PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Harry Ballzonya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ballzonya
vs
Cole

182 cm
26
169 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

175 cm
30
157 lbs
20 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harry Ballzonya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Hank Cole!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Russell Pearce and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ballzonya misses with a body kick.

Cole closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cole prevents Ballzonya from breaking the clinch.
Ballzonya working aggressively here.
Cole is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cole tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ballzonya's elbow.
Ballzonya tries to throw a body punch but Cole avoids it by throwing Ballzonya back against the cage.
Ballzonya lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cole is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ballzonya lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cole backwards.
Still in the clinch, Ballzonya scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ballzonya looking to slow down the pace here.
Cole misses with the head strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Cole.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballzonya blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ballzonya trying to stall but Cole improves his position.
Ballzonya blocks a body shot from Cole.
Cole is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cole trying to control the position but instead, Ballzonya has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cole into the cage.
Ballzonya throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ballzonya stalling the fight.
Cole dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ballzonya lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cole backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Ballzonya.
Cole digs a right hand into Ballzonya's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ballzonya's gas tank.
Cole working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cole tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cole lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ballzonya backwards.
Cole tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ballzonya's elbow.
Cole blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cole stalling.
Cole goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ballzonya prevents it.
Cole lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ballzonya backwards.
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's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Ballzonya has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Cole is trying to keep an underhook but Ballzonya manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballzonya thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cole's head.
Ballzonya stops Cole from getting back to his feet.
Cole is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Ballzonya throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cole wants to get back to his feet.
Ballzonya is keen to just control but Cole is a slippery customer.
Ballzonya stops Cole from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballzonya content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ballzonya passes to side control.
Ballzonya creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Cole is trying to buck Ballzonya off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballzonya throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ballzonya is looking to take a break and control but Cole is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hank Cole will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ballzonya smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Cole tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Horrible takedown by Cole or perhaps it was just good defense by Ballzonya which made him look bad.
Jab by Ballzonya.
Cole thuds his shin into the meat of Ballzonya's side.
Cole is looking to clinch.
Ballzonya misses with a right hand
and Cole counters with a two punch combo.
Cole tries to clinch but Ballzonya moves away
and Ballzonya counters with a good, hard body kick but Cole shrugs it off.
Cole tries to clinch there but Ballzonya circles away.
Cole fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cole tries to clinch there but Ballzonya circles away.
Ballzonya pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cole is looking to clinch but Ballzonya is avoiding it.
The fighters circling - Ballzonya throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cole doesn't manage to clinch there - Ballzonya circles away.
Cole throws a head kick but Ballzonya moves out of range.
Cole throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ballzonya connects with a jab.
Ballzonya fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cole shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ballzonya as he jumps to the side.
Ballzonya avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cole shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ballzonya displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cole.
Harry Ballzonya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank Cole.
Cole tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ballzonya swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cole uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ballzonya.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ballzonya.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ballzonya.
Cole shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ballzonya sprawls well. Ballzonya wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cole gets slowly back to his feet.
Ballzonya tries to score with a low kick but Cole moves his leg out of the way.
Ballzonya throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cole sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ballzonya avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cole defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ballzonya.
Ballzonya feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Coles jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ballzonya throws a right hand that misses
enabling Cole to counter with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cole moves into the clinch successfully.
Cole works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ballzonya lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cole working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cole has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ballzonya misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ballzonya.
Ballzonya is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cole misses with a punch to the body.
Ballzonya lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cole misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cole tries to work over Ballzonya's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ballzonya tries to score a body lock takedown but Cole shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ballzonya tries to break the clinch but Cole is controlling the position.

Ballzonya pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ballzonya scores with a nice strike.
Ballzonya moves away from the strike by Cole.
Cole slips under a jab from Ballzonya.
Cole lands a right hook to the body.
Cole closes the distance but Ballzonya moves to the side
and Ballzonya counters with a straight right hand.
Hank Cole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballzonya shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cole defends it nicely.
Cole shoots for a double leg takedown but Ballzonya sprawls well. He's pushed Cole's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cole gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ballzonya.
Ballzonya looks to land a right hand but Cole moved out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ballzonya.
Ballzonya misses the shot to the body.
Ballzonya goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cole misses with a two punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cole takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ballzonya. Cole does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cole ducks under a wild hook from Ballzonya.
Harry Ballzonya is winning the standup battle so far.
Ballzonya pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cole.
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 Harry Ballzonya will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cole tries to clinch but Ballzonya is having none of it.
Ballzonya swinging wildly here.
A good leg kick by Cole.
Ballzonya misses with a straight left.
Cole tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ballzonya paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cole tries to clinch there but Ballzonya circles away.
Ballzonya scores with a shot to the body.
Ballzonya throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cole is looking to clinch but Ballzonya is avoiding it.
A punch combination from Ballzonya misses.
Ballzonya lands a nice hook to Cole's body. Cole takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Cole has Ballzonya up against the cage in a clinch.
Cole stalling in the clinch.
Cole misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole throws an elbow that misses.
Cole tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ballzonya lands a nice uppercut.
Ballzonya is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cole pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ballzonya scores with a hook to the body.
Cole struggles to land a body shot inside as Ballzonya controls his hands.
Ballzonya blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ballzonya tries to stall but Cole uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Good body shot from Cole.
Ballzonya lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ballzonya creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cole as Ballzonya tries to tie him up.
Cole has a couple of punches blocked by Ballzonya.
Ballzonya misses with a body punch.
Ballzonya goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ballzonya lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Cole pushes Ballzonya back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cole misses with some punches.
Cole tries a body shot but Ballzonya blocks it.
Ballzonya lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cole lands a nice uppercut.
Ballzonya scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hank Cole seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cole blocks an uppercut.
Ballzonya content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballzonya working aggressively here.
Cole looking to stall.
Cole throws a head punch that misses.
Cole has a couple of punches blocked by Ballzonya.
Cole scores with a shoulder strike.
Ballzonya lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Hank Cole has been cut.
Cole tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ballzonya's elbow.
Ballzonya is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cole slowing the pace effectively.
Cole swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Ballzonya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jab by Cole.
Ballzonya cracks Cole with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ballzonya manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Cole has closed the distance and engaged Ballzonya in a clinch.
Cole misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ballzonya blocking some punches.
Cole tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Come on Ballzonya - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ballzonya goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cole prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harry Ballzonya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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 looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Cole manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballzonya lands an overhand right.
Ballzonya chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cole throws a chopping leg kick but Ballzonya manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ballzonya wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hank Cole.
I think Cole 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

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