PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Chase (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Synyster Gates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gates has chosen Nightmare as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Synyster Gates will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Chase
vs
Gates

168 cm
23
156 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

170 cm
23
154 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Charlie Chase!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Synyster Gates!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chase takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Chase slips a jab and a cross from Gates.
Chase throws out a loose jab but Gates uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gates moves out of range of the body kick.
Gates slips a jab from Chase.
Chase misses with a double jab.
Chase lands a right hook to the body.
Gates lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gates on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Chase. Chase obviously looking to wear him down.
Chase dodges the punch combination from Gates.
Chase misses with a wild body shot.
Charlie Chase seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gates looks to land a right hand but Chase moved out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gates.
Chase doesn't manage to clinch there - Gates circles away.
Gates throws a jab when Chase was well out of range.
Gates misses with an uppercut. Chase saw that one coming.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Gates stops Chase from passing to mount.
Chase is working hard here to advance position.

Chase looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Chase thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Chase throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gates is trying to buck Chase off.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gates can do anything to dispel that myth.

Chase wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gates, who protects the arm well.

Chase tries for a kimura but Gates is defending well.
Chase is breathing heavily.
Chase sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gates is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Gates is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Chase is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gates avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Chase.
Gates takes one to the side of the head.
Gates throws a series of punches but Chase avoids them all with ease.
Chase fails with a takedown attempt.
Gates lunges at Chase with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Chase's hand.
Chase uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gates.
Gates bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Chase's head backwards.
Danga de danga de dang - Gates scores with a four punch combination!
Gates lands a jab to the nose.
Gates uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Chase has time to react.
Chase is looking to clinch but Gates is avoiding it.
Chase takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gates waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Chase.
Chase changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gates tries to avoid it but Chase manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gates to the ground. Gates escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gates might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A combination from Gates does no damage.
Chase tries to clinch up.
Chase shoots for a double leg takedown but Gates sprawls well. He's pushed Chase's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Chase. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chase moves away from the strike by Gates.
Gates is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chase.
Chase misses with a jab to the body
and Gates counters with a nice uppercut.
Chase moves in looking to clinch but Gates pushes him off.
A good leg kick by Chase.
Chase throws a hook but Gates blocks it.
Chase misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gates.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gates displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Gates connects with a crisp jab.
Chase misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Synyster Gates dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gates stuffs the takedown.
Jab from Chase.
Gates avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gates throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Chase.
Chase looks to throw the jab but Gates is out of range.
Gates throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Chase.
Chase tries to clinch up
and Gates counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gates looks to throw the jab but Chase is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chase shoots in but Gates avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gates circles away from the clinch attempt.
Chase shoots in but Gates avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Chase. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gates blocks a head kick by Chase.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chase sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chase throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Chase uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gates.
Chase misses with a shot to the body
and Gates cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gates misses with a hook.
Chase swings away with a body shot that misses
and Gates counters with a stiff right hand.
Gates works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Chase dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Chase tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gates sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chase somewhat.
Gates slaps away a takedown attempt from Chase, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Chase.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gates misses with a double jab
and Chase counters with an outside leg kick.
Chase dives in and grabs Gates's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gates pushes down on Chase's head and hops out.
Chase keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gates.
Chase tries for a takedown but Gates sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Chase tries to clinch up but Gates circles away and keeps his distance.
Gates blocks a jab.
Gates lands with an overhand left.
Synyster Gates is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Chase defending well as Gates loads up on a big left hand.
Gates avoids the head kick by Chase.
Chase tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gates swivels and escapes.

Chase bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gates is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Chase has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chase looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gates is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Chase has just dragged him back down to the mat.

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

Chase tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gates really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chase. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gates wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Chase takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gates circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gates dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Gates.
Chase thows a body shot but no joy.
Chase slips under a jab from Gates.
Chase takes one to the side of the head.
Synyster Gates is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gates darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gates misses with a looping right.
Chase shoots in for a takedown but Gates shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Chase throws a sloppy body shot
and Gates counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Chase throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gates was covering up waiting for the punch and Chase finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gates wants to stand up but Chase is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Synyster Gates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gates lands with a nice combination. Chase backs away looking to recover.
Chase fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gates manages to avoid it.
Good standup being displayed there by Gates as he connects with a hook.
Chase shoots in for a takedown but Gates shows good takedown defense.
Chase looks for a takedown but Gates sprawls well.
Gates getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The fighters circling - Chase throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gates goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Chase is rocked!
Chase changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gates tries to avoid it but Chase manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gates to the ground. Gates escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Chase. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chase misses with a body punch
and Gates counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Oh Chase is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Chase looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chase misses with a wild body shot.
Chase seems to have got his legs back now.
Gates lands a jab.
Gates lands a jab-cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chase stuns Gates with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gates throws a hook but Chase blocks it.
Chase is looking to wear down Gates with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Chase misses with a kick to the body.
Gates swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Chase throws a sloppy body shot
and Gates counters with a straight right hand.
Gates scores with a three punch combo!
Gates throws a big shot that misses.
Chase tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gates throws a jab when Chase was well out of range.
Chase shoots in for a double leg but Gates sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chase throws a push kick but Gates slaps the foot to one side.

Chase closes the distance and clinches.
Chase throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Gates breaks from the clinch.
Gates misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gates dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Chase moves forwards but Gates connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gates misses with a wild combination.
Gates tests Chase's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Chase closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gates did well to prevent Chase getting side control.

Chase seems to be looking for submissions.
Chase stops Gates from getting back to his feet.
Gates is not content to let Chase control the position.
Gates is trying to stand back up but Chase is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates is not content to let Chase control the position.

Chase is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gates wants to get back to his feet.
Charlie Chase has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Chase misses with a few strikes there.
Gates fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Chase throws a hook but Gates avoids it easily.
Gates stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gates wants it to stay on the feet.
Chase misses with a low kick.
Gates lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gates bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Chase's head backwards.
Synyster Gates is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Chase looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gates digs a good hook to Chase's body.
Some wild striking there from Gates.
Gates scores with a three punch combo!
Chase shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gates pinned against the cage. Gates gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Chase missing with a left hand there. Gates was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Chase scores with a kick to the midsection.
Chase lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gates's sensitive parts.
Gates throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Chase on the side of the head.
Chase looks to score with a jab to the body but Gates is just out of range.
Gates lands a slapping body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Synyster Gates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gates winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Synyster Gates!