PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marc Lesh (ranked 6496 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Gaten (ranked 6490 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lesh
vs
Gaten

180 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marc Lesh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bill Gaten!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lesh displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gaten.
Lesh is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Lesh lands a big head kick that sends Gaten tumbling to the mat! Lesh takes a step backwards and waves Gaten back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Gaten is rocked!
Horrible takedown attempt by Lesh or perhaps it was just good defense by Gaten, which made it look bad.

Gaten has managed to clinch.

Lesh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaten moves out of range as Lesh strikes.
Gaten tries to counter by closing the distance.

Gaten gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Come on Lesh - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A frustrated look appears on Lesh's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaten manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gaten tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lesh just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lesh looking for a takedown.
Lesh scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lesh wants to get back to striking at distance but Gaten won't allow it.
Lesh tries to pull guard but Gaten forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Lesh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gaten escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sloppy strikes from Gaten. Those never looked like landing.
It looked like Lesh was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Lesh tries to close the distance and clinch but Gaten swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gaten clinches up with Lesh and pushes him back against the cage.
Gaten has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lesh after a bit of a struggle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaten manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Lesh has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gaten fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lesh wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gaten misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gaten landing knees to the body.
Lesh is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gaten is defending well.
Gaten has Lesh pressed against the cage.
Gaten pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gaten has Lesh pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lesh manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaten fails to pull guard.
Lesh is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gaten to keep the fight standing.
Gaten is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lesh is defending well for now.
Gaten's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gaten changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lesh fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gaten throws a head kick that half lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lesh keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck for Gaten with that takedown attempt.

Gaten closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lesh quickly recovers to half guard.
Gaten looks winded!
Lesh is looking to improve his position.
Lesh wants to sweep but Gaten has passed to side control!
Lesh is looking for a sweep.
Lesh wants to get back to his feet but Gaten drags him back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bill Gaten will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gaten scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A head kick from Gaten lands but Lesh takes it in his stride.

Gaten gets a double leg takedown into Lesh's guard.
Gaten is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gaten stops Lesh from standing up.
Lesh can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gaten controls the pace.
Gaten postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaten controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gaten stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lesh swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lesh is pulling down on Gaten's head. It's preventing any offense from Gaten, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesh wants to get back to his feet but Gaten is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Gaten fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lesh sprawls well initially but Gaten persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Lesh is trying to escape back to his feet but Gaten uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lesh tries to improve position but can't.
Lesh wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaten lands some shots froms side control.
Lesh is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gaten controls the position.
Gaten lands an elbow.
Gaten has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Gaten working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaten looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gaten has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gaten with shots to the head and body - Lesh looks very uncomfortable down there.
Gaten tries to control but Lesh wriggling away.

Gaten goes for an armbar but Lesh turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Lesh.

Gaten escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lesh gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaten trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Gaten looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lesh missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lesh slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lesh won't allow Gaten to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Gaten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lesh will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gaten fails with a takedown attempt.
Lesh swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Gaten moves into the clinch.

Gaten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lesh lands with an uppercut that bounces Gaten off the cage and back into range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gaten is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lesh's half guard.
Lesh is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gaten scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaten decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Gaten with a lazy takedown attempt

and Lesh counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Lesh manages to break the clinch.
Gaten blocks a head kick by Lesh.

Gaten shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gaten was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lesh tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gaten wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gaten takes a little break here. Lesh wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gaten is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lesh is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lesh struggling a bit here.
Lesh is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaten controls the position.

Gaten tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gaten has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gaten lands a few punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Gaten decides to stand back up. Gaten steps back and let's Lesh get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaten shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lesh pinned against the cage. Lesh gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Marc Lesh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Gaten.
Gaten moves in looking to clinch but Lesh pushes him off.
Gaten wants to clinch.
Gaten moves into range and connects with a jab.
Marc Lesh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bill Gaten is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lesh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gaten is looking for the big counter here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bill Gaten comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gaten 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Gaten!