PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cole Reynolds (ranked 120 p4p, 16 weight class) and Evgeni Lomachenko (ranked 534 p4p, 60 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Evgeni Lomachenko was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Reynolds
vs
Lomachenko

173 cm
29
145 lbs
15 - 4 - 1

168 cm
34
144 lbs
21 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cole Reynolds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Evgeni Lomachenko!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lomachenko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Reynolds tries to avoid it but Lomachenko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Reynolds to the ground. Reynolds escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lomachenko is defended easily by Reynolds.
Reynolds stuffs the takedown.
Reynolds thinks about countering with a head kick.
Cole Reynolds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Lomachenko.
Lomachenko throws a hook to the side of Reynolds's head but Reynolds sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
It looked like Reynolds wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Reynolds slips a straight right by Lomachenko.
Reynolds quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
We've been told by Reynolds's head coaches at Seppes Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Lomachenko scores with a jab.
Lomachenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
It looked like Reynolds wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lomachenko rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Reynolds cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lomachenko moves away from the strike by Reynolds.

Lomachenko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Reynolds on his heels. He'll look to pass Reynolds's guard now, I'm sure.
Lomachenko wants to pass the guard but Reynolds is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lomachenko postures up in Reynolds's guard and throws a big left but Reynolds blocks it.
Reynolds is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Lomachenko throws an elbow that misses. Reynolds uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lomachenko's guard. Nice move by Reynolds!

Reynolds has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Reynolds sitting in guard here, content to control.
Reynolds looking to pass the guard.

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.
Reynolds is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Reynolds stands up and waves to Lomachenko to follow him.
Reynolds takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lomachenko shoots for a takedown but Reynolds saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lomachenko throws a hook to the side of Reynolds's head but Reynolds sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Reynolds is looking to counter punch.
Lomachenko fails with the takedown
and Reynolds counters with a good, hard body kick but Lomachenko shrugs it off.
Lomachenko swings away with a body shot that misses
and Reynolds connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lomachenko shoots in for a double leg but Reynolds sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lomachenko has a takedown stuffed.
Lomachenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Reynolds counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Reynolds moves out of range of the strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Reynolds on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Reynolds 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.
Reynolds bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lomachenko's head backwards.
Lomachenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reynolds's waist but Reynolds gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lomachenko off to one side.
An attempted straight right counter from Reynolds misses the target.
A left lands for Lomachenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lomachenko with a lazy takedown attempt
and Reynolds counters with a stiff right hand.
Lomachenko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reynolds was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Reynolds doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lomachenko misses with a hook. Reynolds ducked under it nicely.
Evgeni Lomachenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lomachenko swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Reynolds counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lomachenko fails with the takedown
and Reynolds counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Lomachenko is rocked!
Reynolds is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nice sprawl there from Reynolds as Lomachenko shoots in.

Reynolds gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lomachenko to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Reynolds is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Reynolds enables Lomachenko to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Reynolds manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Reynolds is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Lomachenko dives into side control.

Lomachenko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Lomachenko goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Reynolds has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Lomachenko but great work by Reynolds.
Reynolds tries to move into full mount but can't pass Lomachenko's legs.
Reynolds controls the position.
Lomachenko wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Reynolds moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Reynolds is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lomachenko can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lomachenko manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Reynolds tries to kick Lomachenko off but Lomachenko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Reynolds wants to get back to full guard.
Lomachenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Reynolds has his hands clasped together around Lomachenko's back. He's all about the action.
Lomachenko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Reynolds makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A jab from Lomachenko misses.
Reynolds jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lomachenko cracks Reynolds with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Lomachenko lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Reynolds. No joy for Lomachenko on that attempt.
Reynolds swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lomachenko shoots in but Reynolds avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Reynolds was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Reynolds keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big left from Lomachenko misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reynolds clobbers Lomachenko with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Reynolds keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Reynolds on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lomachenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Reynolds lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Cole Reynolds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Lomachenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lomachenko gets the takedown into side control.

Reynolds bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Lomachenko throws a sloppy body shot
and Reynolds counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Lomachenko dives in for a single leg takedown but Reynolds sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Reynolds was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lomachenko throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Reynolds makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Lomachenko really felt that one!
Lomachenko is breathing heavily.
Lomachenko with a nice cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lomachenko ducks under a wild hook from Reynolds.
Lomachenko misses with a takedown attempt
and Reynolds connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lomachenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Reynolds counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds misses with a hook. Lomachenko ducked under it nicely.
Reynolds steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lomachenko.
Cole Reynolds is winning the standup battle so far.
Lomachenko with a lazy takedown attempt
and Reynolds counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lomachenko is still on wobbly legs! Can Reynolds finish him?
A swing and a miss from Lomachenko.
A little feinted left hand from Reynolds on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A shot to the body from Lomachenko misses
and Reynolds counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Reynolds darts in and lands a big hook, right on the button! Lomachenko's legs crumble underneath him as he falls to the canvas! The ref tackles Reynolds before he gets to land any more shots to his stricken foe.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Cole Reynolds!
Cole Reynolds decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.