PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Colton Cates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Redding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Cates
vs
Redding

186 cm
25
295 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
290 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Colton Cates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tom Redding!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Eddie Farnsworth and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cates dodges the punch combination from Redding.
Cates takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cates slips a jab and a cross from Redding.
Cates bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Redding throws a looping overhand right but Cates ducks down to avoid it.
Redding stalks Cates and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cates's face. Cates staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Colton Cates has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Redding misses.
Cates shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Redding as he avoids it easily.
Cates moves out of range as Redding strikes.
Redding will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Cates throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Redding was covering up waiting for the punch and Cates finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Redding wants to stand up but Cates is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cates thows a big elbow that misses.
Cates is in close to Redding's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Redding can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cates wants to control from the top but Redding keeps moving.
Cates throws a big right hand that misses.
Cates with a nice head shot there.
Cates has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Redding wants to stand but Cates is controlling the position.
Cates stays in close to Redding's body and controls the position.
Cates throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Redding really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cates. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redding working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cates.
Cates scoring with some ground and pound.
Cates scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Redding wants to stand but Cates is controlling the position.
Redding looks gassed!

Cates is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cates landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cates throws a big right hand that misses.
Cates trying to control but Redding is working from the bottom.
Cates in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cates won't allow Redding to get back to his feet.

Cates drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cates jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cates connects with a couple of short punches.
Cates throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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.
Redding is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cates is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cates shoots in for a takedown but Redding shows good takedown defense.
Redding misses with a jab, cross combination.
Redding throws a hook to the side of Cates's head but Cates sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Redding throws a right and a left that Cates avoids nicely.
Cates shoots in for a double leg but Redding sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Colton Cates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Redding misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cates.
Redding throws a nice looking combination but Cates bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Redding dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Colton Cates's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cates staying out of range there.
Colton Cates is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Redding throws a nice looking combination but Cates bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Redding misses with a hook.
Redding misses with a looping left.
A combination from Redding does no damage.
Nice takedown defense from Redding. No joy for Cates on that attempt.
Redding misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cates ducks under a wild hook from Redding.
Redding lands a lovely overhand right.
Redding is breathing heavily.
Cates dodges the punch combination from Redding.
Tom Redding seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redding is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cates.

Cates feints and as Redding raises his hands in defense, Cates changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cates works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Cates prevents Redding from standing back up.

Cates wants to work for an arm triangle but Redding is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cates lands a nice short elbow.
Cates not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cates wants to pass to mount but Redding is defending the position.
Redding tries to kick Cates off but Cates keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cates lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cates seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Redding does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Redding is looking to escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Redding slaps away a takedown attempt from Cates, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Redding throws a right and a left that Cates avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Redding misses.
Cates moves out of range as Redding strikes.

Cates shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Redding trying desperately to get to his feet.

Cates jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Redding manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Cates tries to score with some ground and pound. Redding controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Cates thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Redding is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cates asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cates lands a few punches from side control.
Cates creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Redding sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cates tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Cates misses with the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Redding is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cates asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Colton Cates dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Colton Cates's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Redding stuffs the takedown.
Cates slips under a jab.
Cates avoids a punch combination nicely.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Redding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Redding misses with a wild combination.
Cates takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Some wild striking there from Redding.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Redding.
Redding defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cates.
Cates shoots for a double leg takedown but Redding sprawls well. He's pushed Cates's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Colton Cates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Redding missing with a left hand there. Cates was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Redding cracks Cates with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Redding 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.
Redding rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cates moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Redding might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Redding misses with a series of wild punches.
Redding looks to land a combination but Cates avoids it well.

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.
Redding avoids the head kick by Cates.
Redding getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Redding defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cates.
Redding throws a shot from downtown. Cates moves away and avoids it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Redding, as that shot connected.
Redding defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cates.
A big left from Redding misses.
Tom Redding is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Redding fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Redding does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redding swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cates fails with a takedown attempt.
Cates takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Redding throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cates.
Nice defenses there by Cates.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cates.
Redding thows a body shot but no joy.

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.
Redding misses with a two punch combination.
Redding throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cates sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Redding lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cates circles away quickly and effectively.

Cates changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Redding looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Cates is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Redding has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cates is putting a hurting on Redding here, landing some big shots from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Check out the look on Cates's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Cates working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Redding comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Redding has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Redding!