PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roi Ribaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ribaya
vs
Cole

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
187 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

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 Helsinki, Roi Ribaya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Travis Cole!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cole with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ribaya to score with a decent uppercut.

Ribaya lands a big right hand that sends Cole crashing to the mat! Ribaya stays standing though and waves Cole back to his feet!

Cole is rocked!
Cole is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ribaya sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cole is still on wobbly legs! Can Ribaya finish him?
Ribaya throws a right and a left that Cole avoids nicely.
Ribaya throws a series of punches but Cole avoids them all with ease.
Cole seems to have recovered his senses.
Ribaya throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Cole gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ribaya wants to get back to striking at distance but Cole won't allow it.
Ribaya is trying to break the clinch but Cole has him pressed against the cage.

Cole works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cole wants to control from the top but Ribaya keeps moving.
Cole preventing the sweep.
Ribaya on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ribaya tries to get out of the position.
Cole trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribaya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole advances to half guard.
Cole throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ribaya wants to stand back up but Cole manages to pass into side control.
Cole trying to control the action but Ribaya is working from the bottom.
Ribaya knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cole on the ground.
Cole tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Ribaya is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ribaya pushes Cole away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cole gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ribaya tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Donk. Ribaya catches Cole right on the button with a cross.
Cole showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ribaya.
Ribaya is breathing heavily.
Cole slips under a jab from Ribaya.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribaya loads up on a big right hand but Cole slips the punch.
Ribaya leaves Cole with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cole slips a jab and a cross from Ribaya.
Cole shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ribaya sprawls well. Ribaya wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cole gets slowly back to his feet.
Roi Ribaya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis Cole.
Cole keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ribaya.
Ribaya swinging wildly here.
Roi Ribaya is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ribaya throws a series of punches but Cole avoids them all with ease.
Ribaya misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ribaya misses with a two punch combination.
Cole fails to land the takedown.

Cole gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ribaya working hard to break the clinch.

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 has had enough of the clinch but Ribaya keeps him there for the moment.

Ribaya breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ribaya just misses with a punch to the body.

Ribaya pushes Cole up against the cage in a clinch.
Ribaya is trying to break free.
Ribaya is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cole tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ribaya avoids it.

Ribaya escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ribaya throws a nice looking combination but Cole bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ribaya throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ribaya moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Ribaya as Cole shoots in.
Cole fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cole doesn't manage to clinch there - Ribaya circles away.

Cole moves into the clinch.
Cole has Ribaya pressed against the cage, preventing Ribaya from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roi Ribaya dominated that round.
That's time! Ribaya's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cole misses with a takedown attempt - Ribaya sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ribaya lands with an overhand left.
Cole slips a jab and a cross from Ribaya.
Ribaya looks to land a combination but Cole avoids it well.
Ribaya connects with a jab.
Ribaya tried to score with a low kick but Cole checks it.
Cole shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ribaya but Ribaya pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ribaya lands with a shot to the body.
Ribaya will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ribaya throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cole.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cole clinches up against the cage.
Ribaya tries to break the clinch but Cole is controlling the position.

Cole escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cole gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ribaya.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribaya fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cole is out of range.
Ribaya misses with the combination.
Ribaya throws a right and a left that both miss.
Roi Ribaya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cole closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cole lands in his opponent's guard.
Cole postures up in Ribaya's guard and throws a big left but Ribaya blocks it.
Cole wants to control from the top but Ribaya keeps moving.
Ribaya keeping full guard, as Cole tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribaya wants to stand but Cole is controlling the position.
Ribaya keeping moving, preventing Cole from controlling successfully.
Cole trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ribaya's guard.
Cole prevents Ribaya from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribaya is pulling down on Cole's head to control his posture.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cole blocks a jab.
Ribaya misses with a double jab.
Ribaya will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ribaya looks to land a combination. Cole sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ribaya lands a nice shot that snaps Cole's head back.

Cole gets the takedown into side control.
Cole tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ribaya is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribaya taking punishment in the form of punches.
Cole tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Cole throws an elbow but Ribaya slips to the side and avoids it well.

Cole tries for a kimura but Ribaya is defending well.
Ribaya struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Travis Cole will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Ribaya.
Ribaya throws a right hand that Cole ducks under and follows up with a left that Cole also avoids with ease.
Ribaya swinging wildly here.
Cole keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Cole has closed the distance and engaged Ribaya in a clinch.
Ribaya tries to circle away but Cole has him pinned against the cage.
Cole tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ribaya just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ribaya is looking to break free of the clinch but Cole has double underhooks.
Cole tries to pull guard but Ribaya won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole tries to pull guard but Ribaya holds him up against the cage and eventually Cole drops back down to his feet.
Roi Ribaya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis Cole.

Cole gets control of Ribaya's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cole will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ribaya stopping the sweep attempt from Cole.
Ribaya postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribaya trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ribaya has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cole is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cole decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Nice straight punches there by Ribaya. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ribaya.
Some wild striking there from Ribaya.
Cole tries for a takedown but Ribaya sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cole circles away from the clinch attempt

and Cole counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cole seems to be working for a kimura but Ribaya defends the submission attempt.
Ribaya is staying active underneath Cole, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Cole postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ribaya to stand up.
Ribaya throws a looping overhand right but Cole ducks down to avoid it.
Nice straight punches there by Ribaya. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ribaya.
Ribaya misses with a combination

and Cole counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cole.
A frustrated look appears on Ribaya's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Ribaya as the two fighters clinch.
Ribaya lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cole has Ribaya pressed against the cage, preventing Ribaya from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ribaya presses Cole against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ribaya slows down the pace here.
Ribaya wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cole stalling.
Ribaya has had enough of the clinch but Cole keeps him there for the moment.
Cole is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ribaya is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cole tries to circle away but Ribaya has him pinned against the cage.
Ribaya is looking to break free of the clinch but Cole has double underhooks.
Ribaya stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Cole breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ribaya misses with a double jab.
Ribaya takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ribaya misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cole.
Nice jab there from Ribaya.
Cole checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
The crowd cheers as Ribaya lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cole doesn't seem phased though.
Cole fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cole throws a series of punches but Ribaya moves out of range.
Cole clinches but Ribaya breaks the clinch
and Ribaya counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Cole shoots in and bounces Ribaya off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ribaya wants to stand up but Cole is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Cole comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29

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