PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Cole (ranked 1714 p4p, 1097 weight class) and Azor Ahai (ranked 255 p4p, 167 weight class). Cole comes into the arena with I Won't Back Down blaring out of the sound system. Azor Ahai will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Cole
vs
Ahai

175 cm
41
212
42 - 28 - 1

188 cm
28
210
8 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

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 42 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Azor Ahai!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick lands for Ahai.
Ahai scores with a head kick. Cole tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Michael Cole has been cut.
Ahai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Cole was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ahai.
Cole just misses with a punch to the body.
Ahai lands with a hook. Cole tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ahai connects with a jab.
Ahai lands with a kick to the ribs.
Ahai takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ahai scores with a leg kick.
Ahai throws a nice outside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice body punch from Ahai.
Ahai checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ahai cracks Cole with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole misses with an uppercut. Ahai saw that one coming.
Azor Ahai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cole missing with a left hand there. Ahai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ahai throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ahai connects with a jab.
Cole lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ahai lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ahai pushes Cole away with a front kick.
Cole looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Ahai feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Cole sprawling to the canvas! Cole rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Ahai finish him?!

Cole is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cole rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ahai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oh Cole is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ahai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cole seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahai shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cole dodges the punch combination from Ahai.
Ahai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cole.
Cole ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ahai tests Cole's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ahai has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Ahai has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Cole rushes Ahai and presses him up against the cage.
Cole misses with a body punch.
Cole can't find room to land a body shot as Ahai controls the action.
Ahai is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ahai lands a hook that snaps the head of Cole backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Cole.
A short uppercut from Ahai.
Ahai is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ahai pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ahai stalls.
Cole misses with a punch to the body.
Ahai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cole.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ahai managing to block the knees to the body from Cole.
Ahai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cole tries to work over Ahai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cole misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ahai tries to work over Cole's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ahai prevents a body shot from Cole.
Ahai is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahai is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ahai looking to slow down the pace here.
A nice left hand lands by Cole.
Cole goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ahai lands an uppercut.
Ahai wants to stall.
Cole is stalling here.
Cole tries a body shot but Ahai blocks it.
Ahai stalling.
Ahai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cole misses with a punch on the inside.
Ahai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cole tries to throw a body punch but Ahai avoids it by throwing Cole back against the cage.
Ahai trying to stall but Cole improves his position.
Ahai effectively controlling the action here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cole misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Azor Ahai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Cole's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ahai looks to score with a jab to the body but Cole is just out of range.
Cole ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ahai moves away.
Good exchange - Cole coming out on top.
A shot to the body from Cole misses

and Ahai counters with a crisp one two that drops Cole! Ahai thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Cole to his feet! Cole is in big trouble!
Cole misses with a series of wild punches.
Cole staying out of range there.

Ahai lands a big right hand that sends Cole crashing to the mat! Ahai stays standing though and waves Cole back to his feet!
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!
Ahai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Ahai lands a big right hand that sends Cole crashing to the mat! Ahai stays standing though and waves Cole back to his feet!
Ahai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cole.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cole lands a nice looking body shot.
A swing and a miss from Cole.
Ahai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cole.

Cole clinches up with Ahai and pushes him back against the cage.
Ahai trying to control the position but instead, Cole has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ahai into the cage.
Cole lands a hook that snaps the head of Ahai backwards.
Ahai is looking to control Cole's arms but Cole gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ahai has his back to the cage.
Ahai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ahai tries a body shot but Cole blocks it.
Cole misses with a hook to the ribs.

Cole lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ahai tries to get to full guard but Cole has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ahai is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cole's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cole's back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cole trying to control but not successfully.
I really don't envy Cole right now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cole is working hard here to advance position.
Ahai just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
You can see the frustration on Cole's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahai has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Cole's body.
Cole can't escape the position.
Cole trying to control the action but Ahai just sinks the hooks in.
Ahai has good solid back control here.
Ahai keeps control of the position as Cole tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahai not allowing Cole to control his hands.
Good control from Ahai.
Ahai is hanging on to Cole's back as he tries to escape.
Cole might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ahai controls the action.
Ahai has the hooks in. Cole is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Azor Ahai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Cole's cut.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ahai staying out of range there.
Ahai is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Cole with a body shot.

Cole dives in and scores a takedown into Ahai's guard.
Ahai is trying to keep Cole in close.
Cole missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cole passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ahai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ahai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahai is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ahai is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ahai is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Azor Ahai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ahai taking punishment in the form of punches.
Cole lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Cole in side control lands a decent elbow.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
An elbow from Cole crashes against the mat.
Cole has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ahai parries the strikes from Cole easily there. Cole is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ahai to escape.
Cole is looking to take a break and control but Ahai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cole happy to just control the position for now.
Michael Cole has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole working away.
Ahai tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
The referee warns Ahai that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Cole scoring with strikes but Ahai is staying in there.
Cole lands with some strikes.

Ahai is rocked!
Ahai keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole content just to control the position here.
Azor Ahai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cole breaks from Ahai's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ahai is still in real trouble! Can Cole finish him?
Ahai is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ahai seems to have recovered his senses.
Cole working Ahai over with strikes here.
Cole loads up with a big shot that hurts Ahai! He's pulled Cole in close but Cole has postured up and lands more strikes. Can Ahai survive? More strikes from Cole and Ahai is out! The ref jumps in to save him! Brutal ground and pound!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Michael Cole!
After the big win, Michael Cole made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Urban Fighter and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.