PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Cole (ranked 945 p4p, 119 weight class) and Humors Lacplesis (ranked 96 p4p, 13 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Cole
vs
Lacplesis

178 cm
26
170 lbs
9 - 2 - 1

180 cm
26
171 lbs
18 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 9 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, James Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Humors Lacplesis!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lacplesis misses with an uppercut.
A quick step to the side and Cole tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lacplesis avoids the body shot from Cole.
Lacplesis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cole.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lacplesis. Cole does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lacplesis lands a jab to the nose.
Lacplesis ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lacplesis thows a leg kick but Cole checks it
and Cole counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lacplesis misses with a straight left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cole. Lacplesis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cole looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lacplesis avoids the body shot from Cole.
Lacplesis misses with a double jab.
Cole shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Lacplesis looks to clinch
enabling Cole to counter with a crisp jab.
Lacplesis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Humors Lacplesis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cole throws a body punch but Lacplesis moves out of range.
Lacplesis's coach down at Rīga was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lacplesis's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lacplesis is looking to clinch but Cole is avoiding it.
Cole throws out a loose jab but Lacplesis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lacplesis takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Lacplesis slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cole lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lacplesis circles away quickly and effectively.
Cole sets himself, and Lacplesis steps forward looking for the clinch! Cole avoids it this time.
Cole scores with a hook to the body. Lacplesis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cole on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cole lands the left hand.
Cole throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lacplesis on the side of the head.
Lacplesis lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cole throws a body shot but no joy.
Lacplesis scores with a jab.
Nice cross by Cole.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lacplesis looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lacplesis is looking to clinch but Cole is avoiding it.
Cole misses with a body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lacplesis.
Cole tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lacplesis was well out of range. Poor timing from Cole.
Cole takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Lacplesis tries to clinch but Cole is having none of it.
Cole throwing a counter right hand but Lacplesis manages to avoid it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Lacplesis - that will leave a mark!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lacplesis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lacplesis takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lacplesis ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lacplesis wants to counter the offense by Cole and move into the clinch position.
Lacplesis misses with a jab to the body
and Lacplesis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cole scores with a nice strike.
Lacplesis throws an off balance right hand
and Cole counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lacplesis jabs at Cole's body.
A good leg kick by Lacplesis.
Lacplesis blocks a jab.
Lacplesis steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cole.
Lacplesis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lacplesis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cole throwing a counter right hand but Lacplesis manages to avoid it.
Lacplesis throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cole misses with a hook.
Lacplesis tries to close the distance and clinch but Cole swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Lacplesis has managed to clinch.
Lacplesis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Lacplesis scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cole lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole pushes Lacplesis back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cole can't find room to land a body shot as Lacplesis controls the action.
Lacplesis tries to work over Cole's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cole lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lacplesis backwards.
Cole digs a right hand underneath Lacplesis's ribcage. Lacplesis let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cole prevents a body shot from Lacplesis.
Cole blocks a body shot from Lacplesis.
Cole tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lacplesis's elbow.
Cole lands a nice uppercut.
Cole blocking some punches.
Lacplesis tries a body shot but Cole blocks it.
Cole wants to break free but Lacplesis has control.
Lacplesis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Cole drags the fight down to the ground.

Lacplesis stands and steps away. Cole gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Lacplesis getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lacplesis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lacplesis lands a leg kick that knocks Cole off balance momentarily.
Nice defenses there by Lacplesis.
Cole sets himself, and Lacplesis steps forward looking for the clinch! Cole avoids it this time.
Lacplesis loads up on a big right hand but Cole slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacplesis slips a jab from Cole.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cole misses with a jab, cross combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short right from Cole.
Lacplesis lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Cole's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cole blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Cole breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cole misses the shot to the body.
Lacplesis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cole manages to avoid it.
Lacplesis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lacplesis clinches up against the cage.
Lacplesis lands a body shot.

Cole pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters circling - Lacplesis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cole swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cole uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lacplesis has time to react.
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 James Cole 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.

Lacplesis moves away from the strike by Cole.
Lacplesis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cole appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cole on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lacplesis. Lacplesis obviously looking to wear him down.
Lacplesis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lacplesis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cole throws a looping overhand right but Lacplesis ducks down to avoid it.
Donk. Lacplesis catches Cole right on the button with a cross.
Cole lands a jab to the head.

Lacplesis drives through and clinches with Cole against the cage.
Lacplesis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lacplesis.
Lacplesis misses with a hook to the ribs.

