PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rico Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hotaka Yoshida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshida has chosen Arsone as his entrance music. Rico Cole has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cole
vs
Yoshida

182 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

167 cm
20
156 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Determined

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 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Rico Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hotaka Yoshida!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yoshida throws a leg kick
enabling Cole to counter with a crisp jab.
Yoshida throws a sloppy head kick and Cole moves out of range easily.
Yoshida throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cole comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cole lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Yoshida has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Yoshida and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Yoshida doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cole throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice sprawl there from Cole as Yoshida shoots in.
Cole throws a shot from downtown. Yoshida moves away and avoids it.
Cole just misses with a punch to the body.
Yoshida is trying to counter with his kicks.
Yoshida tries to score with a low kick but Cole moves his leg out of the way.
Cole is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Yoshida looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Yoshida gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cole.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole connects with a right hand. Yoshida shakes it off.
Yoshida throws a head kick that misses
and Cole counters with a nice kick to the body.
Yoshida throws a body kick that misses.
Cole throws a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cole fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Yoshida.

Yoshida shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole managing to control the position.
Cole keeping full guard, as Yoshida tries to pass.
Cole has his hands on Yoshida's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yoshida is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Yoshida trying to control the position from guard on top but Cole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yoshida is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cole wants to sweep but no luck.
Yoshida trying to control but Cole is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yoshida throws a head kick but Cole moves out of range.
It looked like Cole wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Yoshida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Yoshida misses with a low kick.
Yoshida tries to land a body kick
and Cole counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yoshida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yoshida feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cole's calf.
Yoshida lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Yoshida.
Yoshida will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A counter left hand to the body from Cole misses its target.
Cole thuds his right hand into Yoshida's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cole throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cole moves out of range as Yoshida throws a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Cole blocks the leg kick.
Cole fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yoshida. That's going to slow Cole down.
Cole stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cole wants it to stay on the feet.
Rico Cole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hotaka Yoshida.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Yoshida.
Cole can't do much from the bottom here.
Yoshida controlling the position from side mount.
Yoshida wants to control but Cole is keeping him busy.
Cole is trying to escape the position but Yoshida is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cole is being controlled here.
Cole tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yoshida wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Yoshida controls the position.
Cole sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Yoshida is trying to work for a kimura but Cole is defending well.
Yoshida wants to free his trapped foot but Cole is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rico Cole will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cole's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A head kick misses from Yoshida.
Yoshida finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cole goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Yoshida lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cole throws a big shot that misses.
Cole misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yoshida throws a body shot but no joy.
Rico Cole is winning the standup battle so far.
Yoshida misses with a combination
letting Cole counter with a right hand.
Cole is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Yoshida throws a sloppy head kick and Cole moves out of range easily.
Cole bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Yoshida's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good leg kick by Yoshida there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Yoshida misses with a leg kick
and Cole counters with a straight right hand.
Yoshida throws out a loose jab but Cole uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cole seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Yoshida wants to land a leg kick but Cole is out of range.
Yoshida throws a front kick aimed at Cole's knee but Cole avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida throws a leg kick
and Cole counters with a nice uppercut.
A big right from Cole misses.
Yoshida defending well as Cole loads up on a big left hand.
Yoshida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cole loads up on a big right hand but Yoshida slips the punch.
Yoshida misses with a leg kick
and Cole counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Yoshida shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cole throws a low kick but it's checked well by Yoshida.
Yoshida lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cole at a distance.

Cole gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Yoshida preventing the sweep.
Yoshida trying to control the position from guard on top but Cole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cole tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cole looking for a sweep. Not yet Cole, not yet.
Yoshida pushes down on Cole's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cole trying to control but Yoshida postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida slows the pace down in half guard.
Cole has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yoshida is working away from the top position though.
Yoshida passes to full mount!
Cole tries to hold on but Yoshida postures up.
Cole is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Cole is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cole working to try and regain half guard.
Yoshida trying to control but Cole is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yoshida looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hotaka Yoshida will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Cole. Yoshida does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yoshida ducks under a wild hook from Cole.
It looks like Cole has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Yoshida walks into a straight right hand from Cole.
Cole checks the leg kick nicely there.
Yoshida takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Yoshida swings for the body but Cole moves out of range.
Yoshida checks a leg kick nicely.
Cole throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cole looks to land a left hand but Yoshida moved out of range nicely.
Cole looks to land a right hand but Yoshida moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yoshida throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cole lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cole throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cole moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Yoshida motions for Cole to come forward. Yoshida throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole lands a body shot.
Yoshida just misses with a punch to the body.
Yoshida throws a chopping leg kick but Cole manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Yoshida finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cole misses with a body kick.
Cole goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rico Cole is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yoshida takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Yoshida pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A little feinted left hand from Cole on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cole throws a hook to the side of Yoshida's head but Yoshida sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Some wild striking there from Cole.
A slow jab from Yoshida misses its intended target.

Yoshida shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cole is trying to defend but Yoshida finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cole tries to roll over but Yoshida keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Yoshida is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cole keeping hold of Yoshida's head, controlling as best he can.
Yoshida stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cole keeps working.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cole wants to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Yoshida seems content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cole connects with a body shot.
Cole throws a body kick that misses
and Yoshida counters with a thumping low kick.
Yoshida walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Cole checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Cole swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Yoshida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Yoshida throws a body shot but no joy.
Cole looks to land a body kick but Yoshida moved away.
Yoshida throws a big counter head kick but Cole avoids it with no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole blocks a leg kick.
Yoshida throws a looping overhand right but Cole ducks down to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Yoshida.
Cole throws a body shot but no joy.
Cole buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cole misses with the combination.
Yoshida walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Yoshida throws a sloppy head kick and Cole moves out of range easily.
Nice body kick there by Cole.
Yoshida throws a low kick, looking for Cole's leg but Cole calmly moves out of range.
Yoshida tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cole is able to avoid easily.
Yoshida moves out of range of the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

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