PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen (ranked 3355 p4p, 400 weight class) and Micheal Bates (ranked 4761 p4p, 510 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Werbenjagermanjensen
vs
Bates

182 cm
22
175 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

185 cm
27
174 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Micheal Bates!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Werbenjagermanjensen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bates fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bates tries to clinch but Werbenjagermanjensen moves out of range.
Werbenjagermanjensen tries a head kick but it misses.
Bates tries to clinch up

and Werbenjagermanjensen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Werbenjagermanjensen.
Werbenjagermanjensen wants to pass the guard but Bates is keeping the position.
Werbenjagermanjensen landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Werbenjagermanjensen controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Werbenjagermanjensen tries to free his leg and advance position but Bates is retaining full guard.
Werbenjagermanjensen trying to control but Bates is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werbenjagermanjensen works over Bates with some ground and pound from guard.
Werbenjagermanjensen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bates pulls Werbenjagermanjensen in to control the position.
Werbenjagermanjensen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bates is trying to control the position but Werbenjagermanjensen postures up.
Werbenjagermanjensen wants to control from the top but Bates keeps moving.
Werbenjagermanjensen slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Bates.
Bates wants to control but Werbenjagermanjensen is keeping busy.
Bates wants to get back to full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Werbenjagermanjensen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Werbenjagermanjensen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bates is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bates can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates has his hands clasped together around Werbenjagermanjensen's back. He's all about the action.
Bates is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Werbenjagermanjensen scores with a couple of nice shots.

Werbenjagermanjensen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bates slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Werbenjagermanjensen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bates wants to sweep here but Werbenjagermanjensen controlling him for the moment.
Werbenjagermanjensen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bates swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werbenjagermanjensen stopping the sweep attempt from Bates.
Werbenjagermanjensen trying to control but Bates is working from the bottom.
Bates wants to sweep but no luck.
Werbenjagermanjensen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Werbenjagermanjensen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bates's head.
Werbenjagermanjensen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Werbenjagermanjensen lands a couple of elbows.
Bates is looking to sweep but instead, Werbenjagermanjensen has passed into half guard.
Bates trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Werbenjagermanjensen manages to pass to mount!
Bates is desperately trying to improve his position but Werbenjagermanjensen has a good base and remains in mount.
Werbenjagermanjensen trying to control but Bates is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates tries to hold on but Werbenjagermanjensen pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Werbenjagermanjensen.
Werbenjagermanjensen looking to finish Bates with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bates!
Bates keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Werbenjagermanjensen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bates tries to reverse the position but Werbenjagermanjensen maintains control.
Werbenjagermanjensen scoring with strikes but Bates is staying in there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Werbenjagermanjensen tries to control but Bates wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bates tries to hold on but Werbenjagermanjensen postures up.
Bates tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bates doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bates tries to close the distance and clinch up but Werbenjagermanjensen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bates changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Werbenjagermanjensen tries to avoid it but Bates manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Werbenjagermanjensen to the ground. Werbenjagermanjensen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Werbenjagermanjensen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bates tries to clinch up but Werbenjagermanjensen circles away and keeps his distance.
Werbenjagermanjensen scores with a punch to the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Werbenjagermanjensen.

Bates closes the distance and clinches.
Bates is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bates stalling in the clinch but Werbenjagermanjensen improves position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werbenjagermanjensen tries to score a body lock takedown but Bates shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bates misses with some punches.
Werbenjagermanjensen tries to pull guard but Bates forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Bates struggles to land a body shot inside as Werbenjagermanjensen controls his hands.
Bates has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Werbenjagermanjensen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Micheal Bates.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates looking for a takedown.
Werbenjagermanjensen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bates pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bates tries to clinch there but Werbenjagermanjensen circles away.
Werbenjagermanjensen connects with the punch.

Werbenjagermanjensen scores with a takedown into Bates's guard.
Werbenjagermanjensen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Werbenjagermanjensen postures up and lands a big shot to Bates's brow.
Bates keeping moving, preventing Werbenjagermanjensen from controlling successfully.
Bates managing to control the position.
Werbenjagermanjensen preventing the sweep.
Werbenjagermanjensen 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werbenjagermanjensen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Werbenjagermanjensen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Werbenjagermanjensen pushing down on Bates's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bates is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bates is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Werbenjagermanjensen wants to pass the guard but Bates is defending well.
Werbenjagermanjensen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Werbenjagermanjensen scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates is defending against the submission attempts here by Werbenjagermanjensen.
Bates is looking to improve his position.
Bates manages to get to full guard.
Werbenjagermanjensen controlling from the top position.
Bates looking for a sweep. Not yet Bates, not yet.
Bates is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bates wants to sweep here but Werbenjagermanjensen controlling him for the moment.
Werbenjagermanjensen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Werbenjagermanjensen cracks Bates with a solid left hand.
Werbenjagermanjensen working some strikes from top position.
Werbenjagermanjensen lands a couple of digs.
Bates keeping moving, preventing Werbenjagermanjensen from controlling successfully.

Bates looking for a guillotine here but Werbenjagermanjensen defends easily.
Werbenjagermanjensen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bates wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bates closes the distance but Werbenjagermanjensen moves to the side

and Werbenjagermanjensen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bates has hold of Werbenjagermanjensen's hands but Werbenjagermanjensen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Bates is defending against the submission attempts here by Werbenjagermanjensen.
Werbenjagermanjensen prevents Bates from improving his position.
Bates has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Werbenjagermanjensen is working away from the top position though.
Bates wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bates is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Werbenjagermanjensen has latched onto it... Big trouble! Werbenjagermanjensen pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Bates is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Werbenjagermanjensen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen!
A less than humble Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.