PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Norris Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Saddi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cole comes to the cage accompanied by The Offspring - Why Don't You Get A Job. Saddi has chosen Duran Duran - The Wild Boys as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Bob Saddi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Norris Cole's chin.

Cole
vs
Saddi

191 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Norris Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bob Saddi!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Donatello Bradman and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cole throws a right and a left that Saddi avoids nicely.

Cole shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Saddi makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Saddi staying out of range there.

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

Cole looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Cole wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Saddi, who protects the arm well.

Cole is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Saddi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saddi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Saddi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Saddi trying to hold on to Cole's head to control him but Cole postures up.
Saddi preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Cole prevents Saddi from standing back up.
Saddi tries to roll over but Cole keeps him under control.
Cole is trying to control the action in half guard but Saddi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saddi fails to land with a series of punches.
Saddi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Cole closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cole lands in his opponent's guard.
Cole is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cole wants to pass the guard but Saddi is keeping the position.

Cole postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Saddi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cole, into his guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cole looking for a guillotine here but Saddi defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saddi wants to stand and escape but instead Cole has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cole looking to pass the guard.
Cole trying to control the position from guard on top but Saddi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cole looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole trying to control but Saddi is working from the bottom.
Cole stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saddi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saddi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cole. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cole trying to control the position from guard on top but Saddi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saddi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Saddi wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norris Cole dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cole dives in and grabs Saddi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saddi pushes down on Cole's head and hops out.
Saddi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cole.
Saddi just misses with a punch to the body.
Cole swinging wildly here.
Saddi misses with a head kick.
A big left from Cole misses.
Saddi misses with a wild combination.
Saddi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saddi swinging wildly here.
Cole missing with a left hand there. Saddi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cole with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Saddi to score with a decent uppercut.

Cole moves into the clinch successfully.

Saddi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Saddi tests Cole's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cole shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saddi as he avoids it easily.
A combination from Cole does no damage.
Saddi throws a series of strikes that have Cole backpedaling.
Bob Saddi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saddi misses with a hook. Cole ducked under it nicely.
Saddi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saddi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saddi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cole finds it's way round the side to connect with Saddi's head.
Cole keeps the fight on the outside.
Saddi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cole.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norris Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saddi looks to land a combination but Cole avoids it well.
Saddi is looking to land body kicks.
Saddi scores with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cole misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saddi misses with a head kick.
Saddi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saddi is breathing heavily.
Cole misses with a few strikes there.
Saddi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cole cracks Saddi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Cole drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cole wants to control but Saddi is keeping him busy.
Saddi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cole's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Saddi is not content to let Cole control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saddi keeping hold of Cole's head, controlling as best he can.

Saddi is defending against the submission attempts here by Cole.

Cole is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Saddi sees it coming and defends easily.
Saddi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saddi is looking to escape.
Cole wants to pass to mount but Saddi is defending the position.
Cole trying to control the action but Saddi is working from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Cole seems content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cole is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Cole is working for a kimura but Saddi is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Norris Cole will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Cole takes one on the button.
Saddi throws a shot from downtown. Cole moves away and avoids it.
Saddi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cole showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saddi.
Cole thows a left - swing and a miss!
Saddi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A telegraphed right hand from Saddi misses the target.
Cole shoots in looking for a takedown but Saddi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cole's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Saddi is looking to clinch but Cole is avoiding it.
Some wild striking there from Saddi.
Bob Saddi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saddi misses with the combination.
Saddi tries to clinch up but Cole circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saddi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cole lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cole avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cole misses with a two punch combination.
Nice sprawl there from Saddi as Cole shoots in.
Saddi just misses with a punch to the body.
Saddi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Saddi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saddi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Saddi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cole.
Norris Cole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saddi misses with a low kick.
Some wild striking there from Saddi.
Saddi throws the kick towards the body but Cole avoids it.
Saddi throws a series of punches but Cole moves out of range.

Cole moves into range and clinches up with Saddi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saddi throws an elbow that misses.

Saddi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some wild striking there from Saddi.
Saddi swings for the body but Cole moves out of range.
Saddi is looking to land body kicks.
Cole will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norris Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saddi lands a head kick. Cole smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Saddi tries to keep at a distance but Cole has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cole stalls.
Saddi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cole blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole managing to block the knees to the body from Saddi.

Saddi breaks the clinch.

Cole pushes Saddi up against the cage in a clinch.
Saddi keeps control of Cole as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Saddi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Norris Cole is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cole shoots for a double leg takedown but Saddi sprawls well. He's pushed Cole's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saddi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Cole gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Saddi looking to throw knees to the head but Cole is blocking nicely.
A frustrated look appears on Saddi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Saddi trying to land knees to the body.
Saddi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cole avoids it.

Saddi manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cole closes the distance and clinches.
Saddi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Saddi breaks from the clinch.
Cole checks a leg kick.
Bob Saddi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A big left from Saddi misses.

Cole shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cole sitting and controlling from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Saddi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cole 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Norris Cole!
Norris Cole thanked the fans post fight for their support.