PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zion Moore (ranked 4237 p4p, 25079 weight class) and Cole Mirage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zion Moore has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Moore
vs
Mirage

200 cm
25
155
4 - 11 - 0

170 cm
19
150
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zion Moore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cole Mirage !
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Moore as Mirage shoots in.

Moore closes the distance and clinches.
Mirage has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Moore is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mirage is trying to pull guard but Moore has him pressed against the cage.
Zion Moore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cole Mirage .
Mirage wants to take the fight to the mat but Moore manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Moore connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mirage 's face.

It looks like Cole Mirage has been cut.

Moore pulls guard effortlessly.
Mirage seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Mirage got a little sloppy there for a moment and Moore has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mirage has managed to get both his arms back between Moore's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mirage trying to control the position from guard on top but Moore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirage wants to get up but he can't break Moore's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mirage lands a couple of elbows.
Moore keeping moving, preventing Mirage from controlling successfully.
Mirage stands and throws Moore's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Moore prevents Mirage from moving into mount.
Moore really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Moore is trying to improve his position.
Moore wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A lull in the action here.
Moore manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mirage 's best efforts.
Mirage working Moore over with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moore is looking for a sweep. Mirage is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mirage in particular looking to stall.
Mirage prevents Moore from improving his position.
Mirage seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Moore controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mirage has his takedown stuffed
and Moore counters with a head kick. That will keep Mirage thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Mirage fails with the takedown
and Moore counters with a nice uppercut.

Moore takes the fight into the clinch.

Moore manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirage misses with a double jab.
Moore lands a two punch combo.
Moore shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mirage on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Mirage is rocked!
Moore fails with a takedown attempt.
Mirage is still on wobbly legs! Can Moore finish him?
Moore shoots in and drives through. Mirage sprawls well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mirage tries to clinch but Moore moves out of range.
Moore fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mirage seems to have recovered his senses.
Moore is breathing heavily.

Mirage looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Moore wants to get back to his feet but Mirage passes into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mirage wants to stand up but Moore has a hold of him and won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zion Moore dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cole Mirage 's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Moore darts in and clinches Mirage up against the cage.
Moore is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mirage pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mirage can't get the takedown.
Mirage tries to pull guard but Moore forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Mirage jumps into guard, dragging Moore to the mat.
Mirage is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Moore trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moore is stalling in the full guard.

Mirage had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Moore defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirage working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Moore.
Moore tries to free his leg and advance position but Mirage is retaining full guard.
Moore postures up.
Mirage doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Moore scores with a four punch combination!
Mirage swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Moore has closed the distance and engaged Mirage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mirage successfully pulls guard.
Moore wants to control from the top but Mirage keeps moving.

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

Mirage lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Moore pulls Mirage in close to prevent any damage.
Moore is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mirage can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirage tries to stand but Moore is controlling from the bottom.
Moore preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Moore has his hands on Mirage 's head, controlling the position.

Moore throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mirage must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mirage stays in close to Moore's body and controls the position.
Moore avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Moore is trying to control the position but Mirage postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Mirage closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Moore tries to improve position but can't.
Moore holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Mirage content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zion Moore will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cole Mirage 's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mirage gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Moore counters with a two punch combo.

Mirage changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Moore looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Moore is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mirage wants to take a breather but Moore manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Mirage .
Mirage throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mirage 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mirage trying to control the position from guard on top but Moore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirage looking to pass the guard.
Moore wants to sweep but no luck.
Mirage pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Moore is keeping the position for now.
Mirage is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Moore is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirage wants to stand back up but Moore manages to pass into side control.
Moore controlling the position from side mount.
Mirage manages to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mirage can do anything to dispel that myth.
Moore wants to take a breather but Mirage is having none of it.
Mirage wants to control but Moore is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Moore will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mirage makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moore fails with the takedown.
Mirage closes the distance but Moore moves to the side
and Moore counters with a three punch combo that has Mirage backing up. Mirage nods at Moore to acknowledge the strikes.

Mirage drives through with a takedown into Moore's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Moore has his feet on Mirage 's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Moore displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mirage .
Nice sprawl there from Moore as Mirage shoots in.
Moore fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Moore clinches with his opponent.
Mirage fails to pull guard.
Zion Moore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cole Mirage .

Moore jumps into guard, dragging Mirage to the mat.
Moore has control of Mirage 's left arm, preventing Mirage from doing any damage.

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

Moore slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zion Moore showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Moore, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zion Moore!