PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jermaine Defoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Gates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Gates has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Defoe
vs
Gates

190 cm
23
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jermaine Defoe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Gates!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Defoe catches Gates with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Defoe swinging wildly here.
Defoe tries to score with a low kick but Gates moves his leg out of the way.
Gates closes the distance and clinches up with Defoe, looking for a takedown. Gates pushes Defoe against the cage but Defoe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Defoe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Defoe scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gates shoots in for a takedown but Defoe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Defoe thows a leg kick but Gates checks it

so Gates counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gates wants to pass the guard but Defoe is keeping the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Defoe wants to sweep but no luck.
Defoe is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Defoe keeping moving, preventing Gates from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Defoe is keeping the position for now.
Defoe is pulling down on Gates's head. It's preventing any offense from Gates, at least for the moment.
Gates throwing strikes from guard but Defoe blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gates sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Defoe's guard.
Defoe pushes Gates off looking to stand but Gates dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gates is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gates is working for a submission of some sort.

Gates is looking for a kimura but Defoe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gates to get the leverage.

Gates seems to be looking for submissions.

Gates wants to work for an arm triangle but Defoe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Defoe is defending against the submission attempts here by Gates.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Defoe is trying to get back to full guard.
Defoe is trying to stand back up but Gates is controlling him

Gates is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Defoe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gates.

Gates wants to work for an arm triangle but Defoe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Defoe is trying to stand up here but Gates is controlling him well.

Gates seems to be working for a kimura but Defoe defends the submission attempt.

Gates is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Defoe sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gates is trying to control. Defoe wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Gates is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Gates dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Defoe is looking to clinch.
Defoe tries to clinch but Gates is having none of it.
Gates shoots in for a takedown but Defoe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Defoe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gates shoots in but Defoe avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Defoe closes the distance and pushes Gates back into the cage.
Gates has Defoe pressed against the cage, preventing Defoe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Defoe manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Defoe moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Tony Gates has been cut.
Defoe lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Defoe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Defoe.
Defoe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jermaine Defoe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Defoe.

Gates decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gates wants to control but Defoe is keeping him busy.

Gates is trying to work for a kimura but Defoe is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Defoe controlling the position for now.
Gates trying to control from Defoe's half guard. Defoe has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Gates throws a big elbow that misses.

Gates drops back, looking for a kneebar! Defoe looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Defoe looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Defoe!
Gates struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Defoe wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Defoe wants to control for a moment but Gates uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Gates is looking to control Defoe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gates avoid being mounted?

Gates is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Defoe pulls his head out easily.
Defoe content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gates tries to get to full guard but Defoe has control of the leg.
Gates wants to control but Defoe is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gates looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermaine Defoe dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tony Gates's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Defoe scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Defoe clinches with his opponent.
Defoe is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Defoe gets underhooks to prevent Gates's takedown attempt.
Gates tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jermaine Defoe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Gates.

Defoe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Defoe throws a series of strikes that have Gates backpedaling.

Gates tries to keep at a distance but Defoe has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates goes for a takedown attempt but Defoe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Defoe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jermaine Defoe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Defoe throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gates stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Defoe gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gates looking to sit in guard and control but Defoe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Defoe stopping the sweep attempt from Gates.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Defoe tries to stand but Gates is controlling from the bottom.

Gates is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Defoe won't allow Gates to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gates is controlling the pace.
Gates is trying to control. Defoe wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Defoe is trying to stand back up but Gates is controlling him

Gates wants to work for an arm triangle but Defoe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Defoe tries to kick Gates off but Gates keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gates thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Defoe's head.

Gates is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Defoe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gates.
Gates wants to control but Defoe is keeping him busy.

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 Jermaine Defoe.
I think Defoe 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jermaine Defoe!