PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neil Cole (ranked 23905 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Ajan (ranked 4860 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cole
vs
Ajan

206 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

200 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

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 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Neil Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ali Ajan!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ajan throws a right hand that misses

and Cole counters by clinching up.

Ajan has picked Cole up - he's going for a ride! Ajan dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Cole regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ajan.
Ajan being controlled here momentarily.
Cole continues to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole keeping full guard, as Ajan tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cole seems keen to control Ajan's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajan trying to control but Cole is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cole pulls Ajan in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ajan lands with a shot to the body.

Ajan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cole to the mat! Cole manages to get full guard.
Ajan looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole 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.
Ajan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cole pulls Ajan in close to prevent any damage.
Ajan wants to get up but he can't break Cole's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cole bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ajan's guard.

Cole slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Cole gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Ajan manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cole on his heels. He'll look to pass Cole's guard now, I'm sure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ajan manages to get himself to full guard.

Cole controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Cole stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Cole manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ajan on his heels. He'll look to pass Ajan's guard now, I'm sure.
Ajan is looking to stand back up but Cole counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ajan.

Cole takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cole controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cole stands up out of the half guard.

Cole closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ajan to the mat! Ajan manages to get full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cole seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Neil Cole will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ajan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Cole is trying is best to control the position here.
Cole regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ajan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ajan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ajan is breathing heavily.
Cole is controlling Ajan's posture.
Ajan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajan trying to control but Cole is working from the bottom.
Cole controlling Ajan's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Cole looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ajan is looking to stand back up but Cole counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ajan.

Cole content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cole connects with a nice short shot to Ajan's temple.
Still in half guard, Cole seems content to control.

Cole is working for a submission of some sort.

Cole gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Cole scores with a takedown into Ajan's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cole seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ajan for as long as he can get away with.
Cole is working Ajan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ajan looking to control but Cole passes into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cole stalling.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Cole.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil Cole dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ajan enables Cole to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ajan manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cole preventing the sweep.
Cole's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
More hug and hope from Cole.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole stopping the sweep attempt from Ajan.
Ajan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cole controls the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ajan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Neil Cole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cole looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Ajan!
Ajan tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Cole controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cole sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Ajan taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Neil Cole!