PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bj Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riccardo Pala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cole has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Riccardo Pala enters the cage!

Cole
vs
Pala

171 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

155 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bj Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Riccardo Pala!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pala shoots in and drives through. Cole sprawls well.

Pala pushes Cole up against the cage in a clinch.
Pala scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cole is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pala to keep the fight standing.
Cole tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cole is breathing heavily.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cole has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pala after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bj Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pala is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pala content to slow the pace in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cole.
Pala pressing his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Riccardo Pala.
Pala tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cole sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pala somewhat.

Cole gets tackled into the cage by Pala. Pala maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole blocks an uppercut.
Pala lands with a light punch inside.
Pala wants to stall.

Cole is trying to trip Pala. He has hold of a leg but Pala is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cole persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Pala has eaten all the pies!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pala throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pala 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.

Pala looking for a guillotine here but Cole defends easily.
Cole trying to control the position from guard on top but Pala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pala trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pala looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cole passes into half guard.
Pala is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cole's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cole's back!
Cole rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Pala 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 wants to control but Pala is keeping busy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pala is pressing down on Cole's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cole is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pala decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Pala throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cole.
Pala shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cole defends it nicely.
Cole fails with a takedown attempt.
Cole avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pala tries to clinch but Cole moves out of range.
Pala closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cole circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pala tries to clinch up

and Cole counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cole.
Pala is stalling here.
Cole tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pala just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pala looking to stall.
Cole drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pala content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Pala tries to stall but Cole uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riccardo Pala dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cole shoots in looking for a takedown but Pala manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cole's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Horrible takedown by Pala or perhaps it was just good defense by Cole which made him look bad.
Cole swats away the attempt to clinch by Pala.
Pala closes the distance and clinches up with Cole, looking for a takedown. Pala pushes Cole against the cage but Cole circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cole moves in looking to clinch but Pala pushes him off.
Pala tries to clinch up but Cole circles away and keeps his distance.
Pala shoots in and drives through. Cole sprawls well.
Bj Cole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riccardo Pala.
Cole avoids the head kick by Pala.

Cole shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pala napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cole working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pala is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cole looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pala is trying to improve his position.

Cole working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pala tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cole wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cole is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Pala is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole taking a breather here.
Pala manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Pala looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Pala wants to control but Cole is keeping him busy.
Cole is looking for a sweep. Pala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cole is looking to escape.
Pala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cole keeps working.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Riccardo Pala hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Pala tries a head kick but it misses.
Bj Cole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cole shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pala manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Pala controls Cole momentarily but Cole frees himself.
Cole is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pala wants to get back to his feet but Cole is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Cole decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cole stuffs the takedown attempt from Pala. Pala gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pala misses with a wild combination.
Pala looks for a takedown but Cole sprawls well.

Cole pushes Pala up against the cage in a clinch.
Pala swings wildly with an uppercut but Cole uses good head movement to avoid it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pala misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bj Cole dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Cole manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pala on his heels. He'll look to pass Pala's guard now, I'm sure.
Cole won't allow Pala to sweep him here.
Pala trying to control the position.
Cole stopping the sweep attempt from Pala.
Cole trying to control the position from guard on top but Pala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pala wants to get back to his feet but Cole is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pala throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pala swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pala wants to sweep here but Cole controlling him for the moment.
Cole tries to free his leg and advance position but Pala is retaining full guard.
Bj Cole 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.
Pala shoots for a double leg takedown but Cole sprawls well. He's pushed Pala's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cole misses with a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Pala as Cole shoots in.
Pala moves in looking to clinch but Cole pushes him off.
Pala tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cole manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Pala or perhaps it was just good defense by Cole which made him look bad.

Cole shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pala's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole preventing the sweep.

Cole decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Pala, up you get!
Cole shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pala as he jumps to the side.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pala throws a head kick but Cole moves out of range.

Cole has Pala up against the cage in a clinch.
Pala trying to stall but Cole improves his position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pala shoots in and drives through. Cole sprawls well.
Bj Cole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riccardo Pala.
Pala dodges the punch combination from Cole.
Pala looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cole is fending him off so far but Pala persists. Nope, Cole circles away and we're back to standing.
Pala tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cole swivels and escapes.
Pala takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pala scores with a jab to the body.

Cole fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pala sprawls well initially but Cole persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cole looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Cole trying to control the action but Pala is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pala is trying to stand.
Pala is trying to escape back to his feet but Cole uses the scramble to pass into side control.
You can see the frustration on Pala's face as Cole controls the position.
Pala wants to control but Cole postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pala is looking for a sweep.
Cole will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pala bucks up and tries to throw Cole off but instead Cole has got his back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cole controlling well, preventing Pala from escaping the position.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Cole.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bj Cole showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

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