PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dot Cotton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezekiel Makalii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cotton comes to the cage accompanied by Thunderstruck. Makalii comes into a darkened arena with his song building. souljahs kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ezekiel Makalii has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Dot Cotton's chin.

Cotton
vs
Makalii

177 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dot Cotton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ezekiel Makalii!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cotton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Makalii wants to get back to his feet but Cotton drags him back down.
Cotton remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Cotton trying to control the position but Makalii is working away.

Cotton wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Makalii, who protects the arm well.
Makalii tries to improve position but can't.
Cotton is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Makalii tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Makalii is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makalii is not content to let Cotton control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cotton is really struggling to control Makalii but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Cotton is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Makalii is trying to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Makalii gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cotton counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotton trying to control the position but Makalii is working away.
Cotton scores with a couple of short elbows.
Makalii is trying to get back to his feet.
Cotton taking a break here but Makalii is having none of it and regains half guard.
Makalii is trying to maintain the position but Cotton is very close to passing his half guard.
Makalii looks gassed!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cotton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cotton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Makalii is defending against the submission attempts here by Cotton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotton tries to pass to full mount but Makalii defends it.
Cotton not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cotton is trying to control the action in half guard but Makalii is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Makalii moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cotton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Makalii being controlled here, momentarily.
Makalii wants to control but Cotton passes easily into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cotton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cotton uses his free foot to push down on Makalii's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Makalii.
Makalii wants to hold on but Cotton pushes him away.
Cotton with shots to the head and body - Makalii looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cotton content just to control the position here.
Cotton dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dot Cotton dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cotton tries for a takedown but Makalii circles away easily

and Makalii counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Cotton working for a triangle but Makalii defends it easily.
Makalii won't allow Cotton to sweep him here.

Cotton is working an open guard so Makalii takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cotton misses with a takedown

and Makalii counters by moving into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cotton is working for takedown but Makalii is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dot Cotton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Makalii gets control of Cotton's arms and successfully pulls guard. Makalii will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Makalii manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cotton manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotton keeping moving, preventing Makalii from controlling successfully.
Dot Cotton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cotton has a closed guard, preventing Makalii from standing up.
Cotton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cotton keeping moving, preventing Makalii from controlling successfully.
Makalii postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cotton tries for a takedown but Makalii circles away easily

and Makalii moves into the clinch.
Makalii tries to land a knee to the head but Cotton blocks with his arms.
Cotton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Makalii walks away with a smile on his face. Cotton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Makalii darts in trying to clinch

and Cotton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cotton.
Cotton wanted to stand there but Makalii had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cotton trying to control the position from guard on top but Makalii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makalii looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cotton is one step ahead there.
Makalii wants to stand up but Cotton is controlling him.
Makalii keeping moving, preventing Cotton from controlling successfully.
Makalii 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.
Makalii is looking to stand up but Cotton isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cotton sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Makalii's guard.
Makalii wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Cotton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Well, if Cotton 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.

Cotton looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Makalii regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ezekiel Makalii will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cotton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Makalii counters with a one-two to the body.
Dot Cotton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cotton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Makalii counters with a left and a right that stings Cotton.
Makalii misses with a few strikes there.

Cotton decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cotton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cotton is trying to control the action in half guard but Makalii is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Makalii is pressing down on Cotton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Makalii keeping full guard, as Cotton tries to pass.
Makalii is looking to stand up but Cotton isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makalii doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Makalii looking for subs off his back but Cotton has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cotton winds up and cracks Makalii with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Makalii wants to get back to full guard.
Cotton trying to control the pace.
Makalii is trying to control but Cotton passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Cotton tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cotton is looking to take a break and control but Makalii is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Makalii is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cotton throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Makalii is trying to control Cotton's posture but Cotton avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makalii is not content to let Cotton control the position.

Cotton is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Makalii has escaped the position, nice work there.
Makalii stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Makalii manages to get back to half guard.
Cotton is looking to take a break and control but Makalii is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Makalii moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cotton stopping the sweep attempt from Makalii.
Cotton trying to control but Makalii is working from the bottom.
Makalii wants to get back to his feet but Cotton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Makalii has an active guard here but Cotton has managed to pass into half guard.

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 Dot Cotton.
I think Cotton 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dot Cotton!