PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zayne Cold (ranked 24879 p4p, 4270 weight class) and Alex Rafael (ranked 685 p4p, 0 weight class). Cold's entrance music is Born In The Winter. A fine choice. Rafael comes into a darkened arena with his song building. el momento es hora kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Cold
vs
Rafael

185 cm
21
167
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
170
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zayne Cold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Rafael!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rafael rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cold moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rafael thumps Cold with a low kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cold.
Cold wants to clinch but Rafael slips to the side

and Rafael counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cold won't be happy with that.
Cold on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cold tries to get out of the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cold wants to get back to his feet.
Cold might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cold being controlled for a moment.
You can see the frustration on Cold's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cold is trying to escape the position but Rafael is controlling the position.
Check out the look on Rafael's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rafael lands some shots froms side control.
Cold being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Rafael working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cold tries to bench press Rafael off him but Rafael keeps the position.

Rafael decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rafael misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cold as he avoids it easily.
Rafael misses with a jab, cross combination.

Cold gets a clinch.

Rafael jumps guard and drags Cold to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cold trying to control but Rafael is working from the bottom.

Cold drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rafael manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cold has Rafael in his guard.

Cold knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rafael on the ground.
Cold wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael stands and throws Cold's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Rafael decides to stand back up.

Rafael manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cold on his heels. He'll look to pass Cold's guard now, I'm sure.
Rafael controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rafael postures up and lands a big shot to Cold's brow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cold looking to control.

Rafael drops back looking for a leg! Cold is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cold manages to kick Rafael off! Rafael jumps back into Cold's guard.
Cold wants to improve his position but instead Rafael has moved into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Rafael dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Cold gets tackled into the cage by Rafael. Rafael maintains the clinch.
Rafael is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Rafael's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rafael looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cold!
Cold trying to control but Rafael flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Rafael scores with strikes from the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rafael lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rafael controlling the position well here. Cold rolled but Rafael kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Rafael has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rafael is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rafael scores with punches from the back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rafael controlling the positon.
Rafael scores with punches and elbows.
I would not like to be Cold right now.
Rafael scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Cold is looking for a way out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cold breaks Rafael's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Rafael is pulling down on Cold's head. It's preventing any offense from Cold, at least for the moment.

Rafael had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cold defends it easily.
Rafael has his hands on Cold's head, controlling the position.
Rafael trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael keeping moving, preventing Cold from controlling successfully.
Rafael looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cold is one step ahead there.
Rafael is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cold wanted to stand there but Rafael had control of the position.
Rafael has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rafael is on top in guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Rafael showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cold swats away the attempt to clinch by Rafael.
Rafael throws a head kick but Cold moves out of range.
Cold throws a head kick that misses.
Cold fails with a takedown attempt.
Rafael fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rafael misses with a takedown attempt - Cold sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cold gets caught napping as Rafael dives in and scores a takedown. Cold manages to retain guard.
Rafael distracts Cold with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Rafael stands up and waves to Cold to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cold pinned against the cage. Cold gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rafael tries to clinch up.
Rafael displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cold.
Cold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rafael throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Rafael has managed to clinch.
Cold has Rafael pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rafael manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zayne Cold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rafael is pressed up against the cage. Cold has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rafael down to the mat. Rafael avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cold tries to sprawl but Rafael drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rafael connects with a nice short shot to Cold's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Rafael is looking for a kimura but Cold is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rafael to get the leverage.
Rafael looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cold with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cold wants to get back to his feet.
Rafael prevents Cold from improving his position.
Rafael works his way into full mount!
Rafael punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael raining down hammerfists from mount.
Rafael controlling the pace for now.
Cold working to try and regain half guard.
Alex Rafael is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Rafael comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rafael has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Rafael!
An out of breath Alex Rafael thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
In defeat, Zayne Cold stepped up to the mic, saying 'As my mum once said, every loss is one step closer to achieving greatness, and brother, I will not let this win stop me from finding you. I will end your career, put you in poverty. Just like you did to our family.'.