PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Key (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tate
vs
Key

195 cm
22
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Tate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Key!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Key moves out of range of the body kick from Tate.
Key steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tate.
A jab from Tate misses.
Tate rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Key moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tate fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tate looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tate shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Key but Key pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tate thows a left - swing and a miss!
Key fails to land the takedown.
Key closes the distance and clinches up with Tate, looking for a takedown. Key pushes Tate against the cage but Tate circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tate fails to land with a series of punches.
Tate misses with an uppercut. Key saw that one coming.
Tate throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Key sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tate clobbers Key with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Key is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jason Tate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tate shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tate showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Key trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Key is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Tate pulls his head out easily.
Tate moves into full mount! Key won't be happy about that!
Tate 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.
Tate tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Key wants to hold on but Tate pushes him away.
Tate tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Key really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

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.
Tate 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.
Key keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Tate avoids the attempt from Key to control.
Key looks gassed!
Tate takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tate throwing strikes here but Key is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Tate content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Key tries to hold on but Tate postures up.
Tate controlling from mount.
Tate 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.
Tate throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't 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.
Key wants to hold on but Tate pushes him away.
Tate controlling the position easily from mount.
Key wants to hold on but Tate pushes him away.
Tate controlling his opponent.
Tate can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Key is looking to escape.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jason Tate just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Tate fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Key.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Key shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tate as he avoids it easily.
Tate shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice sprawl there from Tate as Key shoots in.
Tate fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Key throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tate's waist but Tate gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Key off to one side.
Jason Tate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Key.
Key throws a head kick but Tate moves out of range.
Key shoots in looking for a takedown. Tate tries to sprawl out of it but Key keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tate manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tate has a takedown stuffed.
Tate with a jab.
Key tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tate paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jason Tate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Key tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tate swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Key closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tate circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tate misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Tate lands.
Tate stalks Key and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Key's face. Key staggers backwards, shaken.
Tate rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Key moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tate uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Key.
Danga de danga de dang - Tate scores with a four punch combination!
Tate keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Key staying out of range there.
Key lands a head kick!
Tate throws a head kick that misses
and Key counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Horrible takedown by Key or perhaps it was just good defense by Tate which made him look bad.
Tate swats away the attempt to clinch by Key.
Key tries to clinch but Tate is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tate could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Tate misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Key with a poor takedown
and Tate counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tate throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Key blocks a jab.
Key tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tate swivels and escapes.
Key changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tate tries to avoid it but Key manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tate to the ground. Tate escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tate throws a body kick that misses.
Key tries to clinch but Tate is having none of it.
Tate closes the distance looking to clinch

and Key moves into the clinch.
Key content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Tate can't break the clinch.
Key fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate gets underhooks to prevent Key's takedown attempt.
Tate can't break the clinch.
Tate tries to break the clinch but Key is controlling the position.
Tate is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Key tries to pull guard but Tate holds him up against the cage and eventually Key drops back down to his feet.
Tate wants to break the clinch but can't.
Key is trying desperately to land a takedown but Tate is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Key.
Tate wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Key tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tate smiles and moves away.
Tate keeps the fight on the outside.
Tate will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Key shoots in for a takedown but Tate shows good takedown defense.
Jab from Tate.
Tate throws a hook but Key avoids it easily.

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.
A nice inside leg kick there by Key. That's going to slow Tate down.
Key avoids the head kick by Tate.
Key tries to clinch but Tate moves away
and Tate counters with a stiff right hand.
Tate misses with a takedown attempt

and Key counters by clinching up.
Tate has had enough of the clinch but Key keeps him there for the moment.

Key decides to pull guard.
Tate forces his way into half guard.
Tate controlling the action here.
Key wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Tate dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tate lands with a right hand.
Key wants to clinch up but Tate keeps it at a distance.
Tate throws a sloppy head kick
and Key counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Key fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tate closes this distance looking for a takedown but Key circles away.
Key closes the distance and clinches up with Tate, looking for a takedown. Key pushes Tate against the cage but Tate circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Key uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tate.
Key closes the distance and clinches up with Tate, looking for a takedown. Key pushes Tate against the cage but Tate circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jason Tate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Key.
Tate avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tate throws a jab but it's blocked by Key.
Key keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tate.
Tate throws a jab when Key was well out of range.
Key throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Key takes a swing at Tate's ribcage but misses.
Tate swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Key counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Key tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tate paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Key fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tate bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Key's head.

Key instigates a clinch.
Tate taking a breather.

Key manages to break the clinch.
Tate closes the distance but Key moves to the side

and Key counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Key tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tate just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tate is looking to break free of the clinch but Key has double underhooks.
Key fails to pull guard.
Tate wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tate is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Key breaks from the clinch.
Tate darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Key tries to clinch up but Tate circles away and keeps his distance.
Key misses with a takedown attempt - Tate sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Tate looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Key!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Key is looking to escape.
Key is wriggling around trying to escape.

Tate working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Tate controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Key regains half guard.
Tate wants to pass the guard but Key is defending well.

Tate decides to stand and escape the position.
Tate misses the body punch
and Key counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Key misses.
Key throws a body kick that misses.
Tate wants to clinch but Key slips to the side

and Key counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Key is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Key keeps control of Tate as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate is trying to break the clinch but Key has him pressed against the cage.
Key prevents Tate from breaking the clinch.
Key lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tate backwards.
A hook to the body from Key.

Key breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Key changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tate tries to avoid it but Key manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tate to the ground. Tate escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tate connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tate throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Key counters with a big head kick but Tate shrugs it off.
Tate scores with a nice strike.
The fight stays on the outside here - Key looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Key slips a jab and a cross from Tate.
Tate has a takedown stuffed.
Key doesn't manage to clinch there - Tate circles away.
John Key has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jason Tate is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Key throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Tate counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jason Tate.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tate, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Tate!