PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zhuy Hong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bates comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Gentleman kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Hong
vs
Bates

165 cm
19
146 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

172 cm
26
146 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zhuy Hong!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Bates!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates misses with a looping right.
Bates rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hong moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hong is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Bates.
Hong tries to close the distance and clinch but Bates swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bates fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bates lands a nice shot to the body.
Hong doesn't manage to clinch there - Bates circles away.
Hong moves away from the strike by Bates.
Bates throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hong sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hong looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hong tries to clinch up
and Bates counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hong tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Bates counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hong tries to clinch there but Bates circles away.
Bates looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hong throws a body punch but Bates moves out of range.
Hong throws a right hand that misses
and Bates counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bates throws a right and a left that Hong avoids nicely.
Hong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bates.
Hong wants to clinch.
Bates lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bates throws out the jab.
Hong tries to clinch but Bates is having none of it.
Hong moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bates's coach down at Island Top Team was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Bates's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates just misses with a punch to the body.
Bates throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hong throws a poor cross that misses
and Bates connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hong takes a swing at Bates's ribcage but misses.
Hong uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bates.
Hong closes the distance but Bates moves to the side
and Bates counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
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!
Bates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bates looks to land a right hand but Hong moved out of range.
Hong closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Bates counter with a right hand.
Hong takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bates swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bates lands a jab to Hong's midsection.
Bates swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hong lands a slapping body shot.
Bates feints a jab promting Hong to slip. Bates then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hong slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Hong doesn't manage to clinch there - Bates circles away.
A big left from Bates misses.
Bates scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hong throws a poor cross that misses
and Bates counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bates misses with a jab to the body

and Hong moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bates manages to break the clinch.
Bates fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hong manages to avoid it.
Hong gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hong looks for the body kick but Bates saw that one coming.
Bates moves out of range of the leg kick from Hong.
Bates swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hong wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Bates misses with a body shot.
Bates misses with a body shot.
Hong tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bates counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hong tries to close the distance and clinch but Bates swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It seemed like Bates was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hong tries to close the distance and clinch but Bates swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bates is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hong.
Hong tries to clinch but Bates is having none of it.
Hong takes a body punch but keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hong misses with a hook to the body
and Bates connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James Bates seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hong wants to clinch.
Hong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hong wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
James Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hong defending well as Bates loads up on a big left hand.
Bates swats away the attempt to clinch by Hong.
Hong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Bates was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hong uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bates.
Bates keeps the fight on the outside.
Bates has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A nice combination there by Bates.
Hong darts in trying to clinch
and Bates counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hong looks for the body kick but Bates saw that one coming.
Bates throws out a counter right but Hong avoids it with no problem.
Hong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bates pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hong tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bates manages to circle out of the way.
Hong throws out a leg kick but Bates moves out of range and Hong only half commits.
Hong misses with a jab to the body
and Hong takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bates manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hong tries to clinch there but Bates circles away.
A nice side step and Bates releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Hong tries to clinch but Bates moves out of range.
Bates loads up on a big right hand but Hong slips the punch.
Hong moves away from the strike by Bates.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hong doesn't manage to clinch there - Bates circles away.
A combination from Bates does no damage.
Hong throws a body shot but no joy.
Hong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bates swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bates takes a swing at Hong's ribcage but misses.
Hong lands with an overhand left.
Hong avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hong tries to counter by clinching up but Bates breaks away and moves out of range.
Hong is looking to clinch but Bates is avoiding it.
Hong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bates manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bates! But no joy.
Hong throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Bates counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Bates.
Hong tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bates manages to circle out of the way.
Bates cracks Hong with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates throws a big shot that misses.
Bates keeps the fight on the outside.
Hong takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bates avoids the head kick by Hong.
Hong misses with a low kick.
Hong slips under a jab.
Hong doesn't manage to clinch there - Bates circles away.
Bates throws a right hand that Hong ducks under and follows up with a left that Hong also avoids with ease.
Bates takes one to the side of the head.
Hong tries to clinch but Bates moves out of range.
Bates looks to throw the jab but Hong is out of range.
Hong moves away from the strike by Bates.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates works Hong's body with a nice hook.
Hong tries to bum rush Bates with a series of wild strikes but Bates uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bates jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hong bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hong misses with a straight right.
Hong is looking to clinch but Bates is avoiding it.
Bates throws a body punch but Hong moves out of range.
Hong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bates lands the left hand.
Hong tries to clinch up
and Bates counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James 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!

The fighters circling - Hong throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bates! But no joy.
Hong throws a head kick but Bates moves out of range.
Hong staying out of range there.
Hong misses with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bates. Hong does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bates misses with a body shot.
Hong seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Bates misses the target.
Hong waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bates.
Bates throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates misses with a looping right.
Hong uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bates.
Hong tries to clinch but Bates moves away
and Bates counters with a nice uppercut.
Hong is looking to wear down Bates with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bates with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates misses the shot to the body.
Hong is looking to counter the offense by Bates and move into the clinch.
Hong throws a sloppy head kick and Bates moves out of range easily.
Bates looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hong tries to clinch but Bates moves away
enabling Bates to counter with a crisp jab.
Bates swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hong fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hong doesn't manage to clinch there - Bates circles away.
Bates throws an overhand right that lands on Hong's shoulder, as Hong tries to avoid the shot.
As Bates tries to get set, Hong tries to push him back and clinch up but Bates manages to avoid the attempt.
Bates misses with a straight right.
Bates lands a lovely overhand right.
Bates lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bates fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hong on the side of the head.

