PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Goran Acker (ranked 2264 p4p, 962 weight class) and Master Bates (ranked 287 p4p, 131 weight class). Master Bates has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Acker
vs
Bates

185 cm
26
177
6 - 2 - 0

150 cm
26
170
9 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Highland Clothing
Island Boys Nutrition

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Goran Acker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Master Bates!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Acker cracks Bates with a good jab.
A cross from Acker lands.
Acker punishes Bates's body with a nice straight punch.

Bates shoots in and gets a takedown into Acker's guard.
Bates slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bates in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Bates thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Acker is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Bates has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Bates is trying to get an arm triangle but Acker is defending well.
Acker is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Bates tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Bates looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Bates has his takedown stuffed
and Acker counters with a nice body shot.
Acker lands with an uppercut that bounces Bates off the cage and back into range.

It looks like Master Bates has been cut.
Bates tries to clinch but Acker moves away
and Acker counters with a right hand to the body.
Bates takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Bates with a lazy takedown attempt
and Acker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A lazy left from Acker finds it's target.

Bates shoots in and bounces Acker off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Acker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bates manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acker wants to stand and escape but instead Bates has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Bates seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Bates.
Bates won't allow Acker to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Goran Acker will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Master Bates's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Acker avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Acker appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Acker tests Bates's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Bates manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Acker on his heels. He'll look to pass Acker's guard now, I'm sure.
Acker wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Bates manages to pass to side control.

Bates with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ground and pound from Bates.
Bates winds up and cracks Acker with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acker wants to get back to full guard.
Bates slows the pace down in half guard.
Yet more stalling tactics from Bates.
Bates looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Acker wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bates not doing much here.
Acker is looking to control Bates's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Acker avoid being mounted?
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bates in particular looking to stall.
Bates looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Acker is defending against the submission attempts here by Bates.
Acker looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Acker throws a shot to the body.
Acker punishes Bates's body with a nice straight punch.
Master Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acker connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Master Bates is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bates shoots and misses
and Acker counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Acker is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Acker lands with a good body shot.
Bates is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Acker lands a jab to the nose.
Bates takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Acker scores with a nice strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Acker fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Goran Acker is winning the standup battle so far.

Bates looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Acker!
Bates fails to land a wild elbow strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Goran Acker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Master Bates's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Acker connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Acker moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bates drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Bates shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Acker's guard.
Acker can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bates controls the pace.
Acker 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.
Bates slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Acker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bates with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bates working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bates stays in close to Acker's body and controls the position.

Bates gets to his feet - Acker follows without any prompting.

Bates shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Bates was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bates is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Acker will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
An elbow from Bates crashes against the mat.
Acker prevents Bates from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates lands an elbow.
Bates working the head and body with strikes.
Master Bates has got the better of the ground game so far.
Acker stops Bates from passing to mount.
Acker seems a little lost for a moment, as Bates dominates the positioning.
Goran Acker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Acker is trying to get back to half guard.

Bates tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bates tries to move into full mount but can't pass Acker's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates controls the position.
Acker is looking to regain half guard here but Bates keeps moving and retains side control.
Bates tries to advance to mount but Acker denies him.
Master Bates has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bates scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Acker to see if he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Master Bates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Acker 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Goran Acker!