PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Richard Crotch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyrone Bate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crotch kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Why Can't We Be Friends? by War. Richard Crotch had a look across the ring there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Crotch
vs
Bate

150 cm
28
138 lbs
15 - 7 - 1

166 cm
22
144 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Richard Crotch!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tyrone Bate!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crotch throws a poor cross that misses

and Bate counters with a single leg into guard. Crotch didn't expect that.

Crotch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bate is aware though and is defending well.
Bate trying to control but Crotch is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Bate works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Crotch avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bate.
Bate throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bate looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Bate seems content to control.
Crotch is not content to let Bate control the position.

Crotch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Crotch is pressing down on Bate's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bate tries to free his leg and advance position but Crotch is retaining full guard.
Bate trying to control but Crotch is working from the bottom.

Crotch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bate defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bate is looking to work some ground and pound but Crotch has wrist control.

Crotch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bate gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bate trying to control but Crotch is working from the bottom.
Bate distracts Crotch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bate lands a couple of digs.
Bate postures up and lands a big shot to Crotch's brow.

Crotch has his foot on Bate's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bate works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Crotch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Crotch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bate is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bate content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bate wants to control from the top but Crotch keeps moving.
Bate stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crotch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bate wants to control from the top but Crotch keeps moving.
Bate lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Crotch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bate wants to pass the guard but Crotch is keeping the position.

Crotch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Crotch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bate defends well.
Bate has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bate distracts Crotch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bate tries to free his leg and advance position but Crotch is retaining full guard.
Crotch being controlled here, momentarily.
Bate is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bate wants to control from the top but Crotch keeps moving.
Bate throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bate wants to pass the guard but Crotch is keeping the position.

Crotch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Crotch is looking for a triangle but Bate pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bate tries to free his leg and advance position but Crotch is retaining full guard.
Bate stands up over Crotch, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Crotch keeping moving, preventing Bate from controlling successfully.
Crotch might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Crotch looking to control.
Bate trying to control the position from guard on top but Crotch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bate pushes down on Crotch's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Crotch gets full guard.
Bate wants to control from the top but Crotch keeps moving.

Crotch is looking for a triangle but Bate pushes his legs off easily.
Bate connects with a couple of short punches.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Crotch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bate can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Crotch isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Bate stacks Crotch on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Bate!
Crotch is breathing heavily.
Bate trying to control the position but Crotch is working away.
Bate working the head and body with strikes.
Crotch is looking to reverse the position.
Bate working the head and body with strikes.
Bate lands a decent elbow from side control.
Bate wants to control but Crotch is keeping him busy.
Crotch is looking to reverse the position.
Crotch tries to escape but Bate is in control.
Bate wants to lay and pray for a moment but Crotch keeps working.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Crotch is trying to get back to half guard.
Bate working away.
Crotch is trying to improve his position.
Bate working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Crotch tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bate scoring with punches and elbows.
Crotch sneaks back into half guard.

Crotch actively working from the bottom here.
Bate is nestled in close to Crotch, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Bate working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bate is trying to control the action in half guard but Crotch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Crotch is looking for a sweep. Bate is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Crotch trying to control here.

Crotch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bate is nestled in close to Crotch, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Crotch has hold of Bate's hands but Bate slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Crotch trying to hold on to Bate's head to control him but Bate postures up.
Bate drops an elbow to the side of Crotch's head.
Bate is trying to control. Crotch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Crotch taking some punishment here, with Bate in his half guard.
Bate lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bate thows a huge punch but Crotch dodges it nicely.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Bate is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Crotch is just riding it out for now. Bate eventually gives up the hold.
Crotch tries to roll over but Bate keeps him under control.

Crotch is defending against the submission attempts here by Bate.
Crotch wants to get back to full guard.
Bate is trying to control. Crotch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Crotch trying to control from the bottom.
Bate not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Crotch is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bate pulls his head out easily.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Bate is trying to control the action in half guard but Crotch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Crotch has hold of Bate's hands but Bate slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bate working the head and body with strikes.
Bate lands strikes from half guard.
Bate is trying to control the action in half guard but Crotch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bate missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Crotch is trying to stand back up but Bate is controlling him
Bate thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Crotch's head.
Bate not doing much here.
Bate seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Crotch does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Crotch actively working from the bottom here.
Crotch is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bate's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bate's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyrone Bate dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Crotch throws a right hand that misses
and Bate counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A low kick from Crotch misses
and Bate connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bate scores with a shot to the body.
Crotch misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bate counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Crotch misses with a takedown
and Bate counters with an outside leg kick.
Crotch throws a lazy uppercut

so Bate counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Crotch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Crotch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bate can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bate pushing down on Crotch's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bate lands with a punch from half guard.
Bate trying to control from half guard but Crotch is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crotch wants to improve his position but Bate is controlling well.
Bate seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Crotch does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Crotch is looking to control Bate's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Crotch avoid being mounted?
Bate wants to control but Crotch is keeping him busy.
Crotch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Crotch.
Bate throwing strikes from guard but Crotch blocks nicely.
Crotch has momentary wrist control but Bate slips an elbow through the middle.

Bate avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bate trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Bate trying to control but Crotch is working from the bottom.

Crotch is looking for a triangle but Bate pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bate not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Bate drops back looking for a leg! Crotch is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Crotch manages to kick Bate off! Bate jumps back into Crotch's guard.
Bate scoring with some ground and pound.

