PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Juu Dyon (ranked 626 p4p, 82 weight class) and Rico Cole (ranked 811 p4p, 103 weight class). Cole has chosen Gerardo's Rico Suave as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dyon
vs
Cole

150 cm
31
165 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

182 cm
34
168 lbs
25 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Juu Dyon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico Cole!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cole connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Dyon darts in looking for a takedown but Cole gets double underhooks and turns Dyon into the ropes.
Dyon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cole as he jumps to the side.
Cole swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Dyon closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Cole is looking for a sweep.
Dyon really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...

Dyon is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cole has escaped the position, nice work there.

Dyon is trying to get an arm triangle but Cole is defending well.
Cole is trying to improve his position.

Dyon is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cole has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dyon lands some shots froms side control.

Dyon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Dyon goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cole rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Dyon's guard! Nice work there by Cole!
Cole wants to stand but Dyon is controlling his posture from full guard.

Dyon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cole doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cole manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dyon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dyon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Dyon looking for a guillotine here but Cole defends easily.

Dyon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cole got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dyon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cole has managed to get both his arms back between Dyon's legs - danger averted.
Cole wants to get up but he can't break Dyon's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Dyon is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cole defends well.
Dyon seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dyon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cole can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cole tries to stand but Dyon is controlling from the bottom.

Dyon working for a triangle but Cole defends it easily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Cole has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dyon is proving hard to escape from.

Dyon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four 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.
Dyon is trying to hold Cole in close to prevent damage but Cole has managed to pass into half guard.
Cole wants to stand but Dyon has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Cole moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Dyon.

Cole stands up and beckons Dyon to his feet.
Dyon looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cole is fending him off so far but Dyon persists. Nope, Cole circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juu Dyon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dyon slips under a jab from Cole.
Cole throws a shot from downtown. Dyon moves away and avoids it.
Rico Cole is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dyon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cole defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Cole dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cole lands a leg kick that knocks Dyon off balance momentarily.
Dyon with a poor takedown
and Cole connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dyon checks the leg kick.
Cole throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cole looks to throw the jab but Dyon is out of range.
Dyon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cole sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dyon somewhat.
Cole keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juu Dyon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dyon has a takedown stuffed.
No joy there for Cole, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cole does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dyon drives through with a takedown into guard.

Cole has his feet on Dyon's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Cole works the jab nicely.
Dyon chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cole can pounce on him.
Cole has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dyon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cole sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dyon somewhat.
Cole looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Dyon tries to clinch but Cole is having none of it.
Cole doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Dyon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cole.
Rico Cole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cole misses with a looping left.
Cole throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cole misses with a leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dyon.
It seemed like Cole was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cole is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Dyon closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Cole connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Dyon's hands.
Cole is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dyon.
Cole throws a body shot but no joy.
Dyon drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cole sprawls and moves away.
Dyon ducks under a wild hook from Cole.
Cole throws a head kick that misses

and Dyon counters with a shoot takedown. Cole fights it but they end up in guard.
Dyon stopping the sweep attempt from Cole.
Dyon wants to pass the guard but Cole is keeping the position.
Dyon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dyon throws a big elbow that misses.
Cole is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole seems keen to control Dyon's posture.
Juu Dyon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dyon trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Cole manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Cole got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dyon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cole has managed to get both his arms back between Dyon's legs - danger averted.

Dyon working for a triangle but Cole defends it easily.
Cole wants to get up but he can't break Dyon's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dyon looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Cole has picked Dyon up and slammed him! Dyon can't keep hold of the triangle and Cole manages to pass to side control!
Dyon is looking for a sweep.

Cole stands up.
Dyon with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cole to score with a decent uppercut.

Dyon drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dyon looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Cole showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Dyon takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Dyon shoots for a double leg takedown but Cole sprawls well. He's pushed Dyon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cole misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cole lands a nice shot that snaps Dyon's head back.
Cole swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Dyon.
Dyon looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cole is fending him off so far but Dyon persists. Nope, Cole circles away and we're back to standing.
Cole with a jab.
No luck for Dyon with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juu Dyon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole tried to score with a low kick but Dyon checks it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dyon or perhaps it was just good defense by Cole, which made it look bad.
Dyon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dyon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dyon fails with a takedown attempt.
Dyon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cole misses with a low kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dyon is defended easily by Cole.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cole connects with a body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cole.
Jab, jab by Cole - just one landing.
Dyon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cole lands a really nice looking cross but Dyon seems unphased.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dyon shoots in looking for a takedown. Cole tries to sprawl out of it but Dyon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Cole manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dyon fails with the takedown.
Cole scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cole throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dyon's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cole throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cole feints and then cracks Dyon's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dyon down.
Cole fails to land with a series of punches.
Dyon shoots and misses
enabling Cole to counter with a crisp jab.
Cole scores with a nice strike.
Dyon checks a low kick from Cole.
A telegraphed right hand from Cole misses the target.
Dyon drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cole sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole looks to score with a jab to the body but Dyon is just out of range.
Dyon ducks under a wild hook from Cole.

Dyon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dyon looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rico Cole is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cole keeping control of the position.
Cole is looking to improve his position.

Dyon seems to be working for a kimura but Cole defends the submission attempt.
Cole is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dyon wants to pass to mount but Cole is defending the position.
Cole gets back to full guard.
Cole controlling Dyon's posture.
Juu Dyon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cole not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cole trying to control the position here.
Cole bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dyon's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Cole comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cole 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Cole!
Rico Cole seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.