PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sampist Opasniy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bj Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Opasniy
vs
Cole

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
27
145 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sampist Opasniy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bj Cole!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cole pushes Opasniy up against the cage in a clinch.

Cole gets control of Opasniy's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cole will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cole keeping full guard, as Opasniy tries to pass.

Opasniy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cole looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cole is controlling Opasniy's posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cole can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cole is trying to keep Opasniy in close.
Cole wants to sweep here but Opasniy controlling him for the moment.
Cole pulls Opasniy in close to his closed guard and prevents Opasniy from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cole really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Opasniy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bj Cole wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cole swinging wildly here.
Cole throws a combination. Opasniy tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Opasniy gets caught flat footed, as Cole shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Opasniy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cole gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Opasniy has his foot on Cole's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cole works his way back into a safe position though.
Opasniy is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole wants to control from the top but Opasniy keeps moving.
Cole must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Opasniy looking for a guillotine here but Cole defends easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Opasniy keeping full guard, as Cole tries to pass.
Cole wants to control from the top but Opasniy keeps moving.
Opasniy can't keep his opponent in guard - Cole advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Cole.
Cole is looking to take a break and control but Opasniy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cole throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Opasniy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Opasniy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Cole stands up and beckons Opasniy to join him on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cole has taken the fight to the clinch.

Cole decides to pull guard.
Opasniy trying to move into half guard but instead Cole has managed to sweep!
Cole trying to control the position from guard on top but Opasniy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cole connects with a couple of short punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cole stands and throws Opasniy's legs to the side, diving into side control.
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!
Opasniy seems a little lost for a moment, as Cole dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bj 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.

Opasniy with a poor takedown
and Opasniy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Cole closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Cole is trying to trip Opasniy. He has hold of a leg but Opasniy is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cole persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Cole stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Opasniy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Opasniy looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Cole has picked Opasniy up and slammed him! Opasniy can't keep hold of the triangle and Cole manages to pass to side control!
Opasniy tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Cole presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Opasniy is squirming around, avoiding Cole's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Opasniy sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cole trying to control from half guard but Opasniy is working away.
Opasniy tries to roll over but Cole keeps him under control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Opasniy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cole stalling.
Bj Cole has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Opasniy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cole trying to control from half guard but Opasniy is working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bj Cole.
Opasniy fails with the takedown

and Cole counters with a nice double leg into side control. Opasniy won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cole has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cole fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Opasniy, pushing him back against the cage.

Cole's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Opasniy fails with the takedown

and Cole holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sampist Opasniy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cole trying to land knees to the body.
Opasniy wants a takedown but no success here.

Cole has Opasniy pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cole pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Opasniy tumbling to the mat - Cole dives into Opasniy's guard.
Cole connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Opasniy's head.
Cole content to stall in guard here.
Cole passes Opasniy's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cole prevents Opasniy from improving his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cole content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Opasniy looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bj Cole showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Opasniy gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cole controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Opasniy working for a triangle but Cole defends it easily.
Cole is working Opasniy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that Cole has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bj Cole.

Cole darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cole is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cole seems to be looking for submissions.
Cole sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Opasniy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opasniy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cole seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Opasniy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Opasniy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cole looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Cole stands up from half guard.
Cole attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bj Cole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cole drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cole landing with the ground and pound.

Opasniy working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cole has passed into half guard!
Cole keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sampist Opasniy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bj Cole is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cole wants to stand up but Opasniy has a hold of him and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bj Cole comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cole has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

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