONeill shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cole defends it nicely.
Cole throws a right hand that ONeill ducks under and follows up with a left that ONeill also avoids with ease.
Cole throws a head kick but ONeill moves out of range.

ONeill closes the distance and pushes Cole back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole letting ONeill take a breather here.
ONeill wants to take the fight to the mat but Cole manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

ONeill gets control of Cole's arms and successfully pulls guard. ONeill will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

ONeill manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
ONeill taking a breather.
Cole wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Cole manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cole wants to get back to his feet but ONeill is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cole keeping moving, preventing ONeill from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul ONeill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for ONeill, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Peck scores the fight for Paul ONeill!
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight for Paul ONeill!
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight for Paul ONeill!

Paul ONeill wins by unanimous decision!