PBP Commentary

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

Tanner
vs
Wates

206 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

188 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Johnson Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, George Wates!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tanner closes the distance and clinches.

Tanner is fighting off a takedown attempt but Wates is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Tanner to the mat. Tanner regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Wates looking to sit in guard and control but Tanner gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tanner drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Wates dives on top into guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanner keeping full guard, as Wates tries to pass.
Wates trying to control but Tanner is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wates throwing strikes but missing.
Wates slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tanner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wates wants to control from the top but Tanner keeps moving.
Wates tries to free his leg and advance position but Tanner is retaining full guard.
Wates in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tanner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Wates scoring with punches to the head and body.
Wates trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tanner wants to sweep here but Wates controlling him for the moment.
Wates trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Wates postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tanner is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Wates, into his guard.

Tanner preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner postures up in Wates's guard and throws a big left but Wates blocks it.
Wates looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Tanner stands up from Wates's guard - Tanner perhaps looking for a knockout.

Wates scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wates wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tanner keeps working.
Wates misses with the ground and pound.
Wates misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Wates takes a little break here. Tanner wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wates tries to advance to mount but Tanner denies him.
Wates wants to stand but Tanner has his arm trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wates advances to full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wates landing strikes, looking to finish!
Tanner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Wates dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wates gets a takedown into half guard.
Tanner controlling the position for now.
Wates wants to advance to full mount but Tanner doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Wates throwing strikes from guard but Tanner blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wates looking to pass the guard.
Wates won't allow Tanner to sweep him here.
Wates trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wates tries to clinch but Tanner moves out of range.
Wates misses with a low kick.

Wates looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Tanner!
Wates tries to advance position but instead Tanner slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wates throws a strike but Tanner avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Wates is looking to pass into half guard but Tanner pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tanner is in guard.

Wates wants to stand up but Tanner is controlling him.
Wates wants to sweep here but Tanner controlling him for the moment.
Wates has control of Tanner's left arm, preventing Tanner from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanner stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Wates shoots in and bounces Tanner off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wates is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Wates wants to control from the top but Tanner keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Wates sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tanner is trying to keep Wates in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wates pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanner is keeping the position for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Wates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Wates tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tanner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tanner shoots in looking for a takedown. Wates tries to sprawl out of it but Tanner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wates manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Wates gets the takedown into side control.
Wates working the body and head with strikes.
Tanner is trying to escape the position but Wates is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wates is looking to take a break and control but Tanner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
George Wates has got the better of the ground game so far.

Wates looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wates remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Wates tries to advance to mount but Tanner denies him.
Wates throwing strikes but Tanner manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanner looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wates is trying to improve his position.
Wates sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Tanner is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Tanner is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wates manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner throws an elbow that misses. Wates uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tanner's guard. Nice move by Wates!

Tanner being controlled here, momentarily.
Wates throws a big elbow that misses.
Wates in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wates landing with the ground and pound.
Wates must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tanner keeping moving, preventing Wates from controlling successfully.
Tanner can't keep his opponent in guard - Wates advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Tanner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Wates pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wates landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Johnson Tanner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
George Wates is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tanner taking some punishment here, with Wates in his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Wates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wates winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Wates!