PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Zombie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cole comes to the cage accompanied by Boom. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cole
vs
Zombie

190 cm
22
207 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Das Labor
EFC Clothing

StarDust.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Cole!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Zombie!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Zombie.
Cole dodges the punch combination from Zombie.
Zombie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zombie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cole was well out of range. Poor timing from Zombie.
A good leg kick by Zombie.
Cole circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cole fails to land the takedown.
Zombie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cole swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Cole has Zombie up against the cage in a clinch.
Cole jumps guard but Zombie stands there with Cole around his waist. Cole gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Zombie wants the takedown. Cole is fighting it off but Zombie persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Cole's guard against the cage.
Cole keeping moving, preventing Zombie from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cole working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zombie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zombie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zombie wants to control from the top but Cole keeps moving.
Zombie won't allow Cole to sweep him here.
Cole is working hard here to advance position.
Zombie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Cole working for a triangle but Zombie defends it easily.
Cole doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cole keeping moving, preventing Zombie from controlling successfully.
Zombie with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zombie scores with a one two! Cole had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Cole scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zombie is trying to get back to half guard.
Cole working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The strikes coming from Cole are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cole in side control, throwing shots but Zombie defends.
Cole is putting a hurting on Zombie here, landing some big shots from side control.
Cole laying and praying for a moment but Zombie takes advantage and regains half guard.
Zombie tries to kick Cole off but Cole keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cole is pressing down on Zombie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zombie is holding on for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zombie misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ground and pound from Cole.
Zombie lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Cole wants to pass the guard but Zombie is defending well.
Cole throwing shots but Zombie is blocking nicely.
Cole lands with a punch from half guard.
Zombie is looking to control Cole's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zombie avoid being mounted?
Zombie is looking to improve his position.
Zombie moves into full guard.
Zombie can't keep his opponent in guard - Cole advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zombie has hold of Cole's hands but Cole slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cole landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cole is just content to waste time from the top position. Zombie takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cole lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cole postures up.
Cole cracks Zombie with a solid left hand.
Zombie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zombie looks gassed!
Cole looking to pass the guard.
Zombie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cole's guard.
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 Joe Cole will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zombie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cole tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zombie swivels and escapes.
Zombie misses with a double jab.
Zombie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cole clinches but Zombie breaks the clinch
and Zombie counters with a stiff right hand.
Zombie lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Cole gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cole is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zombie pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cole gets underhooks to prevent Zombie's takedown attempt.
Zombie scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cole blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cole is working for takedown but Zombie is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zombie tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cole breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cole doesn't manage to clinch there - Zombie circles away.
Zombie has his takedown stuffed
and Cole counters with a nice body kick.
Zombie is breathing heavily.
Cole tries to clinch up but Zombie circles away and keeps his distance.

Cole has Zombie up against the cage in a clinch.
Zombie has had enough of the clinch but Cole keeps him there for the moment.
Cole wants a takedown but no success here.

Zombie manages to break the clinch.
Cole shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Nice takedown defense from Cole. No joy for Zombie on that attempt.

Cole scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cole looks up at the clock and then as Zombie takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Cole smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zombie taking punishment in the form of punches.
Cole working the head with strikes.
Cole scoring with punches and elbows.
Zombie takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Cole has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cole.

Cole pushes Zombie up against the cage in a clinch.
Zombie prevents a takedown attempt there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zombie goes for a takedown attempt but Cole pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Zombie tries to clinch but Cole is having none of it.
John Zombie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zombie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zombie looks to throw the jab but Cole is out of range.
Zombie throws a leg kick but Cole sees it coming and moves out of range.

Cole feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cole working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cole postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cole has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zombie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cole stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zombie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cole scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cole scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cole pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zombie is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Joe Cole overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cole works over Zombie with some ground and pound from guard.
Cole is working Zombie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cole scoring with some ground and pound.
Cole wants to control from the top but Zombie keeps moving.
Cole distracts Zombie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cole landing with the ground and pound.
Cole makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cole landing some decent shots from guard.
Cole is in close to Zombie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cole tries for a takedown but Zombie sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cole tries to clinch there but Zombie circles away.
Zombie looks for a takedown but Cole sprawls well.
Zombie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zombie shoots for a double leg takedown but Cole sprawls well. He's pushed Zombie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zombie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cole.

Cole shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zombie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cole wants to control from the top but Zombie keeps moving.
Cole in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cole throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole chips away with some ground and pound.
Zombie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cole is one step ahead there.
Cole wants to pass the guard but Zombie is keeping the position.
Cole passes Zombie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zombie wants to control but Cole is keeping busy.
Cole throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cole looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zombie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cole working Zombie over with strikes.
Zombie wants to control but Cole is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zombie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cole scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cole prevents Zombie from improving his position.
Cole winds up and cracks Zombie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Cole is working for a submission of some sort.

