PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Cole (ranked 157 p4p, 27 weight class) and Basten Sodergren (ranked 210 p4p, 33 weight class). Cole's entrance music is I Won't Back Down. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cole
vs
Sodergren

175 cm
32
200 lbs
31 - 14 - 0

180 cm
35
192 lbs
35 - 15 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 31 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 15 - 1, fighting out of New York, Basten Sodergren!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cole getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sodergren lands a jab to the nose.
Cole is looking to clinch but Sodergren is avoiding it.
Sodergren scores with a nice right hand.
Sodergren throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cole.
Cole looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sodergren scores with a jab to the body.
Sodergren ducks under a wild hook from Cole.
Cole moves to clinch but Sodergren breaks away
and Sodergren cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sodergren missing with a left hand there. Cole was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cole feinted with a counter takedown.
Cole connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nice sprawl there from Sodergren as Cole shoots in.
Sodergren looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cole throws a body punch but Sodergren moves out of range.
Sodergren lands a nice shot that snaps Cole's head back.
Sodergren ducks under a wild hook from Cole.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sodergren.
Basten Sodergren is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cole throws a series of strikes that have Sodergren backpedaling.
Sodergren misses with a straight left.
Cole keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cole wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Cole connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sodergren. Sodergren circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sodergren scores with a jab to the head.

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

Sodergren pushes Cole off and gets back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sodergren connects with a leg kick. Cole looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cole with a hook.
Cole blocks a jab.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sodergren, as that shot connected.
Both fighters circling a little - Sodergren finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sodergren throws a shot from downtown. Cole moves away and avoids it.
Sodergren jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cole looks to score with a jab to the body but Sodergren is just out of range.
Sodergren ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cole moves away.
Cole is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sodergren.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sodergren - that will leave a mark!
Sodergren swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sodergren misses with a body shot.
Sodergren shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cole shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sodergren sprawls well. Sodergren wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cole gets slowly back to his feet.
Cole is looking to clinch but Sodergren is avoiding it.
Cole misses with a body punch
and Sodergren counters with a good low kick that Cole was not able to check.
Sodergren throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sodergren throws a body shot but no joy.
Sodergren finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Sodergren closes the distance and pushes Cole back into the cage.
Sodergren tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cole misses with a punch on the inside.
Cole fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cole throws a punch but it's blocked by Sodergren.
Cole misses with some punches.
Sodergren misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Sodergren breaks the clinch.
Cole paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sodergren lands a glancing blow to the side of Cole's head.
Cole is looking to clinch.
Sodergren scores with a leg kick.
Cole takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sodergren.
Sodergren lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cole lands with a straight right. Sodergren didn't see that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cole. Sodergren does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cole takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cole checks a leg kick.
Cole shoots in for a double leg but Sodergren sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sodergren steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cole.
A little jabbing left from Sodergren on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cole stalks Sodergren and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sodergren's face. Sodergren staggers backwards, shaken.
Cole misses with a wild combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sodergren keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sodergren connects with a crisp jab.
Sodergren lands a slapping body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Basten Sodergren dominated that round.
That's time! Cole's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sodergren moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sodergren misses with a low kick as Cole jumps back.
Sodergren throws a chopping leg kick but Cole manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sodergren misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cole is looking to clinch but Sodergren is avoiding it.
Basten Sodergren seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sodergren throws out a powerful jab.

Cole is rocked!
A chopping leg kick lands by Sodergren.
Sodergren lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cole's sensitive parts.
Sodergren rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cole moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sodergren throws a head kick that misses
and Cole counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice shot by Cole.
Cole misses the shot to the body.
Sodergren swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Basten Sodergren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sodergren throws a leg kick but Cole moved away.
Cole appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cole misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sodergren lands with an uppercut that bounces Cole off the cage and back into range.
Sodergren paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Oh Cole is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cole misses with a body punch
and Sodergren counters with a right, left combo that wobbles Cole badly! Sodergren follows up with a massive right hook, straight to the bridge of the nose that knocks Cole out cold! Oh wow, what a finish! Very reminiscent of Koscheck vs Yoshida as Sodergren finished him against the cage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Basten Sodergren!
During a confident post fight interview, Basten Sodergren thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.