PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Booker Norris Jr (ranked 7976 p4p, 759 weight class) and Mark Cole (ranked 7325 p4p, 737 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Norris Jr
vs
Cole

220 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

Level Up!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Booker Norris Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Cole!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Daniel Bishop and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norris Jr doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cole counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cole.
Cole blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Cole has Norris Jr pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cole pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Norris Jr tumbling to the mat - Cole dives into Norris Jr's guard.
Norris Jr wants to get back to his feet but Cole is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cole with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris Jr is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cole looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Norris Jr wants to stand up but Cole is controlling him.
Norris Jr really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Norris Jr being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Norris Jr misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Cole counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Norris Jr!
Cole tries to advance to mount but Norris Jr denies him.
Cole prevents Norris Jr from escaping the position.
Cole really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Norris Jr. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cole tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cole in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Norris Jr is pushing Cole's head away, looking to escape. Cole manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cole throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Norris Jr tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cole is in Norris Jr's guard.
Norris Jr wants to stand up but Cole is controlling him.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

Cole gets to his feet. Norris Jr looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Cole changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Norris Jr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cole swings around for an armbar but Norris Jr sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cole's guard.
Norris Jr won't allow Cole to sweep him here.

Norris Jr got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cole has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Norris Jr has managed to get both his arms back between Cole's legs - danger averted.
Norris Jr trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cole's guard.
Cole managing to control the position.
Cole wants to hit a switch here but Norris Jr passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cole there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Norris Jr looks to clinch

and Cole decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Norris Jr's guard.
Norris Jr is looking to stand up but Cole isn't so interested in that idea.

Cole stands up and waves to Norris Jr to follow him.

Cole pushes Norris Jr up against the cage in a clinch.
Norris Jr trying to control the position but instead, Cole has worked for underhooks and has pushed Norris Jr into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cole gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Cole throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Norris Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris Jr wants to stand up but Cole is controlling him.
Cole must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cole controlling from the top position.
Cole looking to pass the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Cole instigates a clinch.

Norris Jr has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cole uses from the top position.
Norris Jr is looking to stand up but Cole isn't so interested in that idea.

Cole drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Norris Jr dives on top into guard.

Cole is pulling down on Norris Jr's head. It's preventing any offense from Norris Jr, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris Jr has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cole is proving hard to escape from.

Norris Jr stands and steps away. Cole gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cole has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Norris Jr is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Cole closes the distance and clinches.
Norris Jr misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cole.
Cole misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Cole turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Cole manages to end up in side control.
Cole prevents Norris Jr from escaping the position.

Cole decides to stand up, so the ref orders Norris Jr to his feet.
Booker Norris Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cole keeps the fight on the outside.
Norris Jr tries for a takedown but Cole sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cole thinks about the counter body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cole drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cole's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Cole showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cole showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Norris Jr.

Cole fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Norris Jr to the ground. Cole is now in Norris Jr's guard.
Norris Jr is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Cole drops back, looking for a kneebar! Norris Jr looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Norris Jr looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Norris Jr!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris Jr tries to stand but Cole is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole tries to buck Norris Jr off but Norris Jr is having none of it.
Cole is trying to control Norris Jr's posture but Norris Jr avoids it.
Norris Jr tries to stand but Cole is controlling his head.
Cole struggling a bit here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cole can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cole keeps Norris Jr under control for a moment.
Mark Cole has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cole is trying to improve his position.

Norris Jr decides to stand back up.
Norris Jr tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cole has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No luck for Cole with that takedown attempt.
Cole looks for a takedown but Norris Jr sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cole shoots in and bounces Norris Jr off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cole wants to control from the top but Norris Jr keeps moving.
Norris Jr wants to stand but Cole is controlling the position.
Cole is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cole stops Norris Jr from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cole stops Norris Jr from standing up.
Cole stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Norris Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Norris Jr wants to stand and escape but Cole is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Norris Jr has his takedown stuffed

and Cole counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark Cole.
I've got Cole winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Cole!