PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Richards (ranked 2956 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Bates (ranked 828 p4p, 0 weight class). Joel Bates told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Richards
vs
Bates

188 cm
26
186 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
27
190 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roman Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joel Bates!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Winston Alpacca and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards misses with a wild body shot.
Bates has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Richards throws a hook but Bates avoids it easily.
Bates throws a leg kick which misses Richards's front leg but catches the back leg as Richards tries to avoid it.

Richards moves into the clinch.
Bates blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bates misses with some punches.
Richards with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bates is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Richards using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bates has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bates scores with a shot to the side of Richards's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bates.
Richards is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Richards tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bates avoids it.
Bates scores with a nice hook to the head.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Bates blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Richards with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but Bates blocks with his arms.
Richards tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Richards tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bates avoids it.
Richards misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bates.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Bates displaying some good clinch control by pressing Richards up against the cage.
Richards misses with a knee to the head.
Bates lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Richards backwards.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Bates blocks it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bates creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Knees to the body from Richards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards looking to throw knees to the head but Bates is blocking nicely.
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Richards misses with a knee to the head.

Bates's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bates scores with a jab to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bates swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richards misses with a hook. Bates ducked under it nicely.
Richards looks to score with a jab to the body but Bates is just out of range.
Bates lands a nice leg kick that just misses Richards's sensitive parts.
Bates lands a nice hook to Richards's body. Richards takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bates sprawls well. Bates wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Richards 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.
Bates clobbers Richards with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Richards throws a sloppy head kick
and Bates counters with a nice low kick that buckles Richards's knee momentarily.
Richards tries to clinch up but Bates circles away and keeps his distance.
Bates feints a counter leg kick.
Bates fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Richards looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Richards chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bates can pounce on him.
Richards tries to clinch up
and Bates counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bates circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bates tests Richards's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Richards throws out a leg kick but Bates moves out of range and Richards only half commits.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards moves to clinch but Bates breaks away
and Bates counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Richards is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bates steps into range and unloads a brutal right left combo! Richards is out on his feet! Bates sets himself and nearly takes Richards's head off with a straight right, sending him crashing to the mat! Wow, that was nasty... but awesome! Wooo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Joel Bates!
A relieved looking Joel Bates thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.