PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rabadan Ramaldanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Cole
vs
Ramaldanov

180 cm
19
256 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

177 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matthew Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rabadan Ramaldanov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ramaldanov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cole takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ramaldanov throws a right hand that Cole ducks under and follows up with a left that Cole also avoids with ease.
Ramaldanov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cole as he jumps to the side.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Ramaldanov has eaten all the pies!
Ramaldanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ramaldanov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ramaldanov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ramaldanov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cole circles away quickly and effectively.
Ramaldanov swinging wildly here.
Ramaldanov looks to throw the jab but Cole is out of range.

Cole has managed to clinch.
Cole's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Cole's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ramaldanov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Ramaldanov stands up and beckons Cole to join him on the feet.

Cole gets a takedown into half guard.
Ramaldanov looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cole postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ramaldanov to stand up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ramaldanov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cole pulls his leg out and moves away.

Cole decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Cole decides to return to a standing position.
Ramaldanov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cole counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Matthew Cole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rabadan Ramaldanov.

Cole has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ramaldanov uses from the top position.

Cole is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole pulls Ramaldanov in close to prevent any damage.

Cole kicks Ramaldanov off and gets to his feet.

Cole scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ramaldanov stops Cole from passing to mount.
Ramaldanov is looking for a sweep.
Cole creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cole has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cole fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ramaldanov sprawls well initially but Cole persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cole prevents Ramaldanov from improving his position.
Cole controlling the action here.
Ramaldanov is looking to improve his position.
Cole keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole is thwarting Ramaldanov's attempts to control the position.
Ramaldanov is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cole performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cole working the head and body with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cole content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Cole dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ramaldanov throws a lazy head kick
and Cole counters with a three punch combo that has Ramaldanov backing up. Ramaldanov nods at Cole to acknowledge the strikes.

Cole shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cole chips away with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cole controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cole looking to pass the guard.
Ramaldanov is trying to keep Cole in close.

Cole gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cole throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ramaldanov.

It looks like Rabadan Ramaldanov has been cut.

Cole instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ramaldanov tries to break the clinch but Cole is controlling the position.

Cole breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cole changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ramaldanov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Cole tries for a kimura but Ramaldanov is defending well.
Cole is trying to ground and pound but Ramaldanov uses the momentary lack of control by Cole to regain half guard.
Cole takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ramaldanov wants to get back to his feet.

Ramaldanov looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cole's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Matthew Cole.

Cole forces Ramaldanov back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramaldanov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ramaldanov trying to land knees to the body.

Cole manages to pull guard.
Cole lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ramaldanov!
Cole scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ramaldanov?
Cole content just to control the position here.
Cole landing strikes from the mount and Ramaldanov is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole controlling from mount.
Cole looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ramaldanov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Cole looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Ramaldanov is bucking up trying to escape but Cole cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ramaldanov is desperately trying to improve his position but Cole has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Cole dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rabadan Ramaldanov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cole clinches up with Ramaldanov and pushes him back against the cage.
Cole is struggling to control the position.

Cole decides to pull guard.
Cole keeping moving, preventing Ramaldanov from controlling successfully.

Cole has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ramaldanov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cole tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole keeping full guard, as Ramaldanov tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cole wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cole is on top in guard.
Ramaldanov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cole controls the pace.
Cole lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cole content to stall in guard here.

Cole drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cole jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cole trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramaldanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ramaldanov is trying to control the position but Cole postures up.
Ramaldanov has momentary wrist control but Cole slips an elbow through the middle.
Ramaldanov trying to keep a closed guard but Cole is proving a slippery customer.
Cole is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ramaldanov is trying to control the position but Cole postures up.
Cole not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole is pushing down on Ramaldanov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ramaldanov is fighting to maintain full guard but Cole has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cole trying to control the pace.
Ramaldanov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Cole decides to stand and escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramaldanov just misses with a punch to the body.

Cole scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ramaldanov is trying to control but can't.
Ground and pound from Cole.

Cole escapes and gets back to his feet.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Ramaldanov.

Cole fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ramaldanov sprawls well initially but Cole persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ramaldanov wants to control but Cole is keeping busy.
Cole prevents Ramaldanov from improving his position.
Rabadan Ramaldanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matthew Cole is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Cole showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cole has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26

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