PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Cole (ranked 464 p4p, 61 weight class) and Iosue Nicu (ranked 138 p4p, 22 weight class). Cole comes to the cage accompanied by I Won't Back Down. Nicu has chosen It's Dark and Hell Is Hot as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cole
vs
Nicu

175 cm
34
209 lbs
33 - 17 - 0

190 cm
36
216 lbs
33 - 13 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

UnderGround Clothing Co.
UnderGround Supplements

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 33 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Iosue Nicu!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicu throws a shot to the body.
Cole throws a hook to the side of Nicu's head but Nicu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Nicu manages to break the clinch.
Cole throws a chopping leg kick but Nicu manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nicu misses with an uppercut.
Cole is looking to counter the offense by Nicu and move into the clinch.
Cole walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Michael Cole has been cut.
Nicu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cole has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nicu tries a head kick but it misses.
Cole closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nicu circles away.
Cole throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicu throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cole throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cole moves out of range of the body kick.
Nicu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cole.
Cole dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nicu doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nicu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cole on the side of the head.
Nicu thuds a left hand into Cole's body.
Nicu throws a looping overhand right but Cole ducks down to avoid it.
Cole pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cole throws a body punch but Nicu moves out of range.
Nicu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nicu throws a low kick, looking for Cole's leg but Cole calmly moves out of range.
Cole changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nicu has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Nicu throws a leg kick

and Cole counters with a shoot takedown. Nicu fights it but they end up in guard.
Cole wants to control from the top but Nicu keeps moving.
Nicu wants to get back to his feet but Cole is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nicu wants to improve his position but instead Cole has moved into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cole seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cole working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nicu wants to control but Cole is keeping busy.
Nicu is looking to escape.
Cole with the ground and pound but Nicu uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Nicu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cole is one step ahead there.
Cole slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Nicu is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cole has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicu is looking for a sweep.
Cole wants to control but Nicu is keeping him busy.
Nicu is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cole has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nicu tries to buck Cole off but Cole is having none of it.
Cole tries to advance to mount but can't.
Cole controlling the position.
Nicu is trying to buck Cole off.
Cole works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole throws a strike aimed at the side of Nicu's head but Nicu avoids it well.
Cole is looking to take a break and control but Nicu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cole is working Nicu over with some ground and pound from side control.
Cole wants to control but Nicu is keeping him busy.
Nicu pushes Cole away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cole gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Nicu wants to control but Cole postures up.
Nicu is trying to buck Cole off.
Nicu on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Cole is staying tight to Nicu's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Nicu tries to bench press Cole off him but Cole keeps the position.
Cole wants to control but Nicu is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Cole will probably get the nod.
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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cole just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from Nicu misses its intended target.
Nicu throws the kick towards the body but Cole avoids it.
Nicu thows a leg kick but Cole checks it
and Cole cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cole throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cole scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cole tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nicu was well out of range. Poor timing from Cole.
Cole connects with a body shot that sends Nicu's belly button to the back.
Cole swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cole is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nicu can do to turn this around?
Cole takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole scores with a body shot.
Nicu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cole.
Nicu swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nicu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cole misses with a takedown attempt
and Nicu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Nicu finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Nicu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cole has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nicu lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cole with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nicu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice straight punches there by Nicu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nicu.
We've been told by Cole's head coaches at Brotherhood MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Cole misses with a body shot.

Nicu lands a big uppercut and Cole crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Cole looks OK. Nicu waves Cole back to his feet!

Cole is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicu throws a good cross that connects.
Oh Cole is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Cole shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nicu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cole makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cole seems to have got his legs back now.
Nicu wants to stand but Cole is controlling the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nicu is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cole swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nicu is looking to pass into half guard but Cole pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cole is in guard.

Nicu wants to get back to his feet but Cole is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cole with a nice head shot there.
Cole with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Michael Cole overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cole keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nicu's head.
Cole stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nicu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cole is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nicu pulls Cole in to control the position.
Nicu wants to stand up but Cole is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole landing some decent shots from guard.
Cole content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cole working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cole wants to control from the top but Nicu keeps moving.
Cole is standing up over Nicu. Nicu looks to escape but Cole dives into side control.
Cole in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The ground and pound from Cole seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Nicu is trying to get back to his feet.
Cole tries to score with some ground and pound. Nicu controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Nicu is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
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.
Nicu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole trying to control the position but Nicu is working away.
Nicu is pushing Cole's head away, looking to escape. Cole manages to hold on to the position though.
Cole working the ground and pound.
Cole cracks Nicu with a big elbow.
Cole in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Cole working the head with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Nicu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cole connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nicu some visible discomfort.
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 Michael Cole will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Cole's cut.
That's time! Cole's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nicu fakes the leg kick and cracks Cole in the body.
Cole closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nicu circles away.
Nicu has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cole is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nicu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cole.
A solid body kick from Nicu.
Nicu looks for the body kick but Cole saw that one coming.
Nicu thuds his right hand into Cole's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Cole changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nicu looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nicu pushes Cole away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cole gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cole working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicu on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Nicu explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Cole ducks under a wild hook from Nicu.
Cole lands with a straight right. Nicu didn't see that one coming.
Nicu tries a head kick but it misses.
Nicu leaves Cole with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nicu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Cole instigates a clinch.
A short right from Nicu on the inside.
Nicu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cole blocks a body shot from Nicu.
Nicu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cole backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole gets through Nicu's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nicu lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cole backwards.
Nicu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A body shot lands from Cole.
Nicu misses with the head strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Nicu working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cole has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nicu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cole has Nicu pressed against the cage.
Cole has a couple of punches blocked by Nicu.
Cole doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Cole.
Cole blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicu tries a body shot but Cole blocks it.
Cole throws a punch but it's blocked by Nicu.
Cole misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cole lands with a right to the head.
Cole can't find room to land a body shot as Nicu controls the action.
A short uppercut from Cole.
Cole blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Nicu.
Nicu throws an elbow that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cole.

It looks like Iosue Nicu has been cut.
Cole misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cole lands a shot to the body.
Nicu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cole tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nicu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cole pushes Nicu back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Cole scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cole is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nicu throws a punch but it's blocked by Cole.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cole lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Nicu fails to land.
Cole lands a hook that snaps the head of Nicu backwards.

Nicu is rocked!
Cole lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nicu backwards.
Nicu is still on wobbly legs! Can Cole finish him?
Cole misses with a punch to the body.
Cole misses with the head strike.
Cole blocks an uppercut.

Cole lands a takedown into guard.
Iosue Nicu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cole landing some decent shots from guard.
Cole stops Nicu from standing up.
Cole lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cole working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nicu's head.
Nicu throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Nicu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cole postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Nicu covers up, he's hurt! Cole keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Cole and the ref steps in to end the fight! Cole can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Cole!
Michael Cole really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Urban Fighter logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.