PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Demarcus Bate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Black has chosen yes as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Bate
vs
Black

178 cm
30
165 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

185 cm
40
160 lbs
46 - 24 - 3

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

GREEN!160
Steel Penn\'s Laundry 80% LAUNDRY IS AVAILABLE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Demarcus Bate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 46 - 24 - 3, fighting out of London, Mr Black!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bate changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Black looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Black is looking to regain half guard here but Bate keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bate wants to control but Black is keeping him busy.
Black is looking for a sweep.
Black keeps trying to improve his position.
Bate tries to move to mount but Black blocks the move with his legs.
Black is looking for a sweep.
Black gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Black regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bate controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Black 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.
Black is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Black is on top in guard.

Black throwing strikes but missing.
Black passes Bate's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Black is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bate doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Black.
Bate is looking to improve his position.
Black lands with a punch from half guard.
Black prevents Bate from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is thwarting Bate's attempts to control the position.
Black not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Black sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bate defending well though.

Bate is defending against the submission attempts here by Black.
Bate tries to roll over but Black keeps him under control.
Bate is working hard here to advance position.
Black wants to free his trapped foot but Bate is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Black thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bate's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black prevents Bate from improving his position.
Black is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bate is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Black's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Black's back!

Bate looking for the choke from the back.
Bate keeps control of the position as Black tries to break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Black defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Black wants to escape the position.
Bate is trying to stick to Black's back but Black is turning into Bate. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bate's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Black.
Black distracts Bate with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bate controls Black momentarily but Black frees himself.

Bate is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Black defends well.
Black throws a strike but Bate rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bate stopping the sweep attempt from Black.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bate wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bate throws a big elbow that misses.
Bate has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Bate trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.

Bate got a little sloppy there for a moment and Black has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bate has managed to get both his arms back between Black's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mr Black will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A slapping body kick lands there for Bate.
Bate lands a head kick!
Black shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Black blocks the body kick.
Bate shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Black as he jumps to the side.
Bate dodges the punch combination from Black.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black darts in looking for a takedown but Bate gets double underhooks and turns Black into the cage.
Black tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bate just stands there and leans against the cage.
Demarcus Bate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mr Black.
Black misses with the head strike.

Black gets control of Bate's arms and successfully pulls guard. Black will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Black won't allow Bate to sweep him here.
Black scoring with some ground and pound.
Black throws an elbow that misses. Bate uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Black's guard. Nice move by Bate!

Bate preventing the sweep.
Black trying to keep a closed guard but Bate is proving a slippery customer.
Bate postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bate trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bate looking to pass the guard.
Bate working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Black's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bate trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bate avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Black keeping moving, preventing Bate from controlling successfully.
Black wants to sweep but no luck.
Bate stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Black swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Black looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bate passes into half guard.
Black is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bate connects with a nice short shot to Black's temple.

Bate seems to be working for a kimura but Black defends the submission attempt.
Bate seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Black does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Black gets full guard.
Black looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bate is one step ahead there.
Black lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bate working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Black has passed into half guard!
Black missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bate knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Black is still trying to improve position.
Black landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Black missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Black is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bate is positioning himself well to prevent Black advancing to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

A close second round but Mr Black will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bate is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Black fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bate avoids it really well and circles away.
Black motions for Bate to come forward. Black throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Black shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Black throws out a loose jab but Bate uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black misses with a head kick.
Black paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bate misses with a low kick.
Bate lands with an overhand left.
Mr Black seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bate jabs Black right on the nose. Black blinks but takes it well.
Black keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Black misses with a double jab

and Bate counters with a single leg into guard. Black didn't expect that.
Bate preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bate accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bate content to stall in guard here.
Bate working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bate wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Black looking for a sweep. Not yet Black, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Black is on top in guard.

Bate is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Black is aware though and is defending well.
Bate is trying to control the position but Black postures up.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bate working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Black.
Bate looking to control.
Bate can't keep his opponent in guard - Black advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bate trying to hold on to Black's head to control him but Black postures up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

Bate looking for subs from the bottom but Black mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bate's face.
A nice elbow there by Black.
Black scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bate?
Mr Black has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bate regains half guard.
Black tries to pass to full mount but Bate defends it.
Bate has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Black is working away from the top position though.
Black throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Bate to regain full guard.
Black sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bate's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bate is looking to improve his position.
Bate won't allow Black to pass to mount.
Bate is trying to get back to full guard.
Black missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bate is looking to improve his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Black lands a nice short elbow.
Black lands with a punch from half guard.
Black seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bate does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Black lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Black really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Black motions for Bate to come forward. Black throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bate uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Black.
Bate throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bate throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Demarcus Bate is winning the standup battle so far.
Bate throws a jab but it's blocked by Black.
Bate swings for the body but Black moves out of range.
Bate fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Black.
Black goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Black takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bate throws a jab but it's blocked by Black.
Black drops his hands momentarily and Bate takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Black looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Black keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bate turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bate misses with a kick to the body
and Black counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Black tests Bate's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bate throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bate misses with a looping right.
Bate scores with a nice strike.
Bate takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bate misses with a body shot.
Black shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Good leg kick by Black there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black just misses with a punch to the body.
Bate misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Black.
Bate misses with a double jab.
Black throws an overhand right that lands on Bate's shoulder, as Bate tries to avoid the shot.
Bate throws a wild body kick that Black sees coming a mile off.
Black tries to land a leg kick but Bate saw it coming and moves away.
Bate throws a series of punches but Black avoids them all with ease.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bate.
Good standup being displayed there by Black as he connects with a hook.
Black keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Black misses with a body shot

and Bate counters with a takedown into side control.
Bate wants to lay and pray for a moment but Black keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bate gets to mount! Black was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Black manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bate connects with a nice short shot to Black's temple.
Black is looking to get back to full guard here but Bate has managed to pass to side control instead.
Bate working the ground and pound.
Black gets back to half guard.
Black tries to get to full guard but Bate has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bate seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Black does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mr Black is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Bate is looking for a kimura here.
Bate looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Black with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bate passes to full mount!
Black wants to control but Bate is having none of it.
Bate lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bate prevents Black from getting the reversal.
Demarcus Bate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bate scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Black?

And that's the end of the fight!
Demarcus Bate showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Black 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 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 37:39
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 39:37
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 37:39

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mr Black!
Mr Black really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.