PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Jokic (ranked 4187 p4p, 4144 weight class) and Rodney Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Jokic might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 2sdxrt3all - Bible. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jokic
vs
Bates

189 cm
20
206
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
215
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nikola Jokic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rodney Bates!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Anthony Taglia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jokic lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bates at a distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Bates blocks the leg kick.
Jokic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jokic with a nice cross.

Bates fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Jokic to the ground. Bates is now in Jokic's guard.
Bates should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Jokic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jokic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bates on the ground.
Bates sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jokic's guard.

Bates postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Jokic to stand up.
Bates checks a leg kick.
Jokic tests Bates's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jokic throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bates manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Jokic on his heels. He'll look to pass Jokic's guard now, I'm sure.
Jokic wants to stand but Bates is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bates looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Jokic is looking to stand up but Bates isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two 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's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Jokic lands a nice hook to Bates's body. Bates takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jokic works the jab nicely.
Jokic blocks a head kick by Bates.
Jab from Jokic.
Jokic scores with a three punch combo!
Jokic connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A leg kick checked by Bates.
Bates is looking to clinch but Jokic is avoiding it.

Bates has Jokic up against the cage in a clinch.
Jokic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokic has had enough of the clinch but Bates keeps him there for the moment.
Bates prevents Jokic from breaking the clinch.
Jokic wants to break free but Bates has control.
Bates wants a takedown.
Bates has Jokic pressed against the cage.
Jokic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bates has him pressed against the cage.
Bates tries a body shot but Jokic blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Jokic's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bates throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bates controlling the action here for a moment.
Jokic wants to break free but Bates has control.

That's four 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.
Jokic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jokic wants to break free but Bates has control.
Bates pressing his opponent against the cage.
Jokic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jokic tries to break the clinch but Bates is controlling the position.

Bates escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jokic tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bates is able to avoid easily.

Bates feints and as Jokic raises his hands in defense, Bates changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bates slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bates advances position into side control!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Jokic dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jokic lands with a right hand.
Bates throws a low kick, looking for Jokic's leg but Jokic calmly moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Jokic - just one landing.
Jokic lands with a nice body punch.
A nice combination there by Jokic.

It looks like Rodney Bates has been cut.
Jokic swinging wildly here.
Bates swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd cheers as Jokic lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bates doesn't seem phased though.
Nikola Jokic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jokic scores with a nice head shot.
Bates gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jokic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokic lands a head shot.

Bates clinches with his opponent.

Bates breaks from the clinch.

Bates closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Jokic's guard.
Bates is breathing heavily.
Jokic is looking to stand back up but Bates counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Jokic.
Jokic looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bates seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bates lands strikes from half guard.

Bates is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Jokic is looking to escape.
Jokic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bates can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rodney Bates has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jokic is trying to stand back up but Bates is controlling him

Bates stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Jokic to get to his feet.

Jokic gets caught napping as Bates dives in and scores a takedown. Jokic manages to retain guard.
Bates is standing up over Jokic. Jokic looks to escape but Bates dives into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bates is trying to get an arm triangle but Jokic is defending well.
Jokic is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bates has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokic is looking to get back to his feet here but Bates is keeping cool and he's managed to take Jokic's back.
Jokic is trying to stand back up.

Bates is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Jokic has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Bates controls the position.
Jokic trying to get back to his feet but Bates is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bates has got one arm under Jokic's chin. This could be trouble... Jokic trying to control the other hand but Bates gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Jokic has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rodney Bates!