PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darren Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Kota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darren Cole looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Cole
vs
Kota

190 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

MMA's Best Nutrition
Combat Pro Design

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Darren Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Kota!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cole is looking to clinch but Kota is avoiding it.
Kota tries to clinch but Cole moves away

and Cole counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kota!
Kota wants to control but Cole is having none of it.
Kota holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cole tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cole with good strikes from the mount here!
Kota wants to hold on but Cole pushes him away.
Kota is squirming around, avoiding Cole's attempts to control the action.
Kota is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cole prevents Kota from getting the reversal.
Kota blocking the ground and pound.
Kota regains half guard.
Cole is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kota tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Cole has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Kota takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Cole can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kota is looking to escape.
Kota is working to get back to half guard.
Kota tries to hold on but Cole pushes him away.
Kota can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kota tries to lock up and control but Cole gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Cole stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Kota darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cole is staying active underneath Kota, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kota not doing much here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cole is refusing to be controlled, as Kota sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kota pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cole is keeping the position for now.
Kota is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kota must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Cole looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cole doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cole keeping moving, preventing Kota from controlling successfully.
Kota stands up over Cole, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Kota gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cole blocks a head kick by Kota.

Kota closes the distance and clinches.
Cole has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kota avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Kota breaks from the clinch.
Kota with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cole counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kota trying to control but Cole postures up.
Kota is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kota looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kota wants to clinch but Cole slips to the side

and Cole counters with a single leg into guard. Kota didn't expect that.
Kota is trying to control the position but Cole postures up.
Cole looking to sit in guard and control but Kota gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cole can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kota controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cole has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kota has passed into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cole is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kota wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cole keeps working.
Cole is trying to get back to his feet.

Kota stands up.
Kota gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Cole counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cole makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Kota pushes Cole off and gets back to his feet.
Kota throws a right hand that Cole ducks under and follows up with a left that Cole also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole fails in his attempt to clinch.
A left and a right from Kota both land. Nice combination.
Kota misses with the combination.
Cole has his takedown stuffed

and Kota holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Cole breaks the clinch.
Kota tries to clinch up.

Kota rushes Cole and presses him up against the cage.
Cole working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Kota.
Kota is trying to maintain a safe position but Cole gets an underhook and turns Kota into the cage.

Kota pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kota.

Kota tries for a kimura but Cole is defending well.
Cole sneaks back into half guard.
Kota perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kota wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kota seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cole does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cole tries to get to full guard but Kota has control of the leg.
Cole is working hard here to advance position.
Kota wants to take a breather but Cole is having none of it.
Kota is pressing down on Cole's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cole is holding on for now.
Kota prevents Cole from improving his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cole throws a big shot that misses.
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 Darren Cole will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Cole tries to clinch up
and Kota counters with a three punch combo that has Cole backing up. Cole nods at Kota to acknowledge the strikes.
Cole tries to clinch
and Kota counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cole blocks a head kick by Kota.

Kota has closed the distance and engaged Cole in a clinch.
Kota prevents the takedown attempt.

Kota successfully pulls guard.
Kota wants to sweep but no luck.
Cole trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kota's guard.
Darren Cole overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cole being controlled here momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kota looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cole is one step ahead there.
Kota keeping moving, preventing Cole from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kota can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kota is looking to stand up but Cole isn't so interested in that idea.
Cole trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cole trying to control the position from guard on top but Kota is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kota moves into the clinch.

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.
Kota manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Cole pulls guard.

Cole working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kota has passed into half guard!

Cole looking for submissions off his back.

Kota is trying to work for a kimura but Cole is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole is refusing to be controlled, as Kota sits in half guard.

Cole looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kota is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Darren Cole is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kota scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cole?
Cole is trying to stand up.

That's four 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 tries to improve his position but instead Kota has taken his back!
Cole trying to control the action but Kota just sinks the hooks in.

Kota looking for the choke but no joy.
Cole trying to control the action but Kota just sinks the hooks in.
Matt Kota has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cole defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Kota comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

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