PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rob Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaiser Soze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaiser Soze has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tate
vs
Soze

185 cm
22
192 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

188 cm
27
192 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Empire Threads - Featuring Deadly Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rob Tate!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kaiser Soze!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Kavanagh and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tate shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Soze napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Tate landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soze struggling a bit here.
The ground and pound from Tate seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Soze avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tate.
Tate lands a few punches from side control.
Soze is looking to regain half guard here but Tate keeps moving and retains side control.
Tate creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Soze is looking to regain half guard here but Tate keeps moving and retains side control.
Tate taking a break here but Soze is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate throws a strike but Soze avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Soze working a defensive guard here.
Tate wants to control from the top but Soze keeps moving.
Soze manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tate manages to get himself to full guard.
Tate pulls Soze in close to prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Soze accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Soze is looking to work some ground and pound but Tate has wrist control.
Soze throwing strikes from guard but Tate blocks nicely.
Soze throwing strikes from guard but Tate blocks nicely.
Soze throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Soze drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tate dives on top into guard.
Tate tries to free his leg and advance position but Soze is retaining full guard.
Tate stopping the sweep attempt from Soze.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Soze has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Soze not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Soze holds on and takes a little breather.
Soze bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tate's guard.
Soze keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tate's head.
Soze with a flurry of punches that miss.
Soze lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Soze throws a strike but Tate rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tate missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Soze 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tate's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tate throws a big right hand that misses.
Tate working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tate postures up in Soze's guard and throws a big left but Soze blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Tate dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Soze feints a jab promting Tate to slip. Soze then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Tate slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Rob Tate has been cut.
Soze tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tate swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Soze cracks Tate with an uppercut from hell and Tate crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Soze's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Tate is rocked!
Tate utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Oh Tate is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Soze postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tate is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Soze, into his guard.
Soze has his hands on Tate's head, controlling the position.
Tate seems to have got his legs back now.
Tate with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate trying to control the position from guard on top but Soze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soze is pulling down on Tate's head to control his posture.
Tate postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tate tries to free his leg and advance position but Soze is retaining full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tate scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tate with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tate won't allow Soze to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Soze is on top in guard.
Soze trying to control but Tate is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soze looking to pass the guard.
Soze throws a strike but Tate rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Tate wants to control from the top but Soze keeps moving.
Tate forces his way into half guard.
Tate throws a strike but Soze avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Soze works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tate thows a big elbow that misses.
Tate postures up in Soze's guard and throws a big left but Soze blocks it.
Tate throws a strike but Soze rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Soze is looking to work some ground and pound but Tate has wrist control.
Soze is looking to work some ground and pound but Tate has wrist control.
Soze pushing down on Tate's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Soze thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tate's head.
Soze is looking to pass Tate's guard but actually Tate recovers to full guard.
Soze throws and elbow that misses. Tate uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Soze's guard. Nice move by Tate!
Tate throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tate in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tate working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tate throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Soze works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaiser Soze showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rob Tate's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Soze drives through and clinches with Tate against the cage.
Soze can't get the takedown.

Soze lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Soze is looking for a kimura here.
Soze wants to take a breather but Tate is having none of it.
Tate trying to control but Soze postures up.
Tate is refusing to be controlled, as Soze sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soze stalling away here and it's allowed Tate to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Soze has gone for a leg lock! Tate slips out almost immediately though and dives into Soze's guard.
Soze has Tate pulled in close to control his posture.
Tate wants to control from the top but Soze keeps moving.
Tate postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tate loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tate stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tate is working Soze over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Soze wants to stand but Tate is controlling the position.
Soze manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tate manages to get himself to full guard.
Soze looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soze throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tate works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tate keeping moving, preventing Soze from controlling successfully.
Tate lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Soze!
Soze really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tate thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tate looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Tate lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Soze is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tate misses with a head shot.
Soze sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Tate not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Soze pushes Tate off looking to stand but Tate dives back in and keeps control.
Tate throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tate not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Soze is controlling Tate's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Soze takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Soze is refusing to be controlled, as Tate sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Tate clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Rob Tate's cut.
That's time! Tate's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tate displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Soze throws out the jab.
Soze misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tate on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A shot to the body from Soze misses

and Tate counters with a single leg into guard. Soze didn't expect that.
Soze keeping moving, preventing Tate from controlling successfully.
Soze working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tate.
Tate trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Soze preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tate stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Soze working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate is in close to Soze's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Soze is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tate keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Soze's head.
Soze wants to hit a switch here but Tate passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Soze there!
Tate pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Tate sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Tate looking to finish with strikes here!
Tate throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Soze because Tate loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate looking to control but Soze is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tate raining down shots from the mount!
Soze taking shots to the head.

Soze somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tate leaves Soze with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Soze is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Tate closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Soze to the mat! Soze manages to get full guard.
Tate working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tate working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate is working Soze over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Soze keeping full guard, as Tate tries to pass.
Rob Tate overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tate is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soze utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tate looking to pass the guard.
Tate wants to control from the top but Soze keeps moving.
Soze keeping full guard, as Tate tries to pass.
Tate has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four 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.
Tate postures up in Soze's guard and throws a big left but Soze blocks it.
Tate throwing strikes but missing.
Soze wants to sweep but no luck.
Tate throwing strikes but missing.
Tate is looking to work some ground and pound but Soze has wrist control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tate trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soze controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Tate had his way with Kaiser Soze in that round.
The cut man is working on Rob Tate's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Soze throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Tate counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Soze moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tate makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tate throws and elbow that misses. Soze uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tate's guard. Nice move by Soze!
Soze wants to control from the top but Tate keeps moving.
Tate 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.
Soze working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soze trying to move into half guard but instead Tate has managed to sweep!
Soze trying to control the position.
Soze wants to stand and escape but Tate is having none of it.
Soze is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Tate trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tate pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soze is keeping the position for now.
Soze keeping moving, preventing Tate from controlling successfully.
Tate throws a strike but Soze rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kaiser Soze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Soze trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tate keeping moving, preventing Soze from controlling successfully.
Tate keeping full guard, as Soze tries to pass.
Soze wants to control from the top but Tate keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soze trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Soze throws and elbow that misses. Tate uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Soze's guard. Nice move by Tate!
Soze keeping moving, preventing Tate from controlling successfully.
Soze utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tate cracks Soze with a solid left hand.
Soze is controlling Tate's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soze trying to keep a closed guard but Tate is proving a slippery customer.
Tate is working Soze over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tate won't allow Soze to sweep him here.
Tate looking to sit in guard and control but Soze gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tate can't keep his opponent in guard - Soze advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Soze thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tate's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Tate showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tate 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 49:46
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 49:46
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Tate!
Rob Tate retains his middleweight title!