PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fabian Shannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fabian Shannon has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Shannon
vs
Bates

208 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fabian Shannon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anthony Bates!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shannon wants to clinch up but Bates keeps it at a distance.

Bates dives in and scores a takedown into Shannon's guard.
Bates controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shannon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bates.
Bates lands a couple of digs.
Bates is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bates is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bates passes Shannon's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bates looks to land a strike but Shannon avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Bates slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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 is looking to work some ground and pound but Shannon has wrist control.

Bates gets to his feet. Shannon looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Bates misses with a body kick.
Shannon is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Shannon lands with a cross.

Bates shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shannon's guard.

Bates stands up and waves to Shannon to follow him.

Bates feints and as Shannon raises his hands in defense, Bates changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shannon trying to keep a closed guard but Bates is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shannon is trying to keep Bates in close.
Bates is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shannon keeping full guard, as Bates tries to pass.
Bates throws a big right hand that misses.
Bates's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Shannon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bates accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bates trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bates misses with a body kick.
Bates avoids a kick to the body.
Bates is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Shannon fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Bates 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.

Bates looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Shannon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bates is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Bates stands up from Shannon's guard - Bates perhaps looking for a knockout.
Shannon throws a sloppy head kick and Bates moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab from Bates.
Shannon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bates tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Shannon tries to clinch up.
Bates unleashes a big counter combination but Shannon bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Bates rushes Shannon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates leaning against his opponent.
Bates prevents Shannon from breaking the clinch.
Bates with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Bates turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Bates manages to end up in side control.
Bates passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Shannon!
Bates throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Bates looking to ground and pound but Shannon is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bates thowing shots but they're missing.
Bates unloads with some shots from mount but Shannon bucks and avoids them well.
Bates controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates looking to ground and pound but Shannon is blocking nicely.
Bates content just to control the position here.
Poor strikes thrown by Bates there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Bates tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Bates has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Shannon is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Bates controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bates misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Bates looking to control and managing it successfully.
Shannon is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bates landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bates takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Bates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bates takes the fight into the clinch.

Bates manages to pull guard.
Bates looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bates throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Bates pushes Shannon off and gets back to his feet.

Bates pushes Shannon up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shannon can't break the clinch.

Shannon breaks from the clinch.

Bates closes the distance and pushes Shannon back into the cage.

Shannon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Shannon with that takedown attempt.
Shannon throws the kick towards the body but Bates avoids it.
A head kick by Bates misses
and Shannon counters with a body kick that stops Bates in his tracks momentarily.
Anthony Bates is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bates throws a sloppy head kick and Shannon moves out of range easily.
Shannon throws a quick counter head kick but Bates was just out of range.
Shannon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bates throws a left jab followed by a right to the body, Oh Shannon colapses and takes a barrage of punches from Bates as he moves to mount! the ref stops the fight and Shannon is left battered and dazed whilst Bates and his camp cheer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anthony Bates!