PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between George Oldenburg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Oldenburg
vs
Cole

190 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

178 cm
22
187 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, George Oldenburg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Travis Cole!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cole ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cole moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cole looks to land a right hand but Oldenburg moved out of range.

Cole shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cole showed some decent athleticism there.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Oldenburg is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cole in particular looking to stall.

Cole is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cole is taking a breather. Oldenburg 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cole tries to pass the half guard into mount. Oldenburg knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole is controlling the pace.
Oldenburg trying to control but Cole postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Oldenburg tries to get to full guard but Cole has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Oldenburg blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cole.
Cole is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cole is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oldenburg trying to control but Cole postures up.
Cole working the head and body with strikes.
Cole seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cole landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Cole stands up from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cole gets the takedown into side control.
Oldenburg is looking to reverse the position.
Oldenburg can't do much from the bottom here.
Cole wants to control but Oldenburg is keeping him busy.
Cole controls the position from side control.
Cole is putting a hurting on Oldenburg here, landing some big shots from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Cole dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Oldenburg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cole rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Oldenburg moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oldenburg fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Oldenburg. No joy for Cole on that attempt.
Cole blocks a head kick by Oldenburg.
Cole is looking to clinch.
Cole throws a head kick that misses.
Oldenburg with a poor takedown

and Cole counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Oldenburg's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oldenburg wants to sweep but no luck.
Cole postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cole wants to control from the top but Oldenburg keeps moving.
Cole might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Oldenburg kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cole decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Oldenburg tries for a takedown but Cole circles away easily

and Cole counters with a nice double leg into side control. Oldenburg won't be happy with that.
Cole throws an elbow but Oldenburg slips to the side and avoids it well.
Oldenburg manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Oldenburg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cole does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole is looking to improve his position.
Cole blocking the ground and pound attempt from Oldenburg.
Cole is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Oldenburg is looking to take a break and control but Cole is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Oldenburg swats away the attempt to clinch by Cole.
Oldenburg with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cole counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Oldenburg. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oldenburg being controlled here, momentarily.
Cole looking to pass the guard.
Oldenburg doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cole looking to sit in guard and control but Oldenburg gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Oldenburg would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Oldenburg trying to control the position from guard on top but Cole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oldenburg will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Oldenburg decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cole, up you get!
Oldenburg tries to clinch but Cole is having none of it.
Oldenburg misses with a takedown attempt

and Cole counters with a nice double leg into side control. Oldenburg won't be happy with that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oldenburg tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cole wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Oldenburg holding on.
Oldenburg is trying to work for a sweep but Cole has mounted him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Cole showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Oldenburg avoids a kick to the body.

Cole closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Oldenburg to the mat! Oldenburg manages to get full guard.
Oldenburg looking to control.
Cole advances position into side control!
Travis Cole has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cole content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Oldenburg sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole content to control rather than advance.

Cole stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Cole shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Oldenburg's guard.
Oldenburg trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Oldenburg trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oldenburg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cole trying to control but Oldenburg is working from the bottom.

Oldenburg throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cole uses it to pass to side control.

Oldenburg bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Cole displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Oldenburg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Oldenburg gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cole counters with a nice double leg into side control. Oldenburg won't be happy with that.
Oldenburg is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Travis Cole is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cole lands a nice forearm strike.
Oldenburg struggling a bit here.
Oldenburg is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oldenburg is trying to get back to full guard.
Oldenburg is looking to control Cole's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Oldenburg avoid being mounted?
Oldenburg tries to get to full guard but Cole has control of the leg.
Oldenburg throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Oldenburg with a poor takedown

and Cole counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
George Oldenburg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Oldenburg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cole is pressing down on Oldenburg's thigh, looking to free his foot. Oldenburg is holding on for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Cole comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cole has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Cole!