PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Papa Legba (ranked 241 p4p, 1601 weight class) and Armad Bates (ranked 33 p4p, 207 weight class). Papa Legba could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Armad Bates's chin.

Legba
vs
Bates

178 cm
25
185
12 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
198
6 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Aspire Clothing

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Papa Legba!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Armad Bates!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates goes for a double leg but Legba avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Legba continues to drive forward.
Legba misses with a straight left.

Bates closes the distance and clinches.

Bates jumps into guard, dragging Legba to the mat.
Legba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bates swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Legba 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.
Bates not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Legba wants to pass the guard but Bates is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates can't keep his opponent in guard - Legba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Legba seems to be looking for submissions.
Legba wants to pass to mount but Bates is defending the position.

Legba wants to work for an arm triangle but Bates is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Legba tries to pass to full mount but Bates defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bates gets full guard.
Legba looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Legba preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Legba drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Legba jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bates bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Legba's guard.

Bates stands and throws Legba's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Legba is looking for a sweep.

Bates tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Legba is looking to regain half guard here but Bates keeps moving and retains side control.
Legba sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates is trying to work for a kimura but Legba is defending well.

Bates is working for a kimura but Legba is defending it quite comfortably.

Legba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bates is looking to advance position but Legba won't allow it.
Legba works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Legba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Legba has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Bates has passed into side control.
Legba gets back to half guard.

Bates is trying to work for a kimura but Legba is defending well.
Legba gets full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Legba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bates's guard.

Bates throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Legba trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Armad Bates will probably get the nod.
That's time! Legba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bates gets a takedown into half guard.

Bates is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Bates is working for a kimura here but Legba manages to reverse the position and he's now in Bates's guard.
Bates can't keep his opponent in guard - Legba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates is looking to control Legba's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bates avoid being mounted?
Legba wants to pass the guard but Bates is defending well.
Bates makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bates.
Legba wants to control from the top but Bates keeps moving.
Bates looking to hit a scissor sweep but Legba is one step ahead there.
Legba wants to control from the top but Bates keeps moving.

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.
Legba passes Bates's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Legba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bates keeps working.
Legba wants to free his trapped foot but Bates is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Legba trying to control the action but Bates is working from the bottom.
Bates trying to control from the bottom.

Legba seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Bates is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Papa Legba!
Papa Legba retains his middleweight title!
Our winner, Papa Legba, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.