Hong is rocked!
Bates swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hong. Bates does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bates misses with a wild combination.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hong throws out a loose jab but Bates uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hong is looking to clinch.
Hong is looking to clinch.
Bates looks to land a left hand but Hong moved out of range nicely.
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!
Bates slips under a jab.
Hong is looking to clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Bates blocks the leg kick.
Hong misses with a kick to the body.
Hong takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hong tries to clinch but Bates moves away
and Bates counters with a straight right hand.

Hong has managed to clinch.
Hong is trying to pull guard but Bates turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Bates's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hong tries to close the distance and clinch but Bates swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bates throws out a counter right but Hong avoids it with no problem.
Hong throws a head kick but Bates moves out of range.
Hong tries to clinch up but Bates circles away and keeps his distance.
Bates now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bates throws out the jab.
Bates will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hong throws out a leg kick but Bates moves out of range and Hong only half commits.
Hong looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bates throws a big shot that misses.
Hong seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Hong takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hong wants to clinch up but Bates keeps it at a distance.
Bates throws a hook but Hong blocks it.
Bates scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Oh Hong is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hong throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Bates counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hong misses with a low kick.
Bates rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hong moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hong moves to clinch but Bates breaks away
and Bates connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bates throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed right hand from Bates misses the target.
Decent striking displayed by Bates there.
Hong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bates throws a body punch but Hong moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Bates really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hong tries to close the distance and clinch but Bates swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hong seems to have got his legs back now.
Hong misses with a jab to the body
and Bates counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bates throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hong.
Bates looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bates just misses with a punch to the body.
Bates misses the jab.
Hong tries to counter by clinching up but Bates breaks away and moves out of range.
Hong misses with a jab to the body
and Bates counters with a right hand to the body.
Hong is looking to clinch but Bates is avoiding it.
Bates swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bates checks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Hong takes the fight into the clinch.
Bates throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hongs head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bates manages to break the clinch.
Hong waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bates.
Bates connects with a body shot that sends Hong's belly button to the back.
Hong tries to clinch there but Bates circles away.
Hong slips a straight right by Bates.
Hong tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bates manages to circle out of the way.
Hong tries to clinch up but Bates circles away and keeps his distance.
Bates throws a series of punches but Hong avoids them all with ease.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hong.
Jab by Bates.
Bates swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bates.
Bates looks to land a right hand but Hong moved out of range.
Hong is looking to counter the offense by Bates and move into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates misses with a two punch combination.
As Bates tries to get set, Hong tries to push him back and clinch up but Bates manages to avoid the attempt.
Bates misses with a looping right.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bates, as that shot connected.
Hong lands with a nice body punch.
Hong avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hong fails with an attempt to clinch.
An inside leg kick from Hong misses.
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!
Bates throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hong fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice shot lands for Bates.
Bates misses with a looping left.
Bates misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hong closes the distance but Bates moves to the side
and Bates counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A low kick from Hong misses
and Bates counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bates connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hong. Hong circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bates looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bates throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hong misses with a head kick.
Hong misses with a body kick.
Hong throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bates sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hong moves in looking to clinch but Bates pushes him off.
Hong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bates manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hong avoids the body shot from Bates.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bates. Hong does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bates misses with a body shot.
Hong is looking to clinch but Bates is avoiding it.
Hong goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bates throws an overhand right that lands on Hong's shoulder, as Hong tries to avoid the shot.
Hong wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Bates throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hong sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hong tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bates manages to circle out of the way.
Bates just misses with a punch to the body.
Bates throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hong pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bates fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bates misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Bates dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Hong. Bates does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bates keeps the fight on the outside.
Hong closes the distance but Bates moves to the side
and Bates counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hong closes the distance looking to clinch
and Bates counters with a straight right hand.
Bates fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hong looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hong tries to clinch but Bates is having none of it.
Bates misses with a looping left.
Hong takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bates looks to throw the jab but Hong is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hong is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bates.
Hong wants to clinch up but Bates keeps it at a distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bates! But no joy.
Bates throws a hook but Hong blocks it.
Hong misses with a hook to the body
and Bates counters with a stiff right hand.
Bates throws a hook but Hong avoids it easily.
Hong uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bates.
Hong throws a sloppy head kick
and Bates cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bates displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Bates throws a body punch but Hong moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bates throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hong throws a solid leg kick but Bates takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hong.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bates! But no joy.
Hong is looking to chop away at Bates's legs.
Bates throws a hook but Hong avoids it easily.
Hong looks to land a body kick but Bates moved away.
Hong uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bates.
A leg kick checked by Bates.
Hong slips under a jab from Bates.
Bates is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hong.
Bates lands the left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bates works the jab nicely.
A leg kick checked by Bates.
Zhuy Hong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hong throws a body kick that misses.
Hong throws a shot from downtown. Bates moves away and avoids it.
Bates throws a shot to the body.
Hong misses with a leg kick
and Bates counters with a nice body shot.
Hong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bates swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bates ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hong moves away.
James Bates is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hong throws a lazy body kick
and Bates counters with a stiff right hand.
Hong will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Good work by Bates as he checks the leg kick.
Hong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hong closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Bates to counter with a crisp jab.
Bates with a jab.
Hong swings widly with a right hand
and Bates counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bates throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hong looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bates connects with a nice looking jab.
Hong slips a straight right by Bates.
Hong throws a leg kick but Bates sees it coming and moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Bates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bates 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 45:50
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 45:50
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Bates!
James Bates is the new bantamweight champion!
After winning the bout, James Bates thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.