PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Wooldridge (ranked 24471 p4p, 4222 weight class) and Lawrence Gates (ranked 0 p4p, 448 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Wooldridge might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Unstoppable. John Wooldridge has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Wooldridge
vs
Gates

179 cm
18
170
0 - 3 - 0

168 cm
23
165
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, John Wooldridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lawrence Gates!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wooldridge throws a right and a left that both miss.

Gates clinches.
Wooldridge tries to circle away but Gates has him pinned against the cage.

Wooldridge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gates tries to clinch there but Wooldridge circles away.
Gates lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like John Wooldridge has been cut.
Lawrence Gates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gates misses the shot to the body.
Wooldridge lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Wooldridge throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gates with a poor takedown
enabling Wooldridge to counter with a crisp jab.
Wooldridge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gates ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wooldridge moves away.
Gates doesn't manage to clinch there - Wooldridge circles away.
Gates fails in his attempt to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Wooldridge misses the target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wooldridge will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gates tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wooldridge paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wooldridge is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates is looking to clinch.
Wooldridge is looking to counter punch.
No joy there for Wooldridge, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gates swings for the body but Wooldridge moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Wooldridge.
Gates avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gates throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Wooldridge counter with a right hand.
Gates fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gates tries to clinch but Wooldridge moves out of range.
A punch combination from Wooldridge misses.
Gates swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gates!
Gates is looking to clinch.
Wooldridge throws a right and a left that Gates avoids nicely.
Gates fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Wooldridge fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooldridge avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wooldridge swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wooldridge takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wooldridge throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gates counters with a straight right hand.
Wooldridge is breathing heavily.
Nice straight punches there by Wooldridge. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Wooldridge.
Wooldridge uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gates.
Wooldridge misses with a double jab.
Wooldridge bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gates's head backwards.

Gates has managed to clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Wooldridge's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Wooldridge manages to break the clinch.
Wooldridge circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wooldridge is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gates fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Wooldridge looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gates tries to clinch there but Wooldridge circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wooldridge circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wooldridge misses with a two punch combination.
Gates closes the distance looking to clinch
and Wooldridge connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gates tries to clinch up but Wooldridge circles away and keeps his distance.
Wooldridge moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A combination from Wooldridge does no damage.
Wooldridge misses with a series of wild punches.
Gates cracks a nice hook into Wooldridge's ribs.
Gates closes the distance looking to clinch
and Wooldridge cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gates misses with a body shot.
Wooldridge is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Wooldridge takes a swing at Gates's ribcage but misses.
Wooldridge pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gates darts in and clinches Wooldridge up against the cage.
Wooldridge is trying to break the clinch but Gates is controlling him.
Gates stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Wooldridge wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gates goes for a takedown attempt but Wooldridge pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gates fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gates doesn't manage to clinch there - Wooldridge circles away.
A jab from Wooldridge misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Wooldridge dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Wooldridge's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Danga de danga de dang - Wooldridge scores with a four punch combination!
Wooldridge is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gates can do to turn this around?
Wooldridge circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gates is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gates misses with a hook to the body
and Wooldridge counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wooldridge scores with a one two! Gates had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wooldridge circles away from the clinch attempt.
It looked like Wooldridge wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wooldridge takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gates misses with a two punch combination.
Wooldridge throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Lawrence Gates has been cut.
Wooldridge throws a series of punches but Gates avoids them all with ease.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gates tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wooldridge paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gates lands with a good body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooldridge looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Gates clinches with his opponent.
Wooldridge has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A left hand lands to the body for Gates.
Wooldridge has had enough of the clinch but Gates keeps him there for the moment.
Wooldridge is trying to push Gates away but Gates has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nice body punch from Gates.
Gates keeps control of Wooldridge as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Wooldridge breaks from the clinch.
Wooldridge shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
John Wooldridge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gates closes the distance looking to clinch
and Wooldridge counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gates tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wooldridge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooldridge avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gates throws a shot to the body.
Gates is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Wooldridge rather than just go for the knockout.
Wooldridge lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Wooldridge.
Wooldridge doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wooldridge swats away the attempt to clinch by Gates.
Wooldridge throws a right hand that Gates ducks under and follows up with a left that Gates also avoids with ease.
A little jabbing left from Gates on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gates tries to clinch but Wooldridge moves out of range.
Gates tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wooldridge was well out of range. Poor timing from Gates.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gates digs a good body shot into Wooldridge's ribs.
Wooldridge on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wooldridge lands a lovely overhand right.
Gates lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wooldridge misses with the combination.
Gates lands a jab to Wooldridge's midsection.
Wooldridge throws a combination. Gates tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gates looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wooldridge is looking to counter punch.