Crotch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bate is aware though and is defending well.
Bate passes Crotch's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bate is nestled in close to Crotch, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Crotch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crotch is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bate pulls his head out easily.
Bate works his foot free and advances to mount.
Bate wants to control the pace but Crotch is squirming around nicely.
Bate has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Crotch's face.
Bate looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bate landing strikes, looking to finish!
Crotch is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bate scoring with strikes but Crotch is staying in there.
Crotch is trying to stand.
Bate looking to finish Crotch with some ground and pound. This is bad for Crotch!
Bate landing strikes from the mount.

Bate is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Crotch is surviving well by controlling Bate's body position as best he can.

Bate jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Crotch manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Crotch is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bate's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Bate is just content to waste time from the top position. Crotch takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Bate connects with a couple of short punches.

Crotch has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Bate is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Crotch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Crotch tries to bench press Bate off him but Bate keeps the position.
Bate moves into full mount!
The referee warns Crotch that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bate trying to control but Crotch is having none of it.
Crotch is trying desperately to improve position.
Bate putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Bate looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Bate tries to control but Crotch wriggling away.
Crotch is in a horrible position here. Bate smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Crotch is in a horrible position here. Bate smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Crotch is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Bate trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Crotch's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Bate with good strikes from the mount here!
Crotch wants to control but Bate is having none of it.

Bate is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Crotch is surviving well by controlling Bate's body position as best he can.
Bate working Crotch over with strikes here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Bate can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Crotch is looking to escape.
Crotch tries to reverse the position but Bate maintains control.
Bate looking to finish Crotch with some ground and pound. This is bad for Crotch!
Crotch taking shots to the head.
Crotch wants to get back to his feet.
Bate breaks from Crotch's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Crotch is rocked!
Crotch is wriggling around trying to escape.
Crotch is squirming around, avoiding Bate's attempts to control the action.
Tyrone Bate has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Crotch tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Bate looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Bate lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Crotch hang on?
Bate won't let Crotch get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Bate looking to finish Crotch with some ground and pound. This is bad for Crotch!
Bate lands a nice shot to the head.
Bate cracks Crotch with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Crotch is looking to get to half guard.
Bate with shots to the head and body - Crotch looks very uncomfortable down there.
Bate cracks Crotch with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Bate lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Crotch is bucking up trying to escape but Bate cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Bate trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bate fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Bate sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Bate looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Crotch sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Crotch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Crotch is looking to control Bate's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Crotch avoid being mounted?
Bate trying to control from half guard but Crotch is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyrone Bate showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Crotch throws an overhand right that lands on Bate's shoulder, as Bate tries to avoid the shot.
Bate throws a sloppy head kick and Crotch moves out of range easily.
Bate smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
An inside leg kick lands from Bate.
Crotch swings widly with a right hand
and Bate cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Crotch misses with a jab to the body
and Bate counters with an inside leg kick.
Crotch slips a jab from Bate.
Bate throws a body punch but Crotch moves out of range.
Crotch misses with a lunging right hand

and Bate counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bate has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Crotch is looking for a sweep. Bate is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Crotch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Crotch is trying to stand back up but Bate is controlling him
Bate working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bate is looking to advance position but Crotch won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bate connects with a nice short shot to Crotch's temple.
Crotch is not content to let Bate control the position.
Crotch wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crotch is not content to let Bate control the position.
Crotch is looking for a sweep. Bate is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bate seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Crotch does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Crotch is trying to control but can't.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bate is keen to just control but Crotch is a slippery customer.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tyrone Bate hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A jab from Crotch misses.
Crotch throws a poor cross that misses
and Bate counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Crotch misses with a right hand
and Bate counters with a head kick. That will keep Crotch thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Crotch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bate throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Crotch misses with a lunging right hand
and Bate counters with an outside leg kick.
Bate misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Crotch.
An inside leg kick from Bate misses.
Richard Crotch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bate throws a head kick that misses.
Crotch throws a right hand that misses
and Bate counters with a leg kick.
Crotch misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Bate counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Crotch!

Bate looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
You get the feeling that Crotch really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Crotch is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bate looking to finish Crotch with some ground and pound. This is bad for Crotch!
Bate can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Crotch is looking to escape.
Crotch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bate controlling from mount.
Bate lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bate unloading with bombs!
Crotch tries to hold on but Bate postures up.
Bate lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bate trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Crotch is trying to stand.
Bate trying to control but Crotch is having none of it.
Bate landing strikes from the mount and Crotch is in trouble!
Crotch is desperately trying to improve his position but Bate has a good base and remains in mount.
Crotch wants to hold on but Bate pushes him away.
Crotch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bate working the ground and pound effectively.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bate sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bate has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Crotch's face.
Crotch tries to lock up and control but Bate gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bate prevents Crotch from getting the reversal.
Bate trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Crotch tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bate punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bate lands a heavy elbow.
Oh Crotch is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Bate punishing his opponent with strikes.

Bate with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Crotch wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
Bate lands a heavy elbow.
Crotch is desperately trying to improve his position but Bate has a good base and remains in mount.
Bate landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bate landing strikes from the mount.
Crotch takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Bate's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tyrone Bate!
Tyrone Bate is the new bantamweight champion!