PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Travis Cole was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hughes
vs
Cole

188 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
187 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matt Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Travis Cole!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cole sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matt Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cole leaves Hughes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Cole closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hughes did well to prevent Cole getting side control.
Cole is keen to just control but Hughes is a slippery customer.
Hughes is trying to stand.
Cole not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hughes tries to kick Cole off but Cole keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cole tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Hughes.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Cole is looking to advance position but Hughes won't allow it.
Cole trying to control from half guard but Hughes is working away.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hughes doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cole counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes pushes Cole off looking to stand but Cole dives back in and keeps control.
Cole not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cole not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cole sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hughes defending well though.
Cole landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cole thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hughes's head.
Cole is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Cole looks gassed!
Hughes won't allow Cole to pass to mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cole misses the shot to the body.
Hughes shoots for a takedown but Cole saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hughes shoots in but no luck this time.
Hughes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cole is fending him off so far but Hughes persists. Nope, Cole circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Cole. No joy for Hughes on that attempt.
Hughes with a poor takedown
and Cole counters with an outside leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hughes.
Cole pushes Hughes away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hughes gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hughes postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Cole tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hughes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hughes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cole on the ground.
Hughes tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hughes tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hughes fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hughes in side control, throwing shots but Cole defends.
Hughes creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cole sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hughes misses with a takedown

and Cole counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A knee to the head by Hughes.
Cole prevents the takedown attempt.
Cole wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hughes has him pressed against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughes pulls guard effortlessly.
Cole prevents Hughes from getting back to his feet.
Hughes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hughes tries to get out of the position.
Cole postures up in Hughes's guard and throws a big left but Hughes blocks it.
Hughes wants to get back to his feet but Cole is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cole missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Hughes pushes Cole off and gets back to his feet.
Cole leaves Hughes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cole throws a big shot that misses.
Hughes shoots in but no luck this time.
Cole displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hughes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hughes there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hughes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cole. That did some damage!
Hughes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.
Cole swinging wildly here.
Hughes feints and then cracks Cole's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cole down.
Hughes shoots in looking for a takedown. Cole tries to sprawl out of it but Hughes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Cole manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hughes connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cole defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hughes.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cole as he avoids it easily.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but Cole shows good takedown defense.
Some wild striking there from Cole.
Hughes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cole tries to avoid it but Hughes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cole to the ground. Cole escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hughes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cole sprawls well initially but Hughes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hughes prevents Cole from standing back up.
Hughes throwing shots but Cole is blocking nicely.
Cole is trying to get back to full guard.
Hughes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hughes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cole looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hughes lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cole is breathing heavily.
Hughes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cole's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hughes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Hughes there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hughes scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cole stuffs the takedown.
Hughes lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but Cole shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cole stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cole wants it to stay on the feet.
Hughes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cole but Cole pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cole stalks Hughes and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hughes's face. Hughes staggers backwards, shaken.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Horrible takedown by Cole or perhaps it was just good defense by Hughes which made him look bad.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hughes. That's going to slow Cole down.
Cole shoots in for a takedown but Hughes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Cole. No joy for Hughes on that attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cole. Hughes does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cole sprawls well. Cole wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet.
Hughes walks into a straight right hand from Cole.
Cole changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hughes tries to avoid it but Cole manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hughes to the ground. Hughes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck for Hughes with that takedown attempt.
Hughes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cole counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hughes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cole.
Cole fails with a takedown attempt.
Hughes shoots in and drives through. Cole sprawls well.
Cole misses with a few strikes there.
Hughes shoots in and drives through. Cole sprawls well.
No luck for Cole with that takedown attempt.
Hughes displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cole.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but Cole shows good takedown defense.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cole as he avoids it easily.
Cole stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hughes.
Cole tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hughes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hughes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cole sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cole leaves Hughes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cole scores with a body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cole.
Matt Hughes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cole chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hughes can pounce on him.
Cole slaps away a takedown attempt from Hughes, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Cole has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hughes looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes tries to pull guard but Cole won't allow it.
Hughes stalls.
Hughes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cole gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cole's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cole wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hughes lands a good knee to the midsection. Cole won't want to take too many of those.

Hughes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cole slaps away a takedown attempt from Hughes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cole as he avoids it easily.
Hughes closes the distance and clinches up with Cole, looking for a takedown. Hughes pushes Cole against the ropes but Cole circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cole displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hughes.
Hughes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cole's waist but Cole gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hughes off to one side.
Cole has his takedown stuffed

and Hughes counters with a single leg into guard. Cole didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hughes dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cole shoots for a double leg takedown but Hughes sprawls well. He's pushed Cole's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hughes with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cole moves into the clinch.
Hughes is trying to drag Cole to the mat but Cole just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Cole drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hughes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cole gets underhooks to prevent Hughes's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hughes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hughes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cole misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hughes goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cole defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hughes.
Cole misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hughes has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cole.
Hughes delivers a nice body kick.
Hughes has a takedown stuffed.
Cole throws a one two combo.
Hughes shoots for a double leg takedown but Cole sprawls well. He's pushed Hughes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hughes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cole sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cole misses with a series of wild punches.
Hughes has a takedown stuffed.
Cole moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hughes throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nice takedown defense from Cole. No joy for Hughes on that attempt.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hughes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cole avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cole gets caught flat footed, as Hughes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hughes is looking to work some ground and pound but Cole has wrist control.
Hughes stops Cole from standing up.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cole avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Cole is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hughes defends well.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cole not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hughes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cole sprawls well. Cole wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cole looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cole avoids it really well and circles away.
Hughes fails to land the takedown.
Hughes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hughes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cole circles away.
Cole tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hughes counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cole tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cole tries to clinch but Hughes is having none of it.
Cole takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Hughes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hughes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cole is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hughes lands a big shot there that rocks Cole but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Cole's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Cole is looking to get to half guard.
Hughes avoids the attempt from Cole to control.
Hughes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hughes throwing strikes here but Cole is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hughes throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cole wants to try and get back to his feet.
Cole tries to hold on but Hughes pushes him away.
Hughes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cole wants to try and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Hughes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hughes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight for Travis Cole!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!