PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Lee (ranked 66 p4p, 332 weight class) and Armad Bates (ranked 6 p4p, 42 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lee
vs
Bates

185 cm
27
180
21 - 8 - 0

190 cm
30
183
14 - 11 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

SynCity Fightwear

Phoenix

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Lee!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Armad Bates!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bates misses the shot to the body.
Lee throws a body punch but Bates moves out of range.
Bates swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bates ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lee moves away.
Decent striking displayed by Bates there.
Bates fails with the takedown
letting Lee counter with a right hand.
Lee misses with a looping right.
Lee walks into a jab.
Bates keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lee uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bates.
Bates throws a lazy right hand but Lee sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bates scores with a jab to the head.
Lee lands with an overhand left.
Lee looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bates misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bates.
Bates takes a swing at Lee's ribcage but misses.
Lee was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Bates has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Bates misses with a body shot.
Bates misses with a hook
and Lee makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lee closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bates moves out of range of the body kick.
Lee walks into a stiff left hand from Bates.
Lee's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bates connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lee scrambles back to his feet.
Bates moves out of range as Lee strikes.
Bates jabs at Lee's body.
Armad Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lee tries to score with a low kick but Bates moves his leg out of the way.
Lee looks to score with a jab to the body but Bates is just out of range.
Bates swings widly with a right hand
and Lee counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bates thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lee throws a head kick but Bates moves out of range.
Bates jabs Lee right on the nose. Lee blinks but takes it well.
Lee dips to his left and cracks Bates with an uppercut!
Bates misses the shot to the body.
Lee ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bates moves away.
Lee checks a leg kick nicely.
Lee throws a nice looking combination but Bates bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lee takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A telegraphed right hand from Bates misses the target.
Bates throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jimmy Lee is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lee takes a swing at Bates's ribcage but misses.
Lee takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lee doesn't seem bothered though.
Bates throws a hook to the side of Lee's head but Lee sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lee throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lee scores with a body shot.
Lee throws a body punch but Bates moves out of range.
Bates swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A quick step to the side and Lee tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A bone on bone clash there as Bates blocks the leg kick.
A nice side step and Bates releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Bates takes a swing at Lee's ribcage but misses.
Lee is looking to wear down Bates with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Lee uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bates.
Lee swings for the body but Bates moves out of range.
Bates uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lee.
Bates lands an overhand right.
Lee displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bates.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bates.
Bates avoids the body shot from Lee.
Bates is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Lee avoids the body shot from Bates.
Lee ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bates moves away.
Bates misses with a takedown attempt - Lee sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jimmy Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Armad Bates.
Lee looks to score with a jab to the body but Bates is just out of range.
Lee throws a shot from downtown. Bates moves away and avoids it.
Lee throws a jab but it's blocked by Bates.
Lee smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lee throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bates appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Lee misses with a straight left.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Armad Bates dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lee slips a jab from Bates.
Bates throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Lee takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lee misses with a looping right.
Bates changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lee ducks under a wild hook from Bates.
Lee comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lee takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lee throws a shot from downtown. Bates moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Lee blocks a leg kick.
Lee throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lee looks to score with a jab to the body but Bates is just out of range.
Bates misses with a left hand
and Lee counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee sizes up Bates with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bates throws an off balance right hand
and Lee counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bates throws a sloppy body shot
and Lee counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bates thinking.
Bates ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lee misses with a body shot.
Nice body kick there by Lee.
The fighters circling - Bates throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bates connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Lee's hands.
Bates on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bates misses with an uppercut. Lee saw that one coming.
Bates displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lee throws out the jab.
Lee is looking to score with low kicks.
Lee swings for the body but Bates moves out of range.
Bates wants to counter the offense by Lee and move into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates scores with a hook to the body. Lee takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lee slips a straight right by Bates.
Lee displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bates throws out the jab.
Lee takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bates uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lee.
Bates throws out a counter right but Lee avoids it with no problem.
Lee checks a low kick from Bates.
Lee fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bates manages to avoid it.
Bates throws a poor cross that misses
and Lee counters with a low kick, right behind Bates 's knee.
A good leg kick by Lee.
Lee takes a swing at Bates's ribcage but misses.
Bates lands an overhand right.
Bates shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lee as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee throws a leg kick but Bates sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A punch combination from Lee misses.
Bates throws out a counter right but Lee avoids it with no problem.
Lee is looking to clinch but Bates is avoiding it.
Bates fails to land with a series of punches.
Bates throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Bates lands a really nice looking cross but Lee seems unphased.
Lee ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bates moves away.
Lee throws a body shot but no joy.
Bates misses the shot to the body.
Bates scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bates misses with a hook
and Lee counters with a nice body shot.
Bates avoids the body shot from Lee.
Bates lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Bates drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bates looking to pass the guard.
Bates trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Lee knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bates on the ground.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Armad Bates will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lee is looking to land body kicks.
Bates takes a swing at Lee's ribcage but misses.
Lee attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bates ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lee misses with a wild body shot.
Bates throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lee swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Lee uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bates.
Bates dips to his left and cracks Lee with an uppercut!
Bates uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates looks to throw the jab but Lee is out of range.
Lee looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Bates throws a looping overhand right but Lee ducks down to avoid it.
Bates lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Lee misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bates.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lee takes a swing at Bates's ribcage but misses.
Armad Bates seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bates misses with a jab to the body
and Lee counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bates tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lee was well out of range. Poor timing from Bates.
Lee moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bates misses with a hook
and Lee counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bates moves out of range of the strikes.
Bates misses the body punch
and Lee counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lee throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bates lands with a nice body punch.
Lee takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bates misses with a left hand
and Lee makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lee takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bates ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lee moves away.
Bates fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Lee misses its target.
Bates keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bates uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lee.
Bates misses with a hook.

