PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannibal Lecter VIII (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cole comes to the cage accompanied by Stand Up and Shout by Steel Dragons. Lecter VIII has chosen Getting Away With Murder as his entrance music. Lecter VIII has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Hannibal Lecter VIII struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cole
vs
Lecter VIII

174 cm
18
179 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

174 cm
30
185 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hannibal Lecter VIII!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lecter VIII staying out of range there.
Chris Cole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lecter VIII uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cole.
Lecter VIII tries a head kick but it misses.

Lecter VIII gets tackled into the cage by Cole. Cole maintains the clinch.
Lecter VIII lands a damaging elbow.
Lecter VIII looks gassed!
Lecter VIII lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cole backwards.
Lecter VIII throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cole blocks it with crossed arms.
Cole tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lecter VIII just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cole is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cole has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lecter VIII after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cole misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lecter VIII stalling the fight.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cole tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lecter VIII smiles and moves away.
Cole misses with a jab to the body
and Lecter VIII counters with a head kick.
Jab, jab by Lecter VIII - just one landing.
Cole throws a right hand that misses
and Lecter VIII counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lecter VIII slips a straight right by Cole.
A swing and a miss from Lecter VIII.
Cole swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lecter VIII displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cole.
Cole misses the shot to the body.
Lecter VIII swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Cole gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cole misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lecter VIII connects with a knee to the head.
Nice body punch from Lecter VIII - that landed with a thud.
Lecter VIII lands with a left to the head.
Cole throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole is trying to stall.
Lecter VIII utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cole misses with some punches.
Cole wants to break free but Lecter VIII has control.
Lecter VIII landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lecter VIII working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lecter VIII.
Cole being controlled against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Lecter VIII.
A head punch on the inside from Cole fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole swings wildly with an uppercut but Lecter VIII uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lecter VIII is pushing Cole up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cole trying to stall but Lecter VIII improves his position.
Lecter VIII lands an elbow just above Cole 's eye.
Lecter VIII lands a body shot.
Lecter VIII controlling the action here for a moment.
Cole wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cole is trying to maintain a safe position but Lecter VIII gets an underhook and turns Cole into the cage.
Cole is trying to pull guard but Lecter VIII has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Lecter VIII scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lecter VIII stalls.
Cole taking a breather.
Lecter VIII lands an uppercut.
Lecter VIII throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cole blocks it with crossed arms.
Cole throws a head punch that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cole changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lecter VIII fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannibal Lecter VIII dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hannibal Lecter VIII's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A head kick misses from Lecter VIII.
Cole fails with a takedown attempt.
Lecter VIII slips under a jab.
Lecter VIII pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Cole gets a clinch.
Cole tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice elbow from Lecter VIII.

It looks like Chris Cole has been cut.
Lecter VIII misses with a knee strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lecter VIII.
Cole wants to stall.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lecter VIII obliges.
Lecter VIII is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lecter VIII misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cole has a couple of punches blocked by Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cole up against the cage.
Cole tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cole wants to get back to striking at distance but Lecter VIII won't allow it.
Cole is trying to pull guard but Lecter VIII turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cole can't find room to land a body shot as Lecter VIII controls the action.
Cole working hard to break the clinch.
Lecter VIII taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lecter VIII continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Cole misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cole.
Cole throws a punch but it's blocked by Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII blocking some punches.
Cole swings wildly with an uppercut but Lecter VIII uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hannibal Lecter VIII seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lecter VIII is pressed up against the cage. Cole has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lecter VIII down to the mat. Lecter VIII avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cole misses with a hook.
Hannibal Lecter VIII is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lecter VIII connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cole fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lecter VIII manages to avoid it.

Cole has closed the distance and engaged Lecter VIII in a clinch.
Cole is looking to control Lecter VIII's arms but Lecter VIII gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cole has his back to the cage.
Lecter VIII manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lecter VIII scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lecter VIII just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cole tries to pull guard but Lecter VIII forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lecter VIII pressing his opponent against the cage.
Lecter VIII throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cole blocks it with crossed arms.
Cole is looking to break free of the clinch but Lecter VIII has double underhooks.
Lecter VIII leaning against his opponent.
Cole jumps guard but Lecter VIII stands there with Cole around his waist. Cole gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cole taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole throws a punch but it's blocked by Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII is leaning against Cole and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cole is looking to control Lecter VIII's arms but Lecter VIII gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cole has his back to the cage.
Lecter VIII with a knee to the head.
Lecter VIII effectively controlling the action here.
Lecter VIII landing knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lecter VIII.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cole is looking to break free of the clinch but Lecter VIII has double underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hannibal Lecter VIII will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cole is defended easily by Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cole throws a body punch but Lecter VIII moves out of range.
Cole takes a swing at Lecter VIII's ribcage but misses.
Lecter VIII avoids the body shot from Cole.
Cole misses with an uppercut. Lecter VIII saw that one coming.

Cole darts in and clinches Lecter VIII up against the cage.
Cole misses with a body punch.
Cole is looking to break free of the clinch but Lecter VIII has double underhooks.
Lecter VIII keeps control of Cole as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lecter VIII takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lecter VIII softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lecter VIII can't find room to land a body shot as Cole controls the action.
Cole misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lecter VIII is struggling to control the position.
Lecter VIII lands a nice knee to the body.
Cole trying to stall but Lecter VIII improves his position.
Lecter VIII scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cole jumps guard but Lecter VIII turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lecter VIII effectively controlling the action here.
Cole misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cole misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cole has a couple of punches blocked by Lecter VIII.
Cole trying to stall but Lecter VIII improves his position.
Lecter VIII lands with a left to the head.
Lecter VIII tries to land knees in the clinch but Cole avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole has Lecter VIII pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lecter VIII manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lecter VIII throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lecter VIII prevents Cole from breaking the clinch.
Cole avoids the elbow strike from Lecter VIII, against the cage.
Cole is trying to break free.
Cole misses with a punch on the inside.
Cole fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cole fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short uppercut from Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cole is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lecter VIII is keeping busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cole misses with a body punch.
Lecter VIII landing knees to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII wants to stall.
Lecter VIII blocks a body shot from Cole.
Cole struggles to land a body shot inside as Lecter VIII controls his hands.
Cole goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Chris Cole has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hannibal Lecter VIII is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cole misses with the head strike.
The referee calls for Lecter VIII to work.
Cole has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cole swings wildly with an uppercut but Lecter VIII uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cole misses with the head strike.
Cole is trying to push Lecter VIII away but Lecter VIII has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cole misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lecter VIII throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cole misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lecter VIII works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cole tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cole tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

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 Chris Cole.
I think Lecter VIII 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hannibal Lecter VIII!
In his post fight interview, Hannibal Lecter VIII started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.