Cole breaks from the clinch.
Lacplesis misses with an uppercut.
Cole thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lacplesis cracks Cole with a good jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lacplesis tries to clinch but Cole is having none of it.
Cole ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lacplesis moves away.
Lacplesis lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lacplesis at a distance.
Lacplesis staying out of range there.
Cole swinging wildly here.
Cole misses with an uppercut. Lacplesis saw that one coming.
Lacplesis misses with a hook to the body
and Cole counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lacplesis moves away from the strike by Cole.
Lacplesis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cole.
Cole lands the left hand.
Cole throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lacplesis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lacplesis throws a head kick that misses.
Cole throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cole lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Lacplesis looks to throw the jab but Cole is out of range.
Lacplesis fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lacplesis defending well as Cole loads up on a big left hand.
Lacplesis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cole.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lacplesis rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cole counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A low kick from Lacplesis is predictable there
letting Cole counter with a right hand.
Cole moves out of range of the strikes.
A counter left hand to the body from Cole misses its target.
Cole lands a body shot.
Cole scores with the left hand. Lacplesis knows he should have avoided that one.
Cole sizes up Lacplesis with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Lacplesis throws a body punch but Cole moves out of range.
Lacplesis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cole manages to avoid it.
Cole throws a body shot but no joy.
Cole throws a hook to the side of Lacplesis's head but Lacplesis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Lacplesis does it's job there.
Lacplesis throws out a loose jab but Cole uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cole slips a straight right by Lacplesis.
Cole thuds a left hand into Lacplesis's body.
Lacplesis misses with a hook. Cole ducked under it nicely.
Lacplesis tries to clinch up but Cole circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Cole lands with an overhand left.
Lacplesis throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cole on the side of the head.
Lacplesis throws a leg kick which misses Cole's front leg but catches the back leg as Cole tries to avoid it.
Cole throws a big shot that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Cole misses the target.
Lacplesis throws a poor cross that misses
and Cole cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lacplesis throws a head kick but Cole moves out of range.
Lacplesis misses the jab.
Cole throws a hook but Lacplesis avoids it easily.
Lacplesis chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cole scores with a jab to the body.
Lacplesis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cole.
Lacplesis looks to land a left hand but Cole moved out of range nicely.
Lacplesis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cole ducks under a wild hook from Lacplesis.
Cole is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cole connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacplesis needs to keep his hands up - Cole had a free shot at his head there.
Cole scores with a jab to the body.
Lacplesis displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cole throws out the jab.
Cole fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lacplesis misses with a head kick.
Lacplesis takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cole comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cole fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lacplesis looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lacplesis thumps Cole with a low kick.
Cole has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cole there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cole ducks under a wild hook from Lacplesis.
Cole swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cole takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice uppercut there from Lacplesis.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cole. Lacplesis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cole wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lacplesis misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Cole dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cole scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cole misses with a two punch combination.
Cole misses with a hook. Lacplesis ducked under it nicely.
Cole takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Lacplesis staying out of range there.
Lacplesis wants to counter with a clinch but Cole pushes him away.
Lacplesis waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cole.
Lacplesis throws a body kick that misses.
Cole takes a swing at Lacplesis's ribcage but misses.
Cole misses with a wild body shot.
Cole lands the left hand.
Lacplesis throws a shot from downtown. Cole moves away and avoids it.
Lacplesis paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lacplesis lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cole throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lacplesis stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lacplesis throws a jab but it's blocked by Cole.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Cole misses.
A punch combination from Cole misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lacplesis thows a body kick. Cole tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Lacplesis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cole avoids the head kick by Lacplesis.
Lacplesis ducks under a wild hook from Cole.
Cole avoids a kick to the body.
Lacplesis moves out of range of the strikes.
Lacplesis connects with a nice looking jab.
Lacplesis uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Lacplesis works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Cole throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cole tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lacplesis was well out of range. Poor timing from Cole.
Lacplesis fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cole scores with a body shot.
Lacplesis throws out a loose jab but Cole uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cole misses with a wild body shot.
Lacplesis tries to counter by closing the distance.
Lacplesis stuns Cole with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Humors Lacplesis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cole scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lacplesis in his tracks.
Cole connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lacplesis momentarily.
Lacplesis throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Cole swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lacplesis throws a solid leg kick but Cole takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Lacplesis.
Cole is looking for a counter combo.
Cole is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lacplesis has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Lacplesis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lacplesis lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lacplesis defending well as Cole loads up on a big left hand.
Lacplesis just misses with a punch to the body.
Lacplesis uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cole.
Cole misses with an uppercut.
Cole connects with a right hand. Lacplesis shakes it off.
Lacplesis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cole.
An attempted straight right counter from Cole misses the target.
Lacplesis misses with a hook.
Cole uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lacplesis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacplesis misses with a right hand
and Cole counters with a right hand to the body.
Lacplesis throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A quick step to the side and Cole tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lacplesis lands with a straight right. Cole didn't see that one coming.
Cole listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Lacplesis with a nice cross.
Cole misses with a few strikes there.
Cole fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lacplesis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cole lands a body shot.
Lacplesis rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cole counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cole dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lacplesis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cole is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Lacplesis connects with a single shot there.
Lacplesis throws a low kick, looking for Cole's leg but Cole calmly moves out of range.
Lacplesis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lacplesis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
James Cole is winning the standup battle so far.
Lacplesis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cole manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacplesis throws a body punch but Cole moves out of range.
James Cole is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cole throws a body shot but no joy.
Cole dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lacplesis throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lacplesis keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Good shot there by Cole.
Lacplesis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A leg kick checked by Cole.
Cole swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cole falls off balance throwing a combination

and Lacplesis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lacplesis.
Humors Lacplesis seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cole misses with a body punch.
Lacplesis struggles to land a body shot inside as Cole controls his hands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cole.
Cole lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cole pushes Lacplesis back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cole blocking some punches.
Cole lands a body shot in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Cole.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cole, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Cole!
James Cole bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
The defeated Humors Lacplesis had this to say: '#FREEHUMORS'.