PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Justin Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Gates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hall
vs
Gates

183 cm
20
181 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

174 cm
26
179 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Justin Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Gates!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gates shoots in for a takedown but Hall shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Gates tries to sprawl but Hall drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hall with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hall is pressing down on Gates's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gates is holding on for now.
Well, if Hall is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've been hearing good reports from Hall's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hall wants to pass the guard but Gates is defending well.
Hall is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Hall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Hall is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hall is pushing down on Gates's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gates is fighting to maintain full guard but Hall has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hall takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hall trying to pass the guard but Gates defending well.
Hall stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gates has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hall is working away from the top position though.
Gates tries to roll over but Hall keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fighters circling - Hall throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gates tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gates somewhat.
Hall looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gates is fending him off so far but Hall persists. Nope, Gates circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gates at a distance.
Gates uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hall.
Gates tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hall swivels and escapes.
Justin Hall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Gates.
Gates keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hall throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gates shoots in and drives through. Hall sprawls well.
Gates shoots in but Hall avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gates misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hall bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A big right from Hall misses.
Hall moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A swing and a miss from Hall.
Hall shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gates as he avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hall connects with a single shot there.
Gates displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Hall dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gates stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gates wants it to stay on the feet.
Gates fails with the takedown
and Hall counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hall jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gates with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hall counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hall is pressing down on Gates's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gates is holding on for now.
Hall not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gates is trying to maintain the position but Hall is very close to passing his half guard.

Hall is working for a kimura but Gates is defending it quite comfortably.
Gates is trying to stand up here but Hall is controlling him well.
Hall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gates keeps working.
Justin Hall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hall takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall thows a huge punch but Gates dodges it nicely.
Gates pushes Hall off looking to stand but Hall dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gates gets back to full guard.
Hall slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hall has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Hall drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hall jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hall throws an elbow that misses. Gates uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hall's guard. Nice move by Gates!
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Gates working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates wants to pass the guard but Hall is keeping the position.
Gates is in close to Hall's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hall avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gates trying to control the position from guard on top but Hall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hall controlling Gates's posture.

Hall working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gates doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gates manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gates landing with the ground and pound.
Gates wants to control from the top but Hall keeps moving.

Hall is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gates is aware though and is defending well.
Gates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hall swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gates makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gates throws a strike but Hall rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hall avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Hall dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hall defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gates.

Hall gets a double leg takedown into Gates's guard.
Gates trying to control the position.
Hall wants to pass the guard but Gates is keeping the position.
Gates trying to keep a closed guard but Hall is proving a slippery customer.
Hall engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gates holds on and takes a little breather.

Jack Gates has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Hall shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hall is trying to control. Gates wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hall moves nicely into side control.
Gates wants to control but Hall postures up.
Justin Hall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall works to advance to full mount. Gates defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Hall controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Justin Hall wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gates shoots in and drives through. Hall sprawls well.

Hall shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gates's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hall prevents Gates from getting back to his feet.
Gates trying to control the position.
Hall is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gates wants to sweep here but Hall controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gates has his takedown stuffed

and Hall decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gates's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Hall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hall has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

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