PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Billie Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darius Trucks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Bates
vs
Trucks

155 cm
19
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Billie Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darius Trucks!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jonathan Paton and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Trucks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Bates fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Trucks, pushing him back against the cage.
Trucks being controlled against the cage.
Bates is stalling here.
Bates taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Trucks creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bates's defenses.

It looks like Billie Bates has been cut.
Trucks manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bates trying to stall but Trucks improves his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trucks has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bates is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Trucks is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trucks being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Billie Bates.
Bates stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bates wants it to stay on the feet.
Bates throws a counter high kick but Trucks was just alert enough to avoid it.
Darius Trucks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bates is defended easily by Trucks.
Trucks feints a jab promting Bates to slip. Trucks then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bates slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Trucks has closed the distance and engaged Bates in a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Bates.

Trucks jumps guard.
Bates might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates lands a couple of elbows.
Bates has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Trucks is proving hard to escape from.
Bates scoring with some ground and pound.
Bates throwing strikes but missing.
Trucks keeping moving, preventing Bates from controlling successfully.
Trucks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bates is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bates trying to control the position from guard on top but Trucks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bates sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trucks has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Trucks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bates.
Bates postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bates trying to control but Trucks is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Trucks throws a series of punches but Bates moves out of range.
Bates is looking to counter punch.
Bates could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bates throws a sloppy head kick
and Trucks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Bates has Trucks up against the cage in a clinch.
Trucks goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bates prevents it.
Billie Bates has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darius Trucks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Trucks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Trucks fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Trucks changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bates tries to avoid it but Trucks manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bates to the ground. Bates escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Trucks looks winded!

Bates bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Trucks wants to control but Bates postures up.
Bates wants to control but Trucks is keeping him busy.

Bates decides to stand up, so the ref orders Trucks to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bates 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!
Trucks looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darius Trucks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Billie Bates's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Trucks. No joy for Bates on that attempt.
Bates shoots for a takedown but Trucks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bates keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Trucks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Trucks throws an elbow that misses. Bates uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Trucks's guard. Nice move by Bates!

Bates landing some decent shots from guard.
Bates lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates landing some decent shots from guard.
Bates wants to stand but Trucks is controlling his posture from full guard.
Trucks trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trucks looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bates working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bates throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Trucks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Trucks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bates throwing strikes from guard but Trucks blocks nicely.
Trucks looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bates is in close to Trucks's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bates throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Trucks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bates not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Trucks is breathing heavily.
Trucks trying to keep a closed guard but Bates is proving a slippery customer.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bates works over Trucks with some ground and pound from guard.

Bates gets to his feet - Trucks follows without any prompting.
Trucks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As Bates backs off Trucks throws a huge counter combo but Bates manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billie Bates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bates moves out of range of the body kick.
Bates tries to clinch

and Trucks counters with a shoot takedown. Bates fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bates wants to stand up but Trucks is controlling him.

Trucks drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bates dives on top into guard.

Bates is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Trucks is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Trucks has escaped and now he's on top!

Trucks prevents Bates from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trucks looking to sit in guard and control but Bates gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bates 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.
Trucks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bates.

Bates drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Trucks manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bates has Trucks in his guard.

Trucks trying to control but Bates is working from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Trucks working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Bates is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trucks pushing down on Bates's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Darius Trucks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Billie Bates's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Trucks has Bates up against the cage in a clinch.

Trucks manages to break the clinch.
Trucks lands with a hook. Bates tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bates fails with the takedown.

Trucks closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bates quickly recovers to half guard.
Bates controlling the position well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trucks controlling the action here.
Trucks throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Bates to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trucks working some strikes from top position.
Bates keeping moving, preventing Trucks from controlling successfully.
Bates wants to stand but Trucks is controlling the position.
Bates trying to keep a closed guard but Trucks is proving a slippery customer.
Bates throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Trucks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Trucks decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bates displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Trucks.
Trucks looks for a takedown but Bates sprawls well.
Trucks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bates moves into range and clinches up with Trucks.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bates wants to stall.
Bates looking to stall.
Bates effectively controlling the action here.
Darius Trucks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates is pushing Trucks up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Billie Bates.
Trucks looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bates is fending him off so far but Trucks persists. Nope, Bates circles away and we're back to standing.
Bates appears to be looking for a big counter.
Billie Bates has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darius Trucks.

Trucks tries to sprawl but Bates drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Bates looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bates lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates misses with a head shot. Trucks uses the momentum to regain guard.

Trucks has his feet on Bates's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Bates on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Trucks shoots for a takedown but Bates saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Bates on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Trucks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trucks has his takedown stuffed
and Bates counters with a left and a right that stings Trucks.
Billie Bates has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Trucks misses with a takedown attempt
and Bates counters with a nice uppercut.

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 Billie Bates.
I think Trucks has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Darius Trucks!