PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Armad Bates (ranked 2566 p4p, 1646 weight class) and Harry Winks (ranked 362 p4p, 241 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bates
vs
Winks

190 cm
25
198
7 - 6 - 0

185 cm
26
185
5 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Armad Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry Winks!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Winks, as that shot connected.
Bates finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Bates takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bates lands with a shot to the body.
Winks tests Bates's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bates fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Winks manages to avoid it.
Bates staying out of range there.
Winks throws a big shot that misses.
Winks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bates.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bates darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Winks 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.
Bates moves away from the strike by Winks.
Bates half committed to a counter leg kick.
Winks with the inside leg kick.
Bates feints a jab promting Winks to slip. Bates then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Winks slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Harry Winks has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bates throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Winks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nice jab there from Bates.
Bates tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A lazy left from Winks finds it's target.
A swing and a miss from Winks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Winks.
Bates lands a glancing blow to the side of Winks's head.
Bates displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Bates is looking to clinch but Winks is avoiding it.
Winks fails with the takedown.
Bates swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Winks looks for the body kick but Bates saw that one coming.
A low kick from Bates is predictable there
and Bates takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Bates gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Winks takes an elbow to the temple.
Bates connects with a knee to the head.
Winks wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bates using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bates misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bates swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Winks is working Bates over against the cage.
Bates misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bates swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winks misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bates blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bates works on Winks's body with a couple of short punches.
Winks misses with the head strike.
We've been hearing reports that Bates has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bates.
Winks can't find room to land a body shot as Bates controls the action.
Winks taking a breather.
Bates blocks an uppercut.
Bates scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bates misses with a punch to the body.
Bates fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bates content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Winks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Winks misses with a wild body shot.
Bates swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Bates. That snapped Winks's head back.
Winks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Winks misses with a body shot.
Bates wants to clinch up but Winks keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates lands with a shot to the body.
Winks defending well as Bates loads up on a big left hand.
Winks misses with a left hand
and Bates counters with a one-two to the body.
A shot to the liver by Bates. Beautiful body shot.
Bates ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bates lands with an uppercut that bounces Winks off the cage and back into range.
Bates takes a swing at Winks's ribcage but misses.
Winks throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Bates throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Winks lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Armad Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bates lands with a right hand.
Bates lands a jab to the nose.
Winks takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bates blocks a low kick nicely.
Bates is looking to wear down Winks with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bates jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Winks was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Winks takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates throws a jab but it's blocked by Winks.
Winks connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Winks tries a head kick but it misses.
Winks moves out of range of the leg kick from Bates.
Bates misses the shot to the body.
Winks works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Winks darts in looking for a takedown but Bates gets double underhooks and turns Winks into the cage.
Bates getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bates throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Winks was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Bates drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bates wants to control but Winks is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Winks tries to control but Bates manages to take his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Armad Bates dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Harry Winks's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bates staying out of range there.
Bates misses with a shot to the body
and Winks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bates checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bates throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Winks's waist but Winks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bates off to one side.
Winks takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A clash of legs there as Winks blocks the low kick.
Winks lands with a straight right. Bates didn't see that one coming.
Bates walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bates moves out of range of the leg kick from Winks.
Bates fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Bates misses.
Bates throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bates uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bates looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
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!
Bates needs to keep his hands up - Winks had a free shot at his head there.
Bates is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Winks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bates sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bates slips a jab from Winks.
Winks lands a leg kick that knocks Bates off balance momentarily.
Armad Bates is winning the standup battle so far.
Winks fails with the takedown.
A nice leg kick lands there from Winks.
Bates doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Winks misses with a low kick.
Bates changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bates shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Winks sprawls well. Winks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bates gets slowly back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armad Bates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bates misses with a wild body shot.
Winks chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Winks gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Winks is working for a kimura but Bates is defending it quite comfortably.
Bates trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Winks manages to pass to mount!
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!
Winks tries to control but Bates wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Winks is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bates has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates regains half guard.
Bates is trying to maintain the position but Winks is very close to passing his half guard.
Winks is keen to just control but Bates is a slippery customer.

Winks seems to be working for a kimura but Bates defends the submission attempt.
Bates trying to control here.

Bates actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Bates is defending against the submission attempts here by Winks.
Bates tries to get to full guard but Winks has control of the leg.

Winks is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bates defends it well.
Bates has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Winks is working away from the top position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bates checks a leg kick.
Bates appears to be looking for a big counter.
Bates throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Winks on the side of the head.
Bates misses the shot to the body.
Bates works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bates scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Winks lands with a shot to the body.
Winks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bates. Bates obviously looking to wear him down.
Winks tries a low kick but Bates avoids it.
Bates digs a good body shot into Winks's ribs.
Bates bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Winks stuns Bates with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bates looks to throw the jab but Winks is out of range.
Winks scores with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Winks tries to land a front kick but Bates steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bates stuns Winks with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Winks scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Winks fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bates sprawls well initially but Winks persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bates gets full guard.

Bates working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Winks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Winks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Bates throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Winks escapes and throws Bates's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Winks is looking to take a break and control but Bates is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bates tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Winks wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Winks goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Bates rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Winks's guard! Nice work there by Bates!

Winks is looking for a triangle but Bates pushes his legs off easily.
Bates trying to control but Winks is working from the bottom.
Bates content to stall in guard here.
Winks keeping moving, preventing Bates from controlling successfully.
Winks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bates manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates working a defensive guard here.
Winks looking to sit in guard and control but Bates gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Winks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bates defends it easily.
Bates trying to control the position from guard on top but Winks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Bates content to stall in guard here.
Bates wants to control from the top but Winks keeps moving.

Bates got a little sloppy there for a moment and Winks has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bates has managed to get both his arms back between Winks's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Armad Bates.
I think Bates 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!