PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kayden Jotham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Synyster Gates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jotham
vs
Gates

179 cm
24
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
21
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

No Contest Clothing

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 Las Vegas, Kayden Jotham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Synyster Gates!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gates throws a head kick that misses.

Gates moves into the clinch.

Jotham pulls guard effortlessly.
Jotham could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gates being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kayden Jotham has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jotham throws a head kick but Gates moves out of range.
Jotham attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates misses with a head kick.

Jotham gets a clinch.
Jotham is pushing Gates up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Gates unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jotham takes an elbow to the temple.
Jotham misses with a punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jotham pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Jotham takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jotham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jotham tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jotham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jotham tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gates just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jotham is trying to push Gates away but Gates has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gates.
Jotham working hard to break the clinch.

Jotham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gates clinches with his opponent.

Jotham breaks the clinch.
Gates blocks the body kick.
Synyster Gates is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gates, right into the meat.

Gates clinches up against the cage.
Gates putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Jotham in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Jotham is breathing heavily.
Jotham wants to break free but Gates has control.
Gates throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jotham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gates scores a nice knee to the body.
Jotham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jotham has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gates is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jotham is defending well for now.
Jotham takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gates with a knee to the head.
Jotham takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gates tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jotham is trying to force a seperation but Gates has the dominant position.
Gates stalls.
Jotham dodges an elbow strike from Gates.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gates unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jotham lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gates is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jotham is defending well for now.
Jotham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gates unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jotham lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gates tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jotham avoids it.
Gates missing with knees to the body.
Gates scores a nice knee to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gates misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jotham.
Gates misses with an elbow over the top.
Gates trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Synyster Gates dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gates tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Jotham gets tackled into the cage by Gates. Gates maintains the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gates.

Jotham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Donk. Gates catches Jotham right on the button with a cross.

Jotham tries to keep at a distance but Gates has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gates unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jotham lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jotham wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees to the body from Gates.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jotham taking a breather.
Knees to the body from Gates.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Gates.
Jotham managing to block the knees to the body from Gates.
A frustrated look appears on Jotham's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Jotham takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gates landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gates misses with a knee strike.
Gates lands a knee to the body.
Gates with a knee to the head.
Gates looking to throw knees to the head but Jotham is blocking nicely.
Gates lands a good knee to the midsection. Jotham won't want to take too many of those.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knees to the body from Gates.
Gates landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gates scores a nice knee to the body.
Gates utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gates lands a nice knee to the body.
Gates misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jotham.
Gates slowing the pace effectively.
Gates unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jotham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gates will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Jotham up against the cage.
Jotham avoiding damage as Gates throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates is stalling here.

Jotham breaks from the clinch.
A combination from Gates does no damage.

Gates instigates a clinch.
Jotham avoids the elbow strike from Gates, against the cage.
Gates has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jotham avoiding damage as Gates throws knees to the body.
Gates pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Jotham has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gates connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jotham's face.
Gates unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jotham can't find room to land a body shot as Gates controls the action.
Gates is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gates with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gates lands a good knee to the midsection. Jotham won't want to take too many of those.
Jotham takes a knee to the side of the body.
Jotham avoiding damage as Gates throws knees to the body.
Jotham tries to circle away but Gates has him pinned against the cage.
Synyster Gates seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gates throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jotham blocks it with crossed arms.
Jotham is looking to control Gates's arms but Gates gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jotham has his back to the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gates stalls.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Synyster Gates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Gates fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jotham, pushing him back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gates keeps control of Jotham as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gates tries to land knees in the clinch but Jotham avoids the damage to the body.
Jotham takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gates misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jotham.
Knees to the body from Gates.
Gates keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jotham's efforts to push away.
Jotham avoiding damage as Gates throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jotham tries to circle away but Gates has him pinned against the cage.
Jotham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gates trying to land knees to the body.
Jotham avoiding damage as Gates throws knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gates.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jotham working hard to break the clinch.
Gates's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gates is trying to maintain a safe position but Jotham gets an underhook and turns Gates into the cage.
Jotham tries to break the clinch but Gates is controlling the position.
Gates tries to land knees in the clinch but Jotham avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gates pushes off an throws an elbow but Jotham leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Jotham blocks an elbow strike from Gates.
Gates landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Jotham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jotham takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gates misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jotham.
Jotham jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gates walks away with a smile on his face. Jotham gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gates lands with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gates darts in and clinches Jotham up against the cage.
Jotham takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gates lands a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates stalling in the clinch.
Jotham is looking to break free of the clinch but Gates has double underhooks.
Gates connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jotham's face.
Gates unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gates has Jotham pushed against the cage.
Gates scores a nice knee to the body.
Jotham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gates lands a nice knee to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gates tries to land a knee to the head but Jotham blocks with his arms.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gates.

Jotham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gates tries to keep at a distance but Jotham has taken the fight into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gates throws an elbow but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Synyster Gates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gates 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Synyster Gates!