Lee closes the distance and clinches.
Bates lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lee backwards.
Lee prevents a body shot from Bates.
Lee landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bates takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lee misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bates.

Lee breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lee scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Bates comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates has his takedown stuffed
and Lee connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lee throws a shot to the body.
Lee swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bates looks to land a right hand but Lee moved out of range.
Bates misses with a looping left.
Bates fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lee manages to avoid it.
Bates throws a right hand that misses
and Lee counters with a nice uppercut.
Bates throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Bates misses with a straight right.
Lee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bates.
Lee swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Bates bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lee's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates moves out of range of the body kick from Lee.
Bates digs a good body shot into Lee's ribs.
Lee scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bates doesn't seem bothered though.

Bates fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lee sprawls well initially but Bates persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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 is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Bates looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Bates is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Armad Bates just about did enough to take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bates connects with the punch.

Bates gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lee lands a shoulder strike.
Lee tries a body shot but Bates blocks it.

Lee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lee.
Bates lands a nice hook to Lee's body. Lee takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bates misses with a hook to the body
and Lee counters with a good low kick that Bates was not able to check.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lee counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lee lands with a good body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lee. Bates does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lee looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bates throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates avoids the body shot from Lee.
Bates scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bates lands with an overhand left.
Bates throws a big shot that misses.
Lee misses with a wild body shot.
Lee misses the shot to the body.
Lee avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bates misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lee swings for the body but Bates moves out of range.
Lee throws a right hand that misses
and Bates cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bates swings widly with a right hand
and Lee counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bates throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lee counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Bates throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lee thinks about countering with a body kick.
Lee swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bates counters with a straight right hand.
Bates avoids the body shot from Lee.
Bates does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Bates scores with a hook to the body. Lee takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
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 swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lee counters with a leg kick.
Lee paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lee misses with a body kick.
Bates cracks Lee with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Lee cracks Bates with a right hand to the side of the head.
Jab by Bates.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates stuns Lee with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Lee misses the target.
Bates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bates.
Lee appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Bates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lee misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bates.
Bates scores with the left hand. Lee knows he should have avoided that one.
A jab from Bates misses.
Bates wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bates connects with a body shot.
Bates throws a body shot but no joy.
Bates throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.
Lee takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lee misses the jab.
Lee ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bates moves away.
And Bates tries to counter it with a takedown but Lee pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Bates moves in looking to clinch but Lee pushes him off.
Lee appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Bates stuns Lee with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bates fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lee just misses with a punch to the body.
Bates rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lee counters with a body kick that stops Bates in his tracks momentarily.
Lee misses with a wild body shot.
Lee swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bates.
Lee misses with a kick to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Armad Bates will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bates takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bates swings for the body but Lee moves out of range.
Lee uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bates.
Lee swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bates swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lee misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bates.
Bates swings widly with a right hand
and Lee counters with a nice body kick.
Bates tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lee was well out of range. Poor timing from Bates.
Bates scores with a sloppy right hand. Lee should have avoided that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee throws out a loose jab but Bates uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lee moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lee misses with a wild body shot.
Bates lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates loads up on a big right hand but Lee slips the punch.
Good leg kick by Lee.

Bates drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bates wants to pass the guard but Lee is keeping the position.
Bates passes Lee's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lee is looking to improve his position.
Bates seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lee does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Bates is looking for a kimura but Lee is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bates to get the leverage.
Lee is looking for a sweep. Bates is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jimmy Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bates is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lee is just riding it out for now. Bates eventually gives up the hold.
Bates content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Lee is defending against the submission attempts here by Bates.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lee defends it well.
Lee is not content to let Bates control the position.
Armad Bates has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lee controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lee has a hand on Bates's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Bates takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Lee wants to hold on but Bates pushes him away.

Bates goes for an armbar but Lee turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Lee.

Bates looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bates is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armad Bates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bates winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 45:50
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 45:50
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armad Bates!
Armad Bates is the new welterweight champion!
A relieved looking Armad Bates thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.