PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rico Cole (ranked 2792 p4p, 314 weight class) and Dong Uk (ranked 3065 p4p, 350 weight class). Cole comes to the cage accompanied by Gerardo's Rico Suave. Uk has chosen Bonobo - Prelude & Kiara as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cole
vs
Uk

182 cm
30
160 lbs
17 - 10 - 1

183 cm
40
167 lbs
30 - 33 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

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 17 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Rico Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 33 - 1, fighting out of London, Dong Uk!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cole throws a big shot that misses.
A little jabbing left from Uk on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Uk throws the left hand but Cole avoids the punch easily.
A slow jab from Uk misses its intended target.
Uk keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cole.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Uk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cole.
Uk throws a big shot that misses.
Cole jabs at Uk's body.
Uk shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A lazy left from Cole finds it's target.
Cole lands a front kick.
Uk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cole.
Cole tried to counter with a leg kick but Uk avoided it.
Uk cracks Cole with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cole ducks under a wild hook from Uk.
Uk tests Cole's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cole uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Uk.
Cole throws a looping overhand right but Uk ducks down to avoid it.
A lazy left from Uk finds it's target.
An inside leg kick lands from Cole.
A big left from Uk misses.
A swing and a miss from Uk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uk takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cole throws a right and a left that Uk avoids nicely.
A little jabbing left from Uk on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Uk throws a lazy uppercut
and Cole connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cole has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Cole throws a sloppy head kick and Uk moves out of range easily.
Uk misses with an uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Uk misses the target.
Cole darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cole uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Uk.
Uk walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cole walks into a jab.
Cole clobbers Uk with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cole cracks the inside of Uk's front leg.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good standup being displayed there by Cole as he connects with a hook.
Uk misses with a straight left.
Cole lands a body shot.
Uk moves out of range of the strikes.
Uk avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Cole lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Uk slips under a jab from Cole.
Uk throws a shot from downtown. Cole moves away and avoids it.
Uk with a nice cross.
Uk lands a jab to the head.
Uk takes one to the chin there.
Uk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice defenses there by Cole.
Cole lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cole is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cole. Uk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cole throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cole moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Cole throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Uk.
Uk cracks Cole with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Uk defending well as Cole loads up on a big left hand.
Cole throws a shot from downtown. Uk moves away and avoids it.
Cole throws a shot from downtown. Uk moves away and avoids it.
Uk throws out a counter right but Cole avoids it with no problem.
Uk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cole.
Uk looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Uk throws out the jab.
Cole chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cole walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Uk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cole.
Cole waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Uk.
Cole misses with a hook. Uk ducked under it nicely.
Uk misses with a looping left.
Uk throws a shot from downtown. Cole moves away and avoids it.
Cole throws out a powerful jab.
Uk works the jab nicely.
Cole moves away from the strike by Uk.
Cole appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cole on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Uk loads up on a big right hand but Cole slips the punch.
Uk lands with an uppercut that bounces Cole off the cage and back into range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cole does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Uk uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cole throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Uk misses with a right hand
and Cole counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Uk.
A head kick misses from Cole.
Cole looks to land a body kick but Uk moved away.
Uk misses with a hook.
Uk takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Uk misses with an uppercut.
Uk tests Cole's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cole lands a nice shot that snaps Uk's head back.
Uk misses with a looping right.
Cole steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Uk.
Uk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Uk throws a hook but Cole blocks it.
Uk throws an off balance right hand
and Cole counters with a good low kick that Uk was not able to check.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cole throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Cole ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cole buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cole fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Cole dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Uk throws a good cross that connects.
Cole is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Uk.
Jab by Uk.
Uk blocks a low kick nicely.
Uk waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cole.
Cole tries a head kick but it misses.
Uk connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cole. Cole circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
That kick from Cole tenderised Uk's leg. Uk is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cole fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Uk has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Uk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cole.
Rico Cole is winning the standup battle so far.
Cole fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Uk manages to avoid it.
Jab from Cole.
Uk looks to land a right hand but Cole moved out of range.
Uk throws an off balance right hand
and Cole counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A swing and a miss from Uk.
Uk scores with a hook.
Uk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cole.
Cole scores with a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Uk's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cole misses with an uppercut. Uk saw that one coming.
A jab lands there for Uk.
Uk throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cole counters with a nice low kick that buckles Uk's knee momentarily.
Uk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Uk blocks a leg kick.
Cole does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cole takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Uk blocks a head kick by Cole.
Cole connects with a single shot there.
Uk lands with a cross.
Uk takes a jab right on the kisser.
Uk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cole throws a shot from downtown. Uk moves away and avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Uk moves out of range of the strikes.
Cole scores with a jab.
Cole moves out of range as Uk strikes.
Uk connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uk scores with a jab. Cole acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cole swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Uk throws out a counter right but Cole avoids it with no problem.
Cole connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cole thuds his right hand into Uk's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A jab from Uk misses.
Cole misses with a leg kick.
Uk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cole misses with a body shot.
Cole feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Uks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cole is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cole throws a body shot but no joy.
Cole misses with a straight right.
Uk throws a shot from downtown. Cole moves away and avoids it.
A slow jab from Uk misses its intended target.
Uk has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Uk scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cole.
Cole pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uk connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cole's hands.
Cole lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Uk looks to throw the jab but Cole is out of range.
Cole keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Uk.
Uk might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cole lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A jab from Uk misses.
Cole thinks about countering with a body kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cole.
Nice defenses there by Cole.
Cole looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Cole jabs Uk right on the nose. Uk blinks but takes it well.
Uk connects with a jab.
Uk looks to throw the jab but Cole is out of range.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Uk might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Cole has got the better of the exchanges.
Uk thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cole is looking to score with low kicks.
Uk lands the left hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Cole as he connects with a hook.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cole throws a big shot that misses.
Uk cracks Cole with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uk ducks under a wild hook from Cole.
Cole walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A big left from Uk misses.
Uk slips under a jab.
Uk throws a jab when Cole was well out of range.
Cole just misses with a punch to the body.
Uk uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cole.
Uk misses with a hook. Cole ducked under it nicely.
Cole slips a jab from Uk.
Uk keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cole.
Uk moves out of range as Cole throws a body kick.
Cole throws the left hand but Uk avoids the punch easily.
Some wild striking there from Cole.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Uk looks to throw the jab but Cole is out of range.
Uk misses with a straight right.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cole lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Uk has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Uk and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rico 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. This is the final round!

