PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shane Hess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willie Cates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hess
vs
Cates

195 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shane Hess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Willie Cates!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Hess looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cates shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cates swats away the attempt to clinch by Hess.
Hess throws a right and a left that Cates avoids nicely.
Cates tries a head kick but it misses.
Cates misses with a takedown attempt - Hess sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hess tries to clinch up but Cates circles away and keeps his distance.
Cates circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cates counters with a big head kick but Hess shrugs it off.
No luck for Cates with that takedown attempt.
Shane Hess has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Willie Cates.
Hess stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hess wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hess tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cates manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cates swats away the attempt to clinch by Hess.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cates blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Cates breaks the clinch.
Hess is looking to clinch.
Hess is looking to clinch.
Hess wants to clinch up but Cates keeps it at a distance.

Cates has managed to clinch.
Hess tries to pull guard but Cates won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cates is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hess pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cates changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hess fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hess tries to bum rush Cates with a series of wild strikes but Cates uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cates circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hess lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Hess tries to clinch but Cates is having none of it.
Shane Hess is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hess is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hess tries to clinch up but Cates circles away and keeps his distance.
Cates dives in and grabs Hess's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hess pushes down on Cates's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cates moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cates.
Hess avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cates takes a swing at Hess's ribcage but misses.
Hess misses with a series of wild punches.
Hess pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hess doesn't manage to clinch there - Cates circles away.
Hess wants to clinch.

Cates has Hess up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hess wants a takedown but no success here.

Cates ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cates no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Cates preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hess postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hess throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cates wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cates seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Hess drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cates manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hess has Cates in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Willie Cates will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cates will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cates avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick from Cates lands but Hess takes it in his stride.

It looks like Shane Hess has been cut.
Cates throws the kick towards the body but Hess avoids it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hess looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hess chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cates can pounce on him.
Hess tries to clinch up.
Cates misses with a takedown attempt - Hess sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cates feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hess's calf.
Hess tries to clinch up.
Nice takedown defense from Hess. No joy for Cates on that attempt.
Shane Hess has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Willie Cates.
Hess stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hess wants it to stay on the feet.
Hess tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Hess gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Cates breaks the clinch.

Cates tries to keep at a distance but Hess has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hess misses with a short punch on the inside.

Cates escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cates moves into the clinch.

Cates manages to break the clinch.
Hess tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cates swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cates shoots in but Hess avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Cates clinches up against the cage.
Cates jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hess walks away with a smile on his face. Cates gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hess moves in looking to clinch but Cates pushes him off.
Hess tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hess throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cates dodges the punch combination from Hess.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hess tries to clinch up.

Hess moves into the clinch successfully.

Cates pulls Hess into guard.
Hess looking to pass the guard.
Cates throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cates wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hess wants to control from the top but Cates keeps moving.
Hess knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cates on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cates pulls Hess in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cates tries for a takedown but Hess sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cates is breathing heavily.

Cates closes the distance and clinches.

Cates's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hess displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cates.
Cates keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cates shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hess sprawls well. Hess wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cates gets slowly back to his feet.
Cates goes for a double leg but Hess avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hess continues to drive forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willie Cates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shane Hess's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hess tries to clinch up but Cates circles away and keeps his distance.
Hess displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cates.

Cates closes the distance and clinches.
Cates tries to pull guard but Hess won't allow it.
Hess can't find room to land a body shot as Cates controls the action.
Cates tries for a takedown. No joy.
Shane Hess has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Willie Cates.
Hess lands a nice uppercut.
Cates is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hess.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hess pulls guard.
Hess trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Cates stands up and waves to Hess to follow him.
Cates turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hess throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hess tries to clinch but Cates moves out of range.
Hess wants to clinch up but Cates keeps it at a distance.
Hess lands with a kick to the temple. Cates shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Hess tries to keep at a distance but Cates has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cates is trying to drag Hess to the mat but Hess just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Knees to the body from Hess.
Hess is trying to break free.

Cates manages to break the clinch.
Willie Cates seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Cates moves into the clinch successfully.
Cates landing knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cates tries for a takedown but Hess manages to get underhooks.
Cates takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cates breaks the clinch.
Hess misses with a series of wild punches.
Cates shoots and misses

and Hess moves into the clinch.
Cates tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cates as Hess tries to tie him up.
Hess landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cates blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cates lands with a short shot to the head.
Hess avoiding damage as Cates throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hess tries to pull guard but Cates holds him up against the cage and eventually Hess drops back down to his feet.

Cates manages to break the clinch.
Hess throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hess pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cates misses with a series of wild punches.

Cates closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cates avoiding damage as Hess throws knees to the body.
Shane Hess has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Willie Cates is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hess working aggressively here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Willie Cates.
Well Cates has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willie Cates!