PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xiao Hua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demarcus Bate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xiao Hua has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hua
vs
Bate

176 cm
38
155 lbs
24 - 12 - 1

178 cm
29
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Xiao Hua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Demarcus Bate!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hua moves out of range of the leg kick from Bate.
Hua throws a head kick that misses.
Hua tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bate is able to avoid easily.
Hua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've been informed that Bate has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Hua throws a head kick that Bate semi-blocks.
Hua swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hua tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice straight punches there by Hua. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hua.
Hua stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bate.

Hua lands a big head kick that sends Bate tumbling to the mat! Hua takes a step backwards and waves Bate back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Bate is rocked!

It looks like Demarcus Bate has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hua throws a head kick that misses
letting Bate counter with a right hand.
Bate is still on wobbly legs! Can Hua finish him?
Bate lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hua at a distance.
Hua lands a leg kick that knocks Bate off balance momentarily.
Hua throws a head kick but Bate moves out of range.
Bate seems to have recovered his senses.
Hua drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bate throws a head kick that misses.
Hua misses with a low kick.
Bate slips a straight right by Hua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bate scores with a spinning back kick!
Hua takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bate has a takedown stuffed.
Hua doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hua staying out of range there.
Bate uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hua.
A head kick misses from Hua.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bate.
Hua keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bate avoids the head kick by Hua.
Hua throws a sloppy head kick
and Bate counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd cheers as Bate lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hua doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bate misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hua throws a head kick but Bate moves out of range.
Xiao Hua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bate lands with an overhand left.

Hua tries to sprawl but Bate drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hua trying to control here.
Hua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bate.
Bate tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hua knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Bate is working for a kimura but Hua is defending it quite comfortably.
Bate prevents Hua from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hua trying to hold on to Bate's head to control him but Bate postures up.
Hua is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bate is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bate missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hua tries to kick Bate off but Bate keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hua wants to improve his position but Bate is controlling well.
Hua wants to get back to his feet.
Bate thows a huge punch but Hua dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hua is not content to let Bate control the position.
Bate tries to pass to full mount but Hua defends it.
Hua wants to improve his position but Bate is controlling well.
Hua is doing well to control the position and prevent Bate from advancing to side control.
Bate looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nice strikes from Bate there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hua is looking to get back to is feet but Bate passes into side control.
Hua is trying to get back to half guard.

Bate wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hua, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiao Hua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Demarcus Bate's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bate tries to land a leg kick but Hua saw it coming and moves away.
Hua throws a head kick that misses.
Hua throws a head kick that misses
and Bate counters with a low kick, right behind Hua 's knee.
Bate avoids the head kick by Hua.
Hua misses with a head kick.
Hua throws a sloppy head kick

and Bate decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hua's guard.
Bate controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bate in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hua keeping moving, preventing Bate from controlling successfully.
Hua is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bate is standing up over Hua. Hua looks to escape but Bate dives into side control.

Bate is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hua knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hua on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Bate trying to control the position but Hua is working away.
Bate is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
You can see the frustration on Hua's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bate working the ground and pound from side control.
Bate scores with punches from side control.
Demarcus Bate has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bate scores with punches from side control.
Bate has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
You can see the frustration on Hua's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Bate goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hua has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bate but great work by Hua.
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!
Bate is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hua working away.
Bate tries to improve position but can't.
Bate is trying to control Hua's posture but Hua avoids it.

Hua decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A head kick by Hua misses
and Bate cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hua throws a hook but Bate avoids it easily.
Xiao Hua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bate fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bate's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hua under the eye.
Hua walks into a stiff left hand from Bate.
Bate is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hua.
Hua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice cross by Bate.
Hua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hua scores with a head kick. Bate tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hua takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bate lands a body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bate.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bate on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Hua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demarcus Bate showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Demarcus Bate's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bate throws the kick towards the body but Hua avoids it.

Bate drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bate in side control lands a decent elbow.

Bate wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hua, who protects the arm well.
Bate looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hua is avoiding damage well.
Hua is looking for a sweep.
Hua gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hua wants to control but Bate is keeping busy.
Hua is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hua gets full guard.
Hua wants to get back to his feet but Bate is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bate engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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

Bate drops back looking for a leg! Hua is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hua manages to kick Bate off! Bate jumps back into Hua's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hua controls Bate momentarily but Bate frees himself.
Hua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bate throws a strike but Hua rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bate working a defensive guard but Hua passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bate is looking to control Hua's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bate avoid being mounted?
Bate is trying to control but Hua passes into side control!
Bate is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bate is not content to let Hua control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hua tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Bate is looking for a sweep.
Bate sneaks back into half guard.
Bate has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hua is working away from the top position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Demarcus Bate comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bate has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demarcus Bate!
Demarcus Bate decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.