PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Battle (ranked 4211 p4p, 420 weight class) and Ura Cone (ranked 4487 p4p, 435 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Battle
vs
Cone

200 cm
25
268 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

150 cm
25
278 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Battle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ura Cone!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Joseph Jones and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cone closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Battle is looking to get back to is feet but Cone passes into side control.

Cone tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Battle gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cone is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cone trying to control the action but Battle is working from the bottom.
Battle tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Cone manages to move to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cone is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Battle can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Battle on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Battle tries to get out of the position.
Cone tries to control but Battle wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Battle throwing hammer fists to the chest of Cone. What's that going to do exactly?
Cone tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Battle working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Battle bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Battle wants to control from the top but Cone keeps moving.
Cone working a defensive guard here.

Battle drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cone dives on top into guard.

Cone trying to control but Battle is working from the bottom.
Cone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Battle looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cone puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Battle missing with punches from the bottom.
Cone passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cone trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Battle tries to hold on but Cone pushes him away.
Battle is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cone can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Battle is looking to escape.
Battle is looking to get to half guard.
Cone pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Battle takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Battle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cone tries to control but Battle wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ura Cone dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Battle avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cone tries to clinch up.
Battle tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cone sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Battle somewhat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Battle.
Cone trying to remain calm as Battle controls from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cone can't do much from the bottom here.
Cone might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Battle haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cone tries to improve position but can't.
Battle tries to stand but Cone is controlling his head.

Battle has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Battle misses with a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cone! But no joy.

Battle gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Battle has been working on his balance at Vinny’s Gym *MLC sponsored gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Cone.

Battle jumps guard and drags Cone to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Battle wants to stand up but Cone is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cone wants to pass the guard but Battle is keeping the position.
Battle striking from the bottom here.

Battle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cone is aware though and is defending well.
Battle working a defensive guard here.
Cone prevents Battle from getting back to his feet.
Battle will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Battle can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cone controls the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Battle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cone has closed the distance and engaged Battle in a clinch.
Cone's coach down at Vinny’s Gym *MLC sponsored gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Cone's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cone utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Cone'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.
Cone jumps guard but Battle turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
The referee is keeping an eye on Battle - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A frustrated look appears on Battle's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Battle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cone gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Battle regains guard.
Battle keeping moving, preventing Cone from controlling successfully.
Battle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cone is controlling him.
Battle trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cone trying to control the position from guard on top but Battle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cone throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cone won't allow Battle to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ura Cone will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cone is looking to clinch but Battle is avoiding it.
Battle wants to clinch up but Cone keeps it at a distance.
Cone stuffs the takedown.

Cone closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Battle is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cone's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cone is pressing down on Battle's thigh, looking to free his foot. Battle is holding on for now.
Battle is concentrating on defense, preventing Cone from advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cone is thwarting Battle's attempts to control the position.
Battle is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battle is working hard here to advance position.
Battle is holding on to half guard well.
Battle is trying to stand back up but Cone is controlling him
Battle wants to control but Cone is keeping busy.
Battle taking some punishment here, with Cone in his half guard.
Cone perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cone is thwarting Battle's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Battle pushes Cone off looking to stand but Cone dives back in and keeps control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Battle fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cone avoids it really well and circles away.
Battle will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cone changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Battle tries to avoid it but Cone manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Battle to the ground. Battle escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Cone looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Cone wants to work for an arm triangle but Battle is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle is staying active underneath Cone, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Battle trying to control but Cone postures up.
Battle is trying to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Cone.
Cone scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Battle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cone keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Cone is working for a submission of some sort.
Cone is trying to control the action in half guard but Battle is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Battle pushes Cone off looking to stand but Cone dives back in and keeps control.

Cone is looking for a kimura here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cone wants to work for an arm triangle but Battle is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ura Cone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cone 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ura Cone!