PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ars Moriendi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Moriendi comes to the cage accompanied by Gojira- The Art of Dying. Ars Moriendi has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Moriendi
vs
Bates

185 cm
23
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ars Moriendi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Darren Bates!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moriendi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Moriendi is defended easily by Bates.
Moriendi shoots in for a takedown but Bates shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown by Moriendi or perhaps it was just good defense by Bates which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ars Moriendi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bates fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Bates shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Moriendi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Bates drops back looking for a leg! Moriendi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Moriendi manages to kick Bates off! Bates jumps back into Moriendi's guard.
Moriendi wants to stand up but Bates is controlling him.
Bates advances to half guard.
Bates wants to lay and pray for a moment but Moriendi keeps working.
Bates uses his free foot to push down on Moriendi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Moriendi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Moriendi is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Bates sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bates looking for a guillotine from mount but Moriendi is having none of it.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Bates has eaten all the pies!
Bates thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bates looks gassed!
Bates misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Moriendi is trying to stand.
Bates can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Moriendi is looking to escape.
Moriendi'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.
Bates thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bates thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Bates tries to control but Moriendi wriggling away.
Moriendi wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates looking to finish with strikes here!
Moriendi really wants to buck Bates off and get back to his feet.

Bates working for a submission but Moriendi is keeping him at bay.

Bates looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Moriendi is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bates looking to control and managing it successfully.
Moriendi wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Bates.
Bates tries to control but Moriendi wriggling away.

Bates wants to finish this one by submission but Moriendi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Bates.
Moriendi wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bates feints and as Moriendi raises his hands in defense, Bates changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Moriendi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bates is controlling him.
Moriendi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Moriendi keeping moving, preventing Bates from controlling successfully.
Moriendi is wriggling around but Bates manages to pass to half guard.
Bates slows the pace down in half guard.
Moriendi wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bates is looking to advance position but Moriendi won't allow it.
Moriendi is trying to stand back up but Bates is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Moriendi doesn't manage to clinch there - Bates circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Moriendi as Bates shoots in.
Moriendi shoots in for a takedown but Bates shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Moriendi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bates shoots in and drives through. Moriendi sprawls well.
Bates fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ars Moriendi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Bates.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Moriendi.
Bates shoots for a double leg takedown but Moriendi sprawls well. He's pushed Bates's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Moriendi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Moriendi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Moriendi misses with an uppercut. Bates saw that one coming.
Bates shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Moriendi defends it nicely.
Moriendi tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Moriendi takes the fight into the clinch.

Moriendi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Moriendi shoots in and drives through. Bates sprawls well.
Bates shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Moriendi as he jumps to the side.

Moriendi forces Bates back against the cage and clinches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Moriendi.

Moriendi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bates closes the distance and clinches up with Moriendi, looking for a takedown. Bates pushes Moriendi against the cage but Moriendi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Moriendi shoots and misses

and Bates counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Moriendi's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Moriendi manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Bates doesn't manage to clinch there - Moriendi circles away.
Ars Moriendi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moriendi misses with a takedown

and Bates moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moriendi blocks the elbow strike.
Moriendi prevents Bates from breaking the clinch.

Moriendi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bates fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Moriendi sprawls well initially but Bates persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Bates is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Moriendi is just riding it out for now. Bates eventually gives up the hold.
Bates trying to control from half guard but Moriendi is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moriendi wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if Bates is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moriendi looks like he's trying to stand up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Moriendi gets caught flat footed, as Bates shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bates is looking to work some ground and pound but Moriendi has wrist control.
Moriendi wants to stand and escape but Bates is having none of it.
Bates pushing down on Moriendi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moriendi is trying to stand up here but Bates is controlling him well.
Bates works his way into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Bates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Moriendi wants to clinch up but Bates keeps it at a distance.
Moriendi is looking to clinch but Bates is avoiding it.

Bates shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Moriendi's guard.
Bates prevents Moriendi from getting back to his feet.
Bates is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Moriendi wants to stand up but Bates is controlling him.
Bates trying to control but Moriendi is working from the bottom.
Moriendi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates trying to control the position from guard on top but Moriendi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bates takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Bates circles away from the clinch attempt

so Bates counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bates wants to control from the top but Moriendi keeps moving.
Moriendi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bates prevents Moriendi from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates trying to control but Moriendi is working from the bottom.
Moriendi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bates on the ground.
Moriendi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bates is controlling him.
Bates works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Bates wants to work for an arm triangle but Moriendi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Moriendi wants to get back to his feet.
Bates trying to control from half guard but Moriendi is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moriendi wants to get back to his feet.

Bates is looking for a kimura but Moriendi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bates to get the leverage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bates tries for a takedown but Moriendi circles away easily

and Moriendi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Moriendi holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Moriendi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bates shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Moriendi sprawls well. Moriendi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bates gets slowly back to his feet.
Moriendi feints and then cracks Bates's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bates down.

That's four 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.

Bates rushes Moriendi and presses him up against the cage.

Moriendi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bates shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Moriendi but Moriendi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ars Moriendi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Bates.
Bates looks for a takedown but Moriendi sprawls well.
Bates keeps the fight on the outside.

Moriendi moves into the clinch.
Moriendi is leaning against Bates and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Moriendi lands with a short shot to the head.

Moriendi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bates shoots in but Moriendi avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Moriendi darts in and clinches Bates up against the cage.
Ars Moriendi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darren Bates is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bates drops down looking for an ankle pick but Moriendi pulls his leg out and moves away.

Bates drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darren 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Bates!