PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomi's entrance music is Scary. A fine choice. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gomi
vs
Cole

173 cm
28
168 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

175 cm
30
157 lbs
21 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Hank Cole!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Roberts and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Cole with that takedown attempt.
Gomi throws an off balance right hand
and Cole counters with a series of strikes. Gomi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gomi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cole.
Cole tries to clinch up.
Cole moves out of range of the strikes.
Gomi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Cole has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cole lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cole working aggressively here.
Cole tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cole lands a shoulder strike.
Cole tries to work over Gomi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gomi is trying to force a seperation but Cole has the dominant position.
Gomi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cole tries a knee to the head but Gomi blocks it.
Cole missing with knees to the body.
Cole lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi is trying to break free.
Cole scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cole manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cole misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cole misses with a body punch.

Gomi manages to break the clinch.
Cole drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Gomi lands the left hand.
Cole fails with a takedown attempt.
Cole darts in trying to clinch
and Gomi counters with a nice body shot.
Cole keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cole rushes Gomi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gomi working hard to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gomi working hard to break the clinch.
Gomi trying to land knees to the body.
Gomi cracks Cole with a nice body shot.
Cole lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gomi is trying to push Cole away but Cole has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gomi.
Cole leaning his opponent against the cage.
Gomi stalling in the clinch but Cole improves position.
Gomi blocks a body shot from Cole.
Cole lands a left hand.
Cole keeps control of Gomi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cole stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi wants to break free but Cole has control.
Cole lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gomi backwards.
Gomi is trying to break the clinch but Cole has him pressed against the cage.
Cole trying to stall but Gomi improves his position.
Gomi is trying to stall.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cole - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Gomi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cole has him pressed against the cage.
Cole lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cole stalling in the clinch but Gomi improves position.
Gomi stalling against the cage.
Cole is looking to control Gomi's arms but Gomi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cole has his back to the cage.
Gomi is trying to maintain a safe position but Cole gets an underhook and turns Gomi into the cage.
Cole tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi blocks the elbow strike.
Gomi blocks a body shot from Cole.
Gomi works on Cole's body with a couple of short punches.
Cole misses with a punch on the inside.

Gomi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cole closes the distance but Gomi moves to the side
and Gomi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Gomi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gomi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cole's head.
Cole shoots in and drives through. Gomi sprawls well.
Takanori Gomi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank Cole.
Cole feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gomi's calf.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cole takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gomi misses with a body shot

and Cole counters by clinching up.
Gomi wants to get back to striking at distance but Cole won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hank Cole will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gomi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cole defends it nicely.
Cole fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cole doesn't manage to clinch there - Gomi circles away.
Cole is looking to clinch but Gomi is avoiding it.
Cole lands a nice hook to Gomi's body. Gomi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cole tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gomi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gomi takes a swing at Cole's ribcage but misses.
Gomi misses with a hook
and Cole cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cole fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gomi connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Gomi crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cole - the referee stops the clock and Gomi gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cole. Gomi manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Gomi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cole can pounce on him.
Cole avoids the body shot from Gomi.
Takanori Gomi is winning the standup battle so far.
Cole tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gomi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gomi has a takedown stuffed.
Gomi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cole lands a leg kick that knocks Gomi off balance momentarily.
Gomi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cole.
Gomi keeps the fight on the outside.
Cole is looking to clinch but Gomi is avoiding it.
Cole ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gomi keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gomi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cole tries to clinch but Gomi moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cole takes the fight into the clinch.
Cole can't find room to land a body shot as Gomi controls the action.
Cole misses with some punches.
Cole working aggressively here.
Gomi looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cole scores with a hook to the body.
Cole is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gomi is defending well for now.
Gomi can't get the takedown.
Cole tries to throw a body punch but Gomi avoids it by throwing Cole back against the cage.
Cole misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gomi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole tries a body shot but Gomi blocks it.
Gomi blocking some punches.
Cole lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gomi misses with a knee to the head.
Cole swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cole misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cole scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cole scores with a shot to the side of Gomi's head.
Gomi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A nice left hand lands by Cole.
Cole stalling in the clinch.
Gomi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cole is defending well.
Cole is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gomi is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cole just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gomi's brow.
Gomi trying to control the position but instead, Cole has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gomi into the cage.
Gomi wants to break free but Cole has control.
Cole has a couple of punches blocked by Gomi.
Cole tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gomi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cole pulls his leg out and moves away.

Cole closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cole presses Gomi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Gomi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cole is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Cole showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gomi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cole.
Gomi misses with a straight left.
Cole ducks under a wild hook from Gomi.
Gomi closes the distance and clinches up with Cole, looking for a takedown. Gomi pushes Cole against the cage but Cole circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cole tries to close the distance and clinch but Gomi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hank Cole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gomi looks to score with a jab to the body but Cole is just out of range.
Cole ducks right into an uppercut from Gomi.
Cole throws a body punch but Gomi moves out of range.
Gomi connects with a right hand. Cole shakes it off.
Nice sprawl there from Cole as Gomi shoots in.
Cole shoots for a double leg takedown but Gomi sprawls well. He's pushed Cole's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cole is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi takes one to the side of the head.
Cole fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hank Cole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gomi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cole.
Takanori Gomi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank Cole.

Cole has taken the fight to the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gomi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cole is pressed up against the cage. Gomi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cole down to the mat. Cole avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice uppercut there from Gomi.
Cole takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A punch combination from Gomi misses.
Nice takedown defense from Gomi. No joy for Cole on that attempt.
Cole is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jab, jab by Gomi - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole moves in looking to clinch but Gomi pushes him off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cole tries a head kick but it misses.
Cole wants to clinch but Gomi slips to the side
and Gomi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cole displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gomi throws out the jab.
Cole connects with a leg kick. Gomi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gomi swings for the body but Cole moves out of range.
Gomi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gomi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Cole is rocked!
Cole shoots in for a takedown but Gomi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gomi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cole tries to clinch there but Gomi circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi throws a series of punches but Cole moves out of range.
Cole throws a big shot that misses.
Cole fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cole tries to clinch there but Gomi circles away.
Cole tries to clinch there but Gomi circles away.
Cole is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cole fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gomi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cole tries to clinch

and Gomi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cole's guard now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cole wants to get back to his feet but Gomi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takanori Gomi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gomi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Cole pushes Gomi off and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cole misses with an attempted mid kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gomi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takanori Gomi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cole has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!