Uk misses with a looping right.
Cole blocks a jab.
Cole uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Uk.
Cole throws a chopping leg kick but Uk manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cole ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Uk moves away.
Uk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Uk loads up on a big right hand but Cole slips the punch.
Uk looks to throw the jab but Cole is out of range.
Uk lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Uk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cole steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Uk.
Uk is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Cole misses.
Cole scores with a crisp jab that stopped Uk in his tracks.
Cole chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cole displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Uk throws out the jab.
Cole missing with a left hand there. Uk was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Uk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uk wants to clinch up but Cole keeps it at a distance.
Cole ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Uk swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cole swings away with a body shot that misses
and Uk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cole keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Uk.
Donk. Uk catches Cole right on the button with a cross.
Cole takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A big left from Uk misses.
Uk misses with a hook. Cole ducked under it nicely.
Cole misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Uk lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A jab lands there for Uk.
Uk misses with an uppercut. Cole saw that one coming.
Cole moves out of range as Uk strikes.
Cole half committed to a counter leg kick.
Uk takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cole misses the shot to the body.
Cole lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Uk circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uk is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Uk on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nice jab there from Uk.
Uk on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cole throws a head kick that misses.
The fighters circling - Uk throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cole fires out a quick counter leg kick but Uk just manages to avoid it.
Uk checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Uk throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cole sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Uk rushes Cole and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cole misses with the head strike.
Uk stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Cole softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Uk softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Uk.
Uk fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Cole.
A right hand to the body from Cole.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cole pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cole misses with a looping left.
The crowd cheers as Uk lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cole doesn't seem phased though.
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.
Cole misses the shot to the body.
Cole lets loose with a powerful body kick. Uk will feel that in the morning.
Uk throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cole lands with a thumping leg kick.
Uk has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Cole.

Uk darts in and clinches Cole up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Cole.

Cole breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Uk moves into range and clinches up with Cole.
Nice body punch from Uk - that landed with a thud.
Uk misses with a hook from the clinch.
Uk tries to throw a body punch but Cole avoids it by throwing Uk back against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cole throws a punch but it's blocked by Uk.
Cole blocks an uppercut.

Cole breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uk is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Uk scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cole in his tracks.
Cole ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Uk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Cole misses the target.

Uk instigates a clinch.
Cole misses with a punch on the inside.
Uk throws a head punch that misses.

Cole breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rico Cole is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cole connects with a nice looking jab.
Cole throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Uk tries to clinch but Cole moves out of range.
Cole lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cole is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A swing and a miss from Uk.
Cole darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cole fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Uk.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dong Uk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cole has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rico Cole!
A victorious Rico Cole thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.