PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nico DiAngelo (ranked 2230 p4p, 5442 weight class) and Kevin Cool (ranked 265 p4p, 526 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

DiAngelo
vs
Cool

179 cm
24
165
6 - 4 - 0

165 cm
27
155
3 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nico DiAngelo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kevin Cool!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cool shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
DiAngelo regains full guard. Nicely done.
DiAngelo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cool manages to get himself to full guard.

DiAngelo is looking to work some ground and pound but Cool has wrist control.
DiAngelo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
DiAngelo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cool is keeping the position for now.

DiAngelo has gone for a leg lock! Cool slips out almost immediately though and dives into DiAngelo's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
DiAngelo keeping moving, preventing Cool from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DiAngelo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cool's guard.

Cool has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but DiAngelo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as DiAngelo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cool is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

DiAngelo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and DiAngelo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
DiAngelo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cool's head.

Cool is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. DiAngelo is aware though and is defending well.

DiAngelo drops back looking for a leg! Cool is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cool manages to kick DiAngelo off! DiAngelo jumps back into Cool's guard.

DiAngelo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

DiAngelo drops back looking for a leg! Cool is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cool manages to kick DiAngelo off! DiAngelo jumps back into Cool's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DiAngelo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

DiAngelo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
DiAngelo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
DiAngelo with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cool looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
DiAngelo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cool is keeping the position for now.
DiAngelo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
DiAngelo trying to control but Cool is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cool has his foot on DiAngelo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. DiAngelo works his way back into a safe position though.
Cool keeping moving, preventing DiAngelo from controlling successfully.
DiAngelo lands a couple of digs.
Cool lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

DiAngelo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cool is one step ahead there.
Cool would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

DiAngelo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cool doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cool manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

DiAngelo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cool gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cool trying to stand up but can't free himself from DiAngelo's guard.

DiAngelo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cool can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
DiAngelo 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cool trying to control but DiAngelo is working from the bottom.
DiAngelo wants to sweep here but Cool controlling him for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nico DiAngelo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cool.
Cool shoots in looking for a takedown. DiAngelo tries to sprawl out of it but Cool keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. DiAngelo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DiAngelo has a takedown stuffed.
Cool is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cool closes the distance and clinches.
We've been informed that Cool has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by DiAngelo as Cool tries to tie him up.
Cool tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nico DiAngelo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Cool.

Cool jumps guard.
DiAngelo is looking to pass into half guard but Cool pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cool is in guard.

DiAngelo 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.

DiAngelo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cool preventing the sweep.
DiAngelo is working hard here to advance position.

Cool got a little sloppy there for a moment and DiAngelo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cool has managed to get both his arms back between DiAngelo's legs - danger averted.

DiAngelo is looking for a triangle but Cool pushes his legs off easily.
DiAngelo keeping moving, preventing Cool from controlling successfully.
DiAngelo wants to sweep here but Cool controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cool trying to control but DiAngelo is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DiAngelo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nico DiAngelo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

DiAngelo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

DiAngelo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cool defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

DiAngelo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Cool decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

DiAngelo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

DiAngelo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cool gets full guard.
DiAngelo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
DiAngelo wants to control from the top but Cool keeps moving.

DiAngelo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

DiAngelo drops back looking for a leg! Cool is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cool manages to kick DiAngelo off! DiAngelo jumps back into Cool's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
DiAngelo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cool is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nico DiAngelo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cool pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A quick step to the side and DiAngelo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
DiAngelo tries for a takedown but Cool sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cool looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Cool doesn't manage to clinch there - DiAngelo circles away.
DiAngelo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cool sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten DiAngelo somewhat.
DiAngelo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cool doesn't manage to clinch there - DiAngelo circles away.
DiAngelo was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
DiAngelo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nico DiAngelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
DiAngelo takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
DiAngelo shoots in looking for a takedown. Cool tries to sprawl out of it but DiAngelo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cool manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cool throws a quick head kick that skims the top of DiAngelo's head.
DiAngelo moves out of range of the body kick.
A quick step to the side and DiAngelo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cool throws a head kick but DiAngelo moves out of range.
It looked like DiAngelo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Cool.
Cool stuffs the takedown.
DiAngelo has a takedown stuffed.
DiAngelo fails with the takedown.
Cool is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four 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.
DiAngelo dives in and grabs Cool's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cool pushes down on DiAngelo's head and hops out.
Cool misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
DiAngelo appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

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

DiAngelo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cool sees it coming and defends easily.
DiAngelo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cool tries to kick DiAngelo off but DiAngelo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kevin Cool has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nico DiAngelo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cool is not content to let DiAngelo control the position.

Cool looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Cool comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think DiAngelo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!