PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Battle (ranked 3068 p4p, 318 weight class) and Bob Bates (ranked 3417 p4p, 360 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Battle
vs
Bates

200 cm
25
268 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Knockdown Clothes

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Battle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bob Bates!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Jorge Garcia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates moves out of range of the body kick.
As Battle backs off Bates throws a huge counter combo but Battle manages to avoid it all.
Bates defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Battle.

Battle has managed to clinch.
Bates's coach down at Vinny’s Gym *PFC sponsored gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Bates's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Bates manages to break the clinch.
Battle seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Bates shoots in for a takedown but Battle shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Battle closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bates circles away.
Bates fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It appears Battle was looking to counter with a kick there.
Bates thows a body kick. Battle tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Bates forces Battle back against the cage and clinches.

Battle is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Bates can't fight it off and eventually Battle manages to take the fight to the floor. Bates looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Battle won't allow Bates to sweep him here.
Battle sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battle wants to stand but Bates is controlling his posture from full guard.
Battle wants to control from the top but Bates keeps moving.
Battle controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bates is pulling down on Battle's head. It's preventing any offense from Battle, at least for the moment.
Battle postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bates is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Battle chips away with some ground and pound.
Bates working a defensive guard but Battle manages to pass into side control anyway.
Battle grinds an elbow into Bates's temple.
Battle trying to control the action but Bates is working from the bottom.
Bates tries to buck Battle off but Battle is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle misses with the ground and pound.
Battle content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Battle passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bates!
Battle scoring with strikes but Bates is staying in there.
Bates tries to hold on but Battle pushes him away.
Bates really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Battle. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Battle can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bates is looking to escape.
Battle 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.
Bates tries to control the position but Battle now has his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Battle just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Bates is trying to stand back up.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bates looking very determined here, making life difficult for Battle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Battle dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Battle fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bates stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bates wants it to stay on the feet.
It seemed like Bates was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Bates fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Battle, pushing him back against the cage.
Bates blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bates tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Battle manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Battle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bates's guard.

Bates wants to sweep here but Battle controlling him for the moment.
Battle trying to control but Bates is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates wants to control but Battle passes easily into half guard.
It looks like Battle is going to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates wants to get back to full guard but Battle has mounted him!
Battle with shots to the head and body - Bates looks very uncomfortable down there.
Bates is trying to reverse the position but instead Battle has taken his back - oops!
I really don't envy Bates right now.

Battle has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Bates has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Battle is hanging on to Bates's back as he tries to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Battle is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Bates has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Battle has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Bates taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Battle doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Chris Battle!