PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ash Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Avery (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bates
vs
Avery

194 cm
23
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Nations Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ash Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ian Avery!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avery jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bates drops down looking for a counter takedown but Avery sprawls and moves away.
Avery looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Avery looks to land a right hand but Bates moved out of range.
Avery throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bates sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bates attempts a counter takedown but Avery avoids it well and moves away.
Bates seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Bates really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Avery misses with an uppercut.
Avery misses with a body shot.
Bates half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A swing and a miss from Avery.
Avery throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bates.
Bates avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bates shoots in for a takedown but Avery shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Avery throws a series of punches but Bates moves out of range.
Avery loads up on a big right hand but Bates slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avery throws a big shot that misses.

Bates fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Avery to the ground. Bates is now in Avery's guard.
Bates lands a couple of digs.
Bates pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Avery is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bates thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avery utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Avery keeping moving, preventing Bates from controlling successfully.
Bates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Avery swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Avery tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Avery swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bates trying to control but Avery is working from the bottom.
Bates is really struggling to control Avery but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bates wants to pass the guard but Avery is keeping the position.
Bates throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Bates 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.
Avery is pulling down on Bates's head to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice takedown defense from Avery. No joy for Bates on that attempt.

Bates closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Avery's guard.

Bates drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bates jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Avery really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bates. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Bates 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates pushing down on Avery's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Bates is trying to work for a kimura but Avery is defending well.

Bates is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Bates is working for a kimura but Avery is defending it quite comfortably.

Bates is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Avery has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Avery does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bates is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
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 Avery is just riding it out for now. Bates eventually gives up the hold.
Bates wants to lay and pray for a moment but Avery keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Avery is looking to control Bates's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Avery avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ash Bates will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bates bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bates tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Avery defends well and Bates ends up having to push Avery into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A jab from Avery does it's job there.
Avery misses the jab.
Ian Avery seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Avery slips under a jab.
Bates fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Avery avoids it really well and circles away.
Avery falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bates counters with a takedown into side control.

Bates is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Avery knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ash Bates overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bates tries for a kimura but Avery is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avery prevents Bates from moving into mount.
Bates lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Avery is trying to control Bates's posture but Bates avoids it.
Bates in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Bates trying to control the action but Avery is working from the bottom.
Avery tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bates grinds an elbow into Avery's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avery is looking to reverse the position.

Bates is trying to get an arm triangle but Avery is defending well.

Bates tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bates wants to control but Avery is keeping him busy.
Bates cracks Avery with a big right hand but Avery just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Bates is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Avery knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Avery can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bates trying to control the action but Avery is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Bates lands a couple of good shots and Avery has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Bates connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Avery to escape the position.
Avery is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Bates.
Avery is trapped and Bates is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Bates 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.

Bates looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Avery taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ash Bates!