Cole is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cole working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zombie is looking to control Cole's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zombie avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cole is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zombie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cole.

Zombie kicks Cole off and gets back to his feet.
Cole avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Cole closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zombie wants a takedown.
Joe Cole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Zombie.

Cole tightens his grip and picks Zombie up, before dumping him to the ground. Zombie manages to land in guard.
Cole missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zombie can't keep his opponent in guard - Cole advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cole is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zombie defends it well.
Ground and pound from Cole.
Cole prevents Zombie from improving his position.
Cole slips a nice elbow through Zombie's hands, connecting with Zombie's forehead.

Cole is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zombie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cole.
Cole is trying to control. Zombie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Cole clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cole wants to clinch.
Jab, jab by Cole - just one landing.
Cole stuffs the takedown.

Cole closes the distance and clinches.

Zombie pulls guard successfully.
Zombie managing to control the position.
Zombie trying to keep a closed guard but Cole is proving a slippery customer.
Cole postures up in Zombie's guard and throws a big left but Zombie blocks it.
Zombie is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Cole landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cole wants to stand but Zombie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cole pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zombie is keeping the position for now.
Cole postures up and lands a big shot to Zombie's brow.
Zombie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Cole gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Cole clinches up with Zombie and pushes him back against the cage.
Zombie taking a breather.
Cole wants a takedown but no success here.
Zombie is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zombie looking to throw knees to the head but Cole is blocking nicely.
Zombie stops a takedown attempt from Cole.
Cole goes for a takedown attempt but Zombie pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cole is looking to clinch but Zombie is avoiding it.
Zombie throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zombie darts in trying to clinch

and Cole counters with a shoot takedown. Zombie fights it but they end up in guard.
Cole postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cole with a nice head shot there.
Cole trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole distracts Zombie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Cole avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cole lands a couple of digs.

Cole gets to his feet - Zombie follows without any prompting.

Cole fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zombie, pushing him back against the cage.

Cole breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zombie walks into a stiff left hand from Cole.
Zombie looks to clinch

and Cole holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zombie gets underhooks to prevent Cole's takedown attempt.

Cole tightens his grip and picks Zombie up, before dumping him to the ground. Zombie manages to land in guard.
Cole throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zombie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zombie trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Zombie wants to get back to his feet but Cole is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cole landing some decent shots from guard.
Zombie is pulling down on Cole's head to control his posture.
Cole makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cole won't allow Zombie to sweep him here.
Zombie trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zombie tries to clinch there but Cole circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Cole had his way with John Zombie in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cole throws a head kick that misses.

Cole drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cole cracks Zombie with a big right hand but Zombie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Zombie struggling a bit here.
Zombie is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cole asserts his dominance and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Zombie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zombie is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Check out the look on Cole's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Cole landing a few strikes.
Cole working the body and head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Cole working the body and head with strikes.
Cole is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zombie can do to turn this around?
Zombie taking a bit of punishment here - Cole scoring with strikes.
Zombie taking a bit of punishment here - Cole scoring with strikes.
Cole is working Zombie over with some ground and pound from side control.
Cole working away.
Zombie takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Zombie tries to improve position but can't.
Cole lands a few punches from side control.
Zombie sneaks back into half guard.
Cole has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Cole connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole avoids the attempt from Zombie to control.
Cole unloading with bombs!
Zombie tries to lock up and control but Cole gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cole unloading with bombs!
A nice elbow there by Cole.
Cole scoring with strikes but Zombie is staying in there.
Cole avoids the attempt from Zombie to control.
Cole scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zombie?
Cole is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Zombie can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole lands a heavy elbow.
Cole lands a nice shot to the head.
Cole landing strikes from the mount and Zombie is in trouble!
Zombie is looking to get to half guard.
Cole landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cole dominating with strikes here.
Cole prevents Zombie from getting the reversal.
Cole lands a nice shot to the head.
Cole cracks Zombie with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Zombie tries to lock up and control but Cole gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Joe Cole is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cole landing strikes from the mount and Zombie is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zombie hang on?
Cole lands a heavy elbow.
Cole has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Zombie's face.
Cole sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cole with shots to the head and body - Zombie looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cole putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Cole content just to control the position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
John Zombie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Cole showed his dominance in that final round.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 50:45
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Cole!
Joe Cole retains his light heavyweight title!