PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Hetherington (ranked 22343 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Cole (ranked 2493 p4p, 0 weight class). Cole is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Gerardo's Rico Suave. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Hetherington
vs
Cole

180 cm
22
147 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

182 cm
28
158 lbs
14 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Hetherington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Rico Cole!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hetherington shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cole napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Hetherington looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cole is holding Hetherington down, trying to stall.
Cole has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Hetherington is looking to take a break and control but Cole is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cole is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hetherington swings around for an armbar but Cole sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hetherington's guard.
Hetherington has Cole pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hetherington looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cole is one step ahead there.
Cole slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cole slips nicely into half guard.
Cole perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hetherington is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Cole jumps into side control!
Hetherington is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cole's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cole looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hetherington wants to improve his position but Cole is controlling well.
Hetherington moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hetherington 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.
Cole controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cole's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cole pushing down on Hetherington's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole is taking a breather. Hetherington says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hetherington punching from the bottom.
Hetherington regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hetherington keeping full guard, as Cole tries to pass.
Cole trying to control but Hetherington is working from the bottom.
Cole advances position into side control!
Hetherington is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hetherington tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Cole presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Hetherington manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Still in half guard, Cole seems content to control.
Hetherington wants to control but Cole passes into side.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cole is looking to take a break and control but Hetherington is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A lull in the action here.
Hetherington manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rico Cole will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hetherington fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cole avoids it really well and circles away.
Cole connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Hetherington moves into range and clinches up with Cole.
Cole lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cole.
Hetherington lands a right hand.
Cole goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cole lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole scores with a nice hook to the head.
Still in the clinch, Hetherington scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cole doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Cole's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cole throws a sloppy head kick and Hetherington moves out of range easily.
John Hetherington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hetherington wants to clinch
and Cole counters with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole throws out a powerful jab.
Hetherington takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hetherington has his takedown stuffed
and Cole counters with a nice body shot.
Hetherington fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Hetherington. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hetherington pushes Cole up against the cage in a clinch.
Cole lands a shoulder strike.
Cole has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A shot in the inside from Cole.

Cole breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cole will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cole lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cole throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hetherington.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hetherington has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hetherington wants a takedown but no success here.
Hetherington lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Cole.
A short uppercut from Cole.

Cole's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cole throws a jab but it's blocked by Hetherington.
Rico Cole is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cole connects with the punch.
Cole misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hetherington shoots in for a takedown but Cole shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hetherington throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cole was covering up waiting for the punch and Hetherington finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hetherington wants to pass the guard but Cole is keeping the position.
Cole bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hetherington's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cole preventing the sweep.
Cole is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cole won't allow Hetherington to sweep him here.
Cole sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hetherington looking to control.
Hetherington manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cole manages to get himself to full guard.

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.
Hetherington pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cole is keeping the position for now.
Hetherington slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hetherington advances to half guard.

Hetherington seems to be looking for submissions.

Hetherington in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Cole tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Hetherington!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). John Hetherington!