Gates clinches up against the cage.
Wooldridge has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gates misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gates prevents Wooldridge from breaking the clinch.
Gates doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wooldridge breaks from the clinch.
Wooldridge throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gates.
Gates avoids the head kick by Wooldridge.

Gates moves into the clinch.
Wooldridge working hard to break the clinch.
Gates scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Wooldridge wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gates has Wooldridge pressed against the cage, preventing Wooldridge from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gates lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Wooldridge.
Gates is leaning against Wooldridge and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Wooldridge letting Gates take a breather here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gates gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Wooldridge wants to control but Gates is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Wooldridge will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

Gates fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gates on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Wooldridge. Wooldridge obviously looking to wear him down.
Wooldridge throws a head kick that misses
and Gates counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gates avoids the head kick by Wooldridge.
Wooldridge circles away from the clinch attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Wooldridge misses the target.
Wooldridge gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Wooldridge takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooldridge avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gates is looking to clinch.
Gates takes a swing at Wooldridge's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gates doesn't manage to clinch there - Wooldridge circles away.
Gates fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wooldridge manages to avoid it.
John Wooldridge is winning the standup battle so far.
Gates lands a right hook to the body.
Gates swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooldridge tries to bum rush Gates with a series of wild strikes but Gates uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates jabs at Wooldridge's body.
Gates is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gates fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wooldridge manages to avoid it.
Wooldridge dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gates fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Wooldridge gets tackled into the cage by Gates. Gates maintains the clinch.
Gates misses with a body punch.
Wooldridge looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gates scores with a shoulder strike.
Gates keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Wooldridge's efforts to push away.
Gates lands a shoulder strike.
Lawrence Gates has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Gates as the two fighters clinch.
Gates lands with a right to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gates.
Gates lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gates keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Wooldridge's efforts to push away.
Gates throws a punch but it's blocked by Wooldridge.
Gates works on Wooldridge's body with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch on the inside from Gates fails to land.
Gates tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gates lands a left hand.

Wooldridge breaks the clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Gates crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Wooldridge - the referee stops the clock and Gates gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Wooldridge. Gates manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Gates tries to clinch but Wooldridge is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gates misses the shot to the body.
Gates throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wooldridge fails to land with a series of punches.
Gates looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Wooldridge misses with a series of wild punches.
Wooldridge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gates throws a body punch but Wooldridge moves out of range.
Wooldridge throws a head kick that misses.
Gates showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wooldridge.
Wooldridge throws a series of punches but Gates avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gates wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Gates scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the body from Gates misses
and Wooldridge counters with a straight right hand.
Gates takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gates wants to clinch up but Wooldridge keeps it at a distance.
A little feinted left hand from Wooldridge on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Wooldridge lands with an overhand left.
Wooldridge keeps the fight on the outside.
Gates takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wooldridge throws a nice looking combination but Gates bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gates looks to score with a jab to the body but Wooldridge is just out of range.
Wooldridge is looking to counter punch.
Gates looks to score with a jab to the body but Wooldridge is just out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Wooldridge misses the target.
John Wooldridge is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A shot to the body from Gates misses
and Wooldridge cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lawrence Gates.
I think Wooldridge 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Wooldridge!
A victorious John Wooldridge thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.