PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Luke Psycho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Gates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Psycho
vs
Gates

173 cm
21
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
163 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luke Psycho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jim Gates!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gates throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gates throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Psycho counters with a shoot takedown. Gates fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Psycho is stalling in the full guard.
Gates working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Psycho.
Gates is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gates trying to keep a closed guard but Psycho is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Psycho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gates swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Psycho is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Psycho throws a big right hand that misses.
Gates controls Psycho momentarily but Psycho frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A clash of legs there as Psycho blocks the low kick.
Psycho dodges the punch combination from Gates.
Psycho avoids a punch combination nicely.

Gates has Psycho up against the cage in a clinch.
Gates working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Psycho wants to take the fight to the mat but Gates manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Psycho just leaning against Gates, taking a breather.
Gates missing with knees to the body.
Psycho stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gates tries to work over Psycho's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gates misses with a hook to the ribs.
A frustrated look appears on Gates's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gates tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Psycho avoids it.
Psycho will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gates up against the cage.
Psycho is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gates to keep the fight standing.
Gates wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Psycho managing to block the knees to the body from Gates.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Psycho jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gates walks away with a smile on his face. Psycho gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Psycho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Psycho tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gates sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Psycho somewhat.
Gates moves in looking to clinch but Psycho pushes him off.
Psycho tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Gates manages to circle out of the way.

Gates has Psycho up against the cage in a clinch.

Psycho escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good shot there by Gates.
Psycho keeps the fight on the outside.
Gates misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gates throws a right and a left that both miss.
Psycho keeps the fight on the outside.
Gates throws a looping overhand right but Psycho ducks down to avoid it.
Gates throws a series of punches but Psycho moves out of range.
Psycho showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gates.
Psycho goes for a double leg but Gates avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gates continues to drive forward.
A combination from Gates does no damage.

Psycho instigates a clinch.
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!

Psycho gets control of Gates's arms and successfully pulls guard. Psycho will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Psycho 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.
Psycho tries to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Gates dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Psycho has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gates trying to control the position but instead, Psycho has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gates into the cage.
Gates is trying to push Psycho away but Psycho has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gates struggles to land a body shot inside as Psycho controls his hands.
Gates has had enough of the clinch but Psycho keeps him there for the moment.
Psycho fails to pull guard.
Gates unloads a knee to the mid-section. Psycho lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Psycho on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Psycho blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gates is trying to push Psycho away but Psycho has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Psycho avoids the elbow strike from Gates, against the cage.

Psycho breaks from the clinch.
Gates looks to land a combination. Psycho sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Psycho avoids the head kick by Gates.
Psycho blocks a head kick by Gates.
Psycho misses with a head kick.
Jim Gates is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gates misses with an attempted mid kick.
A combination from Gates does no damage.
Gates throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Psycho shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Psycho showed some decent athleticism there.

Psycho is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Psycho controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Psycho tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gates knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Psycho throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Psycho not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Psycho is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Psycho thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gates's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates is looking to escape.
Psycho has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Psycho thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gates's head.
Luke Psycho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Psycho throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Psycho trying to control the pace.
Psycho throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Psycho missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gates tries to roll over but Psycho keeps him under control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gates wants to control but Psycho is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A combination from Gates does no damage.
Psycho looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gates is fending him off so far but Psycho persists. Nope, Gates circles away and we're back to standing.
Luke Psycho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Psycho closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Psycho is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gates tries to roll over but Psycho keeps him under control.

Psycho is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Psycho performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Luke Psycho will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A combination from Gates does no damage.
Psycho scores with a nice strike.
Psycho has a takedown stuffed.
Psycho on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Psycho fails with a takedown attempt.
Gates lands with an uppercut that bounces Psycho off the cage and back into range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gates jabs at Psycho's body.
Gates tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Psycho paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gates moves in looking to clinch but Psycho pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Psycho scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gates in his tracks.

Psycho manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gates on his heels. He'll look to pass Gates's guard now, I'm sure.
Psycho missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Psycho controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Psycho advances to half guard.
Psycho controlling the pace.

Psycho is trying to work for a kimura but Gates is defending well.
Psycho trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gates is trying to get back to full guard.
Psycho perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Psycho scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Psycho is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Psycho is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gates defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Psycho controlling the action here.
Psycho passes to full mount!
Psycho thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

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.
Psycho throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Psycho controlling the position easily from mount.

Psycho swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Gates is now in Psycho's guard. A big mistake from Psycho there, giving up the dominant position!
Psycho is pulling down on Gates's head. It's preventing any offense from Gates, at least for the moment.
Gates looking to sit in guard and control but Psycho gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Psycho showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Psycho has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Psycho!
An out of breath Luke Psycho thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.