Two college wrestlers collided in an active three-round tilt made on three days’ notice. Late replacement Shawn Jordan was game but unable to match his more prepared opponent’s gas tank, and Devin Cole won the unanimous decision to get his 19th MMA win (with 9 losses, 1 draw). Video: Cole post-fight interview
The first round was competitive, with Cole using his reach advantage to paw at Jordan before being bulled into the cage by the larger heavyweight. A trip resulted in the men hitting the ground, with Jordan taking Cole’s back, but he was unable to sink a choke and the two scrambled back to their feet. Jordan caught a leg and punished Cole with sharp shots that landed square as the bell rang.
A standing exchange opened the second, and a knee connected with Jordan, who seemed to wake up from the blow. But Cole shot in and struggled for a takedown. For the rest of the second, Cole pressed Jordan against the cage, and the former LSU football player bent over with one hand on the ground to avoid blows to the head.
Jordan was exhausted by round three, but he gamely lumbered forward for several minutes of standing exchanges. Both men narrowly missed with powerful uppercuts, but back at the cage, Cole secured another takedown that ended with him in half-guard. Dominant elbows and hammerfists in the closing minute secured his UD win over Jordan, whose record now stands at 11-2. Scores for Cole were 30-27 twice and 29-28.
Photo & Story originally posted at Strikeforce.com
