PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Cole (ranked 360 p4p, 53 weight class) and Corey Smith Jr (ranked 222 p4p, 33 weight class). Cole comes into the arena with I Won't Back Down blaring out of the sound system. Smith Jr has chosen You Will Know My Name as his entrance music. Corey Smith Jr has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Michael Cole's chin.

Cole
vs
Smith Jr

175 cm
37
212 lbs
38 - 20 - 1

183 cm
28
215 lbs
16 - 6 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
PWNAGE

Urban Fighter
Threads of HARDCORE

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 38 - 20 - 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 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Corey Smith Jr!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Smith Jr misses.
Cole throws a right and a left that Smith Jr avoids nicely.
Smith Jr appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Smith Jr throws a lazy uppercut
and Cole makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Smith Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Cole is just out of range.

Cole closes the distance and clinches.
Smith Jr lands a body punch.

Smith Jr breaks from the clinch.
Cole avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith Jr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith Jr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole moves away from the strike by Smith Jr.
Smith Jr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cole.
Cole tries to clinch up
and Smith Jr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Michael Cole has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith Jr.
Cole is looking to counter punch.
Cole displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Smith Jr thuds a left hand into Cole's body.
Cole ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith Jr moves away.
A swing and a miss from Smith Jr.
Cole swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cole throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith Jr throws out a counter right but Cole avoids it with no problem.
Cole uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith Jr.
Cole wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Cole throws a right hand that misses
and Smith Jr counters with a right hand to the body.
Smith Jr lands a lovely overhand right.
Cole throws a predictable looking body shot
and Smith Jr counters with a straight right hand.

Cole is rocked!
A swing and a miss from Cole.
Cole scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cole with a lazy takedown attempt
and Smith Jr counters with a straight right hand.
Oh Cole is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cole seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith Jr takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smith Jr dodges the punch combination from Cole.
Smith Jr cracks Cole with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cole just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith Jr throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
An inside leg kick from Smith Jr misses.
Cole is looking to wear down Smith Jr with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cole throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Smith Jr sends Cole crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Smith Jr is motioning to the referee to let Cole up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Smith Jr fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Cole.
Smith Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cole moves away.

Cole shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith Jr's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Smith Jr manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Smith Jr working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smith Jr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cole prevents a body shot from Smith Jr.
Cole doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cole stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Cole working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cole blocks a body shot from Smith Jr.
Smith Jr lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cole can't find room to land a body shot as Smith Jr controls the action.
Smith Jr is trying to break free.
Cole digs a right hand underneath Smith Jr's ribcage. Smith Jr let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Smith Jr tries to work over Cole's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith Jr tries to break the clinch but Cole is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith Jr working aggressively here.
Smith Jr lands a shoulder strike.
Cole is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smith Jr pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Smith Jr tries to work over Cole's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith Jr wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith Jr stalling against the cage.
Smith Jr tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cole's elbow.
Cole fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smith Jr has a couple of punches blocked by Cole.
Smith Jr lands a shoulder strike.
Cole tries to work over Smith Jr's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Smith Jr fails to land.
Cole blocks a body shot from Smith Jr.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Smith Jr misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Smith Jr dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Cole'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.

Smith Jr misses with a hook.

Cole closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cole misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Smith Jr has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Cole in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cole creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Cole landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Cole cracks Smith Jr with a big elbow.
Smith Jr manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cole's best efforts.
Smith Jr is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cole drops an elbow to the side of Smith Jr's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cole is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cole wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith Jr keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cole takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Smith Jr is refusing to be controlled, as Cole sits in half guard.
Smith Jr is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cole scores with a couple of nice 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.
Smith Jr taking some punishment here, with Cole in his half guard.
Smith Jr is trying to stand.
Cole trying to control from Smith Jr's half guard. Smith Jr has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Smith Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cole in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole stopping the sweep attempt from Smith Jr.
Cole landing with the ground and pound.
Cole prevents Smith Jr from getting back to his feet.
Cole is in close to Smith Jr's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smith Jr has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Cole scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith Jr is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Smith Jr scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Cole checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole scores with a jab.
Cole darts in looking for a takedown but Smith Jr gets double underhooks and turns Cole into the cage.
Cole tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Smith Jr manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith Jr throws a sloppy head kick
and Cole counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cole lands with a hook. Smith Jr tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Smith Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Cole bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Smith Jr throws Cole to one side and escapes!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cole tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith Jr flicks out a counter leg kick but Cole steps away.
Smith Jr tries to land a front kick but Cole steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Good leg kick by Smith Jr there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Cole dives in and scores a takedown into Smith Jr's guard.

Smith Jr manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith Jr stalling the fight.

Smith Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cole fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Corey Smith Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith Jr throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cole sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Corey Smith Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A jab from Cole does it's job there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith Jr.
Cole misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cole shoots in for a double leg but Smith Jr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith Jr throws a fast counter high kick but Cole manages to duck under it in time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith Jr misses with a body shot.
Smith Jr throws a body shot but no joy.
Smith Jr dips to his left and cracks Cole with an uppercut!
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cole tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Smith Jr.
Cole throws a right hand that misses
and Smith Jr counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Smith Jr looks to land a right hand but Cole moved out of range.
Cole tries to counter by clinching up but Smith Jr breaks away and moves out of range.
Cole digs a good body shot into Smith Jr's ribs.
Cole avoids the head kick by Smith Jr.
Cole looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith Jr is just out of range.
Smith Jr looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Smith Jr misses with a wild body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cole, right into the meat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cole throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith Jr gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cole waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith Jr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cole takes a swing at Smith Jr's ribcage but misses.
Michael Cole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith Jr moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Smith Jr cracks Cole with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cole scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Smith Jr throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cole tries for a takedown but Smith Jr circles away easily
enabling Smith Jr to counter with a crisp jab.
Cole tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cole connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Cole tries to land a leg kick but Smith Jr saw it coming and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith Jr defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cole.
Cole misses with a straight left.
Smith Jr appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cole looks for a takedown but Smith Jr sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Cole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cole throws a nice inside leg kick.
A big right from Smith Jr misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cole closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Smith Jr's guard.
Cole postures up in Smith Jr's guard and throws a big left but Smith Jr blocks it.
Smith Jr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cole is one step ahead there.
Cole postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith Jr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cole's guard.

Cole has his hands on Smith Jr's head, controlling the position.
Cole is trying to keep Smith Jr in close.
Smith Jr wanted to stand there but Cole had control of the position.

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.
Cole trying to control the position.
Smith Jr trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cole's guard.
Cole lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cole trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cole throwing strikes from guard but Smith Jr blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Cole.
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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Cole!
Michael Cole gave a mention to Urban Fighter in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).