PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raistlin Lovelair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bates
vs
Lovelair

186 cm
25
218 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

195 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raistlin Lovelair!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lovelair shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bates eats them both and turns towards Lovelair to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Lovelair closes the distance and pushes Bates back into the cage.
Lovelair is trying to break the clinch but Bates has him pressed against the cage.
Bates jumps guard but Lovelair stands there with Bates around his waist. Bates gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lovelair prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lovelair blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Lovelair scores with a hook to the body.
Lovelair is trying to push Bates away but Bates has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lovelair tries to break free but Bates pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovelair tries to circle away but Bates has him pinned against the cage.
Lovelair just leaning against Bates, taking a breather.
Bates tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Bates pulls Lovelair into guard.

Bates throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lovelair controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bates working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lovelair.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bates working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lovelair.
Bates preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bates is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Lovelair with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lovelair throws a shot to the body.

Lovelair moves into the clinch.

Lovelair breaks the clinch.
Raistlin Lovelair is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lovelair clinches.
Bates swings wildly with an uppercut but Lovelair uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lovelair prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Bates. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovelair throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Bates pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Lovelair closes the distance and clinches.
Lovelair displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bates up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Lovelair.
Lovelair is looking to break free of the clinch but Bates has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates has Lovelair pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lovelair manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Lovelair breaks from the clinch.
Lovelair lands with a hook. Bates tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A nice combination there by Lovelair.
Raistlin Lovelair seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lovelair lands a jab-cross combination.
Lovelair scores with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lovelair misses with the combination.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lovelair.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lovelair cracks a nice hook into Bates's ribs.
Lovelair moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raistlin Lovelair dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lovelair!
Bates displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Raistlin Lovelair has been cut.

Lovelair gets a clinch.

Lovelair breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lovelair scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Bates has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lovelair throws a right hand that Bates ducks under and follows up with a left that Bates also avoids with ease.
Lovelair looks to land a combination but Bates avoids it well.
Lovelair lands a jab.
Lovelair lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bates takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovelair fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lovelair looks to land a combination. Bates sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Lovelair misses with a few strikes there.
Lovelair connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bates momentarily.
Bates takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lovelair keeps the fight on the outside.
Bates takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lovelair lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lovelair looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lovelair throws a series of punches but Bates avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovelair misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bates.
Lovelair swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Bates gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bates jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lovelair walks away with a smile on his face. Bates gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Raistlin Lovelair seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lovelair throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lovelair fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lovelair throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bates.

Bates rushes Lovelair and presses him up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Lovelair scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bates is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lovelair pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovelair can't break the clinch.
Lovelair gets through Bates's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bates has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lovelair is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Bates. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bates breaks from the clinch.
James Bates is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lovelair misses with a series of wild punches.
Bates is looking to counter the offense by Lovelair and move into the clinch.
A combination from Lovelair does no damage.
Lovelair looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lovelair throws a nice looking combination but Bates bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lovelair works over Bates's head and body with a nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lovelair throws a combination. Bates tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lovelair throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lovelair throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lovelair is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lovelair darts in and clinches Bates up against the cage.

Bates's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Lovelair misses.
Lovelair just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bates is defended easily by Lovelair.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raistlin Lovelair showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raistlin Lovelair's cut.
That's time! Bates's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lovelair misses with a double jab.
Bates feinted with a counter takedown.
Bates with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lovelair to score with a decent uppercut.
Bates closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Lovelair fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lovelair throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lovelair has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sloppy strikes from Lovelair. Those never looked like landing.
A nice combination there by Lovelair.

Lovelair rushes Bates and presses him up against the cage.

Lovelair breaks from the clinch.
Bates takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bates shoots in for a double leg but Lovelair sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lovelair lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovelair misses with a series of wild punches.
Lovelair tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lovelair.
Lovelair lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lovelair.
Lovelair takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Lovelair instigates a clinch.
Bates's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Bates's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lovelair looks to land a combination but Bates avoids it well.
It looked like Bates was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Lovelair lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bates at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lovelair.
Lovelair tries to clinch but Bates moves away
and Bates counters with a series of strikes. Lovelair will be more careful next time no doubt.
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!
Lovelair throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lovelair rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bates moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As Lovelair looks to move away, Bates throws a big counter combo but Lovelair just gets out of the way.
Lovelair circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab from Lovelair does it's job there.
Lovelair misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
As Lovelair tries to get set, Bates tries to push him back and clinch up but Lovelair manages to avoid the attempt.
Lovelair lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lovelair.
Bates showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lovelair.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Lovelair scores with a four punch combination!
Bates shoots in but no luck this time.
Lovelair has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bates misses with a two punch combination.
Lovelair throws a series of strikes that have Bates backpedaling.

Bates fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lovelair, pushing him back against the cage.
Lovelair effectively controlling the action here.
Lovelair can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Bates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bates goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lovelair prevents it.
Bates looking to slow down the pace here.
Lovelair tries to circle away but Bates has him pinned against the cage.
Lovelair lands with a short shot to the head.
James Bates has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bates is looking for a takedown.
Raistlin Lovelair is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bates with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raistlin Lovelair comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lovelair 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raistlin Lovelair!