PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Gates (ranked 7989 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Williams (ranked 4997 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Williams has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gates
vs
Williams

171 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josh Gates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Williams!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gates doesn't manage to clinch there - Williams circles away.
Williams replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Gates blocks it well.
Gates really is a fat lump.

Gates drives through and clinches with Williams against the cage.
Williams is trying to push Gates away but Gates has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gates fails to pull guard.
Williams wants to get back to striking at distance but Gates won't allow it.
Williams tries to break the clinch but Gates is controlling the position.

Williams's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gates closes the distance but Williams moves to the side
and Williams counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Williams 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gates tries to clinch
and Williams connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gates tries to clinch up but Williams circles away and keeps his distance.
Williams raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gates clinches with his opponent.
Gates keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Williams's efforts to push away.
Gates keeps control of Williams as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gates is trying to pull guard but Williams turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gates keeps control of Williams as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gates is trying to break the clinch but Williams is controlling him.
Gates wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Williams has him pressed against the cage.
Williams wants to break free but Gates has control.
Gates wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Gates. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gates pulls guard effortlessly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gates manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Williams manages to get himself to full guard.

Gates tries to stand but Williams is controlling from the bottom.
Gates tries to free his leg and advance position but Williams is retaining full guard.
Williams is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Gates dives into side control.

Gates is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Williams knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gates tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gates working the head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Williams is looking to reverse the position.

Gates has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gates tries to close the distance and clinch but Williams swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gates wants to clinch but Williams slips to the side
and Williams connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gates tries to clinch
and Williams counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Williams swats away the attempt to clinch by Gates.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Josh Gates will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gates tries to clinch up but Williams circles away and keeps his distance.
Gates tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Williams paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gates wants to clinch.
Gates closes the distance but Williams moves to the side
letting Williams counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gates doesn't manage to clinch there - Williams circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates tries to clinch
and Williams counters with a left and a right that stings Gates.
Gates tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Williams counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gates wants to clinch up but Williams keeps it at a distance.
Gates moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromWilliams.
Gates moves to clinch but Williams breaks away
and Williams counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Williams has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gates tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Williams counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Williams is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gates tries to clinch
and Williams connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gates looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Williams! But no joy.
Gates doesn't manage to clinch there - Williams circles away.
Williams unleashes a big counter combination but Gates bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gates doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Williams counter with a right hand.
Gates tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Williams counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates closes the distance looking to clinch
and Williams counters with a nice uppercut.
Williams keeps the fight on the outside.
Williams keeps the fight on the outside.
Gates tries to clinch up
enabling Williams to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gates has a takedown stuffed.
Despite the aggression on Williams's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Williams gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gates to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Williams looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gates is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Williams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gates misses with a takedown
and Williams counters with a right hand to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Williams has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Williams can't break the clinch.
Williams is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams is trying to force a seperation but Gates has the dominant position.
Gates has Williams pressed against the cage, preventing Williams from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Williams can't break the clinch.
Gates fails to pull guard.
Williams is trying to break the clinch but Gates is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gates prevents Williams from breaking the clinch.
Gates tries to pull guard but Williams won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Gates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gates has Williams pressed against the cage, preventing Williams from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gates tries to pull guard but Williams forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Williams is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Williams tries to break the clinch but Gates is controlling the position.
Gates tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Williams wants to break the clinch but can't.

Gates breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gates wants to clinch up but Williams keeps it at a distance.
A little jabbing left from Williams on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gates fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gates tries to clinch but Williams moves out of range.
Williams unleashes a big counter combination but Gates bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Williams might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Gates tries to close the distance and clinch but Williams swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gates tries to clinch but Williams is having none of it.
Williams is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Gates is looking to clinch.
Gates moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromWilliams.

Gates instigates a clinch.
Gates tries to break free but Williams pushes him back against the cage.
Williams is looking to break free of the clinch but Gates has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gates fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Williams wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Gates manages to pull guard.
Gates throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gates not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Williams trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gates's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gates lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Gates's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gates seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Williams for as long as he can get away with.
Gates wants to stand but Williams has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gates trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Gates showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gates has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Gates!