PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wrestle Mania (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Cote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Cote's choice of entrance music: Undead. Wrestle Mania had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Wrestle Mania has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mania
vs
Cote

200 cm
23
199 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

BioPharm Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Wrestle Mania!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Cote!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mania shoots in looking for a takedown. Cote tries to sprawl out of it but Mania keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cote manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mania.
Cote thuds a left hand into Mania's body.
Cote misses with a takedown attempt

so Mania counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mania trying to control the position from guard on top but Cote is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mania is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cote is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Mania drops back looking for a leg! Cote is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cote manages to kick Mania off! Mania jumps back into Cote's guard.

Mania is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Mania is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mania wants to control from the top but Cote keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mania prevents Cote from getting back to his feet.
Cote wants to improve his position but instead Mania has moved into half guard.
Mania is looking to take a break and control but Cote is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Mania is really struggling to control Cote but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cote is controlling Mania's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Mania will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cote pushes Mania off looking to stand but Mania dives back in and keeps control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Wrestle Mania just wasn't active enough.
Cote misses with a takedown attempt

and Mania counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cote's guard now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cote can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cote can't keep his opponent in guard - Mania advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mania is trying to control. Cote wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Mania is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cote has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mania controlling the action here.
Cote is not content to let Mania control the position.

Mania is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cote is in trouble now - Mania has advanced to mount!

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.
Cote is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Mania really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cote is working to get back to half guard.

Mania is working for a guillotine from mount but Cote frees his head quite easily.
Cote is squirming around, avoiding Mania's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cote lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mania backs up against the cage.
Nice body kick there by Cote.
James Cote is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cote shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Cote really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mania. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cote sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cote scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Cote looking to control but Mania is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mania tries to hold on but Cote postures up.

Cote looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cote scoring with strikes but Mania is staying in there.
Cote raining down shots from the mount!
Cote is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mania is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cote scoring with strikes but Mania is staying in there.
Mania is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cote lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cote trying to control but Mania is having none of it.
Cote with good strikes from the mount here!
Cote wants to control the pace but Mania is squirming around nicely.
Mania is trying desperately to improve position.
Cote looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Cote has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Cote pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cote trying to control but Mania is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cote is landing with some decent strikes but Mania is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Mania slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mania wants to control but Cote is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mania is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Cote is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mania has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cote scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Mania makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Cote showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mania gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mania managing to control the position.

Mania has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cote can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cote trying to control the position from guard on top but Mania is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cote postures up and lands a big shot to Mania's brow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mania trying to keep a closed guard but Cote is proving a slippery customer.
Mania can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cote controls the pace.
Mania is controlling Cote's posture.
Cote tries to stand but Mania is controlling from the bottom.
Wrestle Mania overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mania gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cote counters with a left and a right that stings Mania.
Cote throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cote shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mania counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mania tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mania trying to control the action but Cote is working from the bottom.
This fight is sponsored by Chainsaw 7. More blood and guts and stuff like that, in cinemas everywhere now!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cote being controlled for a moment.
Mania tries to advance to mount but Cote denies him.
Cote being controlled for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Mania swings around for an armbar but Cote sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mania's guard.
Cote thows a big elbow that misses.
Cote throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mania works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mania looking to control.
Cote must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Wrestle Mania has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Cote fails with the takedown.
Cote digs a good body shot into Mania's ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Wrestle Mania.
I think Mania 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Wrestle Mania!