PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Smith (ranked 402 p4p, 2631 weight class) and Rico Cole (ranked 60 p4p, 321 weight class). Cole comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Gerardo's Rico Suave kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Cole

176 cm
39
164
32 - 20 - 0

182 cm
44
168
39 - 23 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Determined

Carnage Clothing
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rico Cole!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cole sizes up Smith with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

It looks like James Smith has been cut.

Smith closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cole quickly recovers to half guard.
Smith with the ground and pound but Cole uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Smith works over Cole with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cole bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

Smith controlling the position.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
My spies in 3Band MMA inform me that Cole has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying to control the position.
Cole being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith controls Cole momentarily but Cole frees himself.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Cole wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cole tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.

That's two 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.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Cole is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cole sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
A little jabbing left from Cole on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cole lands the left hand.
Smith moves away from the strike by Cole.
Cole doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Cole takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cole throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Smith throws a series of strikes that have Cole backpedaling.
James Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking to score a takedown here. Cole is defending well but Smith drives through and ends up in Cole's guard.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
Cole wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

Cole is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Cole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cole's head.
Smith distracts Cole with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Cole blocks nicely.
Cole avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Cole working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cole looking for a sweep. Not yet Cole, not yet.
Cole is trying to keep Smith in close.

Cole has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Smith is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cole.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Smith's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith scores with a jab to the body.
Cole misses with a straight left.

Cole closes the distance and clinches.
Smith tries to work over Cole's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short uppercut from Cole.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
Cole prevents a body shot from Smith.
Smith lands with a left to the head.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cole's elbow.
Smith lands a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Smith lands a body punch.
Come on Smith - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cole tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Cole back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
Cole is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Smith is keeping busy.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Cole.
Cole leaning against his opponent.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cole misses with a punch on the inside.
Cole wants to stall.
Smith presses Cole against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Smith stalling in the clinch but Cole improves position.
Cole is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Smith is keeping busy.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rico Cole.
A big left from Cole misses.
Rico Cole is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Smith gets a double leg takedown into Cole's guard.

Cole looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith stays in close to Cole's body and controls the position.
Smith distracts Cole with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
James Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Cole blocks nicely.
Smith throws an elbow that misses. Cole uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Cole!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

Smith content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Cole has locked up a guillotine! Cole's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Smith is holding on here and Cole must be using up a lot of energy. Smith has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Cole gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rico Cole!
Rico Cole decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.