PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luigi Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Bolton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Bates
vs
Bolton

178 cm
27
177 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

180 cm
27
180 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Luigi Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charles Bolton!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates misses with a lunging right hand
and Bolton counters with a stiff right hand.
Bolton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bates.
Bolton throws an overhand right that lands on Bates's shoulder, as Bates tries to avoid the shot.
We've been hearing reports that Bates has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Bolton lands a really nice looking cross but Bates seems unphased.
Bates misses with a hook. Bolton ducked under it nicely.
Bolton slips under a jab from Bates.
It seemed like Bolton was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bolton throws a lazy uppercut

and Bates counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bolton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Bates is trying to get an arm triangle but Bolton is defending well.

Bates is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bolton knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates working away.

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

Bates is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bolton has escaped the position, nice work there.

Bates is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bolton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bolton is trying to control Bates's posture but Bates avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Bates tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bates has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

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

Bates working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bates tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Bates swings around for an armbar but Bolton sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bates's guard.

Bates has his foot on Bolton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bolton works his way back into a safe position though.
Bolton wants to control from the top but Bates keeps moving.
Bolton sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bolton trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bolton is now in half guard.

Bolton stands up out of the half guard.
Bolton slips a jab from Bates.
Bates connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bolton takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bates shoots in for a double leg but Bolton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bolton looks to throw the jab but Bates is out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bates jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bates's corner calls for a 1-2. Bates obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Bolton defending well as Bates loads up on a big left hand.
Bates swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bolton is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Bates dominated that round.
That's time! Bates's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bolton tries to land a leg kick but Bates saw it coming and moves away.
Bolton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bates.
Bolton uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bates.
Bolton stuns Bates with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bolton digs a good hook to Bates's body.
Good shot there by Bates.
Bolton throws a head kick that half lands.
Bolton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bates.
Bolton's coach down at LOD: Ground Zero was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Bolton's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Bolton throws a low kick but Bates avoids it.
Bates uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bolton.
Bates attempts a counter takedown but Bolton avoids it well and moves away.
Bates lands a jab-cross combination.
Bolton lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bates's sensitive parts.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bates throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bates slips a jab from Bolton.
Bates throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little jabbing left from Bolton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bates cracks a nice hook into Bolton's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bolton taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Bolton.

Bates breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bolton uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bates.
A telegraphed right hand from Bolton misses the target.
Bates attempts a counter takedown but Bolton avoids it well and moves away.
Bates bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bates digs a good body shot into Bolton's ribs.
Bolton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bolton throws an overhand right that lands on Bates's shoulder, as Bates tries to avoid the shot.
Bates tries to counter with a takedown but Bolton is quick to defend against it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bolton. Bates does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bolton throws a jab but it's blocked by Bates.
Bates moves out of range of the strikes.
Bates misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bates forces Bolton back against the cage and clinches.

Bates breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bates jabs Bolton to the body, keeping him at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bates looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bates looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Bates is looking for a kimura here.
Bolton is trying to stand up here but Bates is controlling him well.
Bolton has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bates is working away from the top position though.

Bates is working for a kimura but Bolton is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates is looking for a kimura here.

Bates is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bates trying to control the action but Bolton is working from the bottom.
Bolton wants to improve his position but Bates is controlling well.

That's four 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.

Bates is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Bates is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Bates seems to be working for a kimura but Bolton defends the submission attempt.
Bolton wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Bates dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bates changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bolton looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Bolton throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Bates avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bates scores with a jab.
Bates swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bates cracks Bolton with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bates throws a looping overhand right but Bolton ducks down to avoid it.
Bolton looks to throw the jab but Bates is out of range.
Bolton throws a leg kick but Bates sees it coming and moves out of range.
Bolton misses with a hook. Bates ducked under it nicely.
Bolton throws a body shot but no joy.
Bates changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bolton tries to avoid it but Bates manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bolton to the ground. Bolton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice cross by Bates.
Bolton uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bates.
Despite the aggression on Bolton's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Bates displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bolton throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Luigi Bates is winning the standup battle so far.
Bates throws a body shot but no joy.
Bates scores with a nice right hand.
Bates misses with an uppercut. Bolton saw that one coming.
A little jabbing left from Bolton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bolton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bates lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bolton. Bates does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice cross by Bates.
Bates throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bolton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bates throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bolton counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bolton jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bolton looks to throw the jab but Bates is out of range.
Bolton connects with a solid leg kick.
Bates takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Luigi Bates is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bolton looks to land a left hand but Bates moved out of range nicely.
Charles Bolton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bolton rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Bates counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bates moves nicely into side control.
Bolton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bolton gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bates takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bates wants to take a breather but Bolton is having none of it.
Luigi Bates overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolton wants to get back to full guard.
Bates is looking to advance position but Bolton won't allow it.

Bates is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bolton has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bates controlling the action here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Charles Bolton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Bates is looking for a kimura but Bolton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bates to get the leverage.
Bolton is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bolton is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bates misses with a wild combination.
Bolton on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A telegraphed right hand from Bolton misses the target.
Bates listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bates lands with an uppercut that bounces Bolton off the cage and back into range.
Bates lands with an uppercut that bounces Bolton off the cage and back into range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luigi Bates showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bates has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luigi Bates!
During a confident post fight interview, Luigi Bates thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.