PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dominick Cunetta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Coll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dominick Cunetta could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Xander Coll's chin.

Cunetta
vs
Coll

187 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
19
181 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 New York, Dominick Cunetta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xander Coll!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Kavanagh and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunetta looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Coll is fending him off so far but Cunetta persists. Nope, Coll circles away and we're back to standing.
Cunetta fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Coll takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Coll uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cunetta.

Coll gets a takedown into half guard.
Cunetta tries to roll over but Coll keeps him under control.
Coll trying to pass the guard but Cunetta defending well.

Coll is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cunetta is just riding it out for now. Coll eventually gives up the hold.
Coll is looking to advance position but Cunetta won't allow it.
Cunetta trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunetta is trying is best to control the position here.
Cunetta wants to control but Coll is keeping busy.
Cunetta tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Coll has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Cunetta is wriggling around trying to escape.
Coll sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Coll manages to capitalize on a mistake by Cunetta to take his back!
Cunetta is breathing heavily.
Coll struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Coll softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Coll not allowing Cunetta to control his hands.
Coll trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Coll trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Cunetta doesn't escape.
Coll tries to get the hooks in deep but Cunetta pushed the leg off.
Coll lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Coll gets his hands free as Cunetta looks to control.
Cunetta wants to escape the position.
Cunetta is keeping busy.
Cunetta is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cunetta tries to roll but Coll sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunetta trying to control the hands but Coll won't let him.
You can see the frustration on Cunetta's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Cunetta trying to control the hands but Coll breaks the grip.
Cunetta has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Coll.
Cunetta trying to control the position but Coll manages to sink in the hooks.
Cunetta rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cunetta controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cunetta misses with a takedown attempt

so Coll counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cunetta wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cunetta looking to control.
Cunetta keeping moving, preventing Coll from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunetta manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cunetta punishing his opponent with strikes.
Coll is looking to get to half guard.
Cunetta wants to control but Coll has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Coll keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Coll tries to get to full guard but Cunetta has control of the leg.
Coll is positioning himself well to prevent Cunetta advancing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Coll fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cunetta pushes Coll away with a front kick.
Coll shoots for a double leg takedown but Cunetta sprawls well. He's pushed Coll's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Coll tries to clinch but Cunetta is having none of it.
Coll shoots in for a takedown but Cunetta shows good takedown defense.
Coll shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cunetta but Cunetta pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dominick Cunetta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Coll.
Coll misses with a takedown attempt

and Cunetta counters with a takedown into side control.
Cunetta advances to mount.

Cunetta looking to secure an arm triangle but Coll defends it well.
Coll sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Coll tries to roll over but Cunetta keeps him under control.
Coll keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunetta working Coll over with strikes.
Cunetta trying to control the action but Coll is working from the bottom.
Coll is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Coll makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Coll.
Cunetta trying to control but Coll is working from the bottom.
Coll wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cunetta controls from within his opponent's guard.
Coll is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Coll looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cunetta slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cunetta'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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cunetta missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Coll trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cunetta gets to his feet - Coll follows without any prompting.
Cunetta closes the distance but Coll moves to the side
and Coll counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cunetta's knee momentarily.
Dominick Cunetta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cunetta tries to keep at a distance but Coll has taken the fight into the clinch.

Coll is fighting off a takedown attempt but Cunetta is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Coll to the mat. Coll regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Coll is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunetta is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cunetta being controlled here, momentarily.
Cunetta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cunetta wants to stand up but Coll is controlling him.
Cunetta can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Coll controls the pace.
Coll preventing the sweep.
Coll is stalling in the full 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.
Cunetta controls Coll momentarily but Coll frees himself.
Cunetta is really struggling to control Coll but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cunetta jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cunetta looks to land a combination. Coll sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Coll circles away from the clinch attempt

and Coll counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cunetta is looking to improve his position.
Coll controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Cunetta dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cunetta clinches.

Coll gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Cunetta regains guard.
Cunetta is looking to stand up but Coll isn't so interested in that idea.
Cunetta working a defensive guard here.

Coll stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Coll fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Coll shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cunetta but Cunetta pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Coll shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cunetta is pressing down on Coll's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cunetta wants to sweep here but Coll controlling him for the moment.
Coll stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cunetta swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunetta wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cunetta wants to sweep here but Coll controlling him for the moment.
Cunetta lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Coll!
Coll is wriggling around trying to escape.
BOOM! Cunetta connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Coll is bucking up trying to escape but Cunetta cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Coll is looking to improve his position but Cunetta isn't that keen on the idea.
Cunetta can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Coll is looking to escape.

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.
Coll throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Cunetta throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cunetta can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Coll is looking to escape.
Coll gets back to half guard.
Coll is looking to control Cunetta's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Coll avoid being mounted?
Coll wants to improve his position but Cunetta is controlling well.
Cunetta wants to control but Coll is keeping him busy.
Coll slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunetta tries to free his leg and advance position but Coll is retaining full guard.
Coll looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Coll trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Coll shoots in but no luck this time.
Dominick Cunetta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Coll.

Cunetta shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Coll's guard.
Cunetta is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Coll wants to sweep but no luck.
Cunetta trying to control but Coll is working from the bottom.
Coll wants to sweep here but Cunetta controlling him for the moment.
Coll has control of Cunetta's left arm, preventing Cunetta from doing any damage.
Coll wants to stand up but Cunetta is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coll is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Coll closes the distance and clinches.

Coll breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cunetta tries to bum rush Coll with a series of wild strikes but Coll uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Coll darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Cunetta looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Coll is trying to control the action in half guard but Cunetta is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cunetta wants to improve his position but Coll is controlling well.
Coll is controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xander Coll comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Coll 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xander Coll!