PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Gilmore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simon Bates has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Shawn Gilmore's chin.

Gilmore
vs
Bates

220 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
143 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shawn Gilmore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Simon Bates!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bates rushes Gilmore and presses him up against the cage.

Bates turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Bates goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gilmore rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bates's guard! Nice work there by Gilmore!
Gilmore trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gilmore has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bates can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gilmore controls the pace.

Bates is looking for a triangle but Gilmore pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates keeping moving, preventing Gilmore from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates wants to stand and escape but Gilmore is having none of it.
Gilmore wants to control from the top but Bates keeps moving.

Gilmore got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bates has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gilmore has managed to get both his arms back between Bates's legs - danger averted.

Bates is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gilmore is aware though and is defending well.
Bates looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gilmore chips away with some ground and pound.
Gilmore's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gilmore will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Gilmore avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gilmore or perhaps it was just good defense by Bates, which made it look bad.

That's two 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 gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sloppy strikes there by Bates.

Bates looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ground and pound from Bates seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bates misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Bates misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Bates tries to score with some ground and pound. Gilmore controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Gilmore is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gilmore is avoiding damage well.
Gilmore tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bates lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Gilmore is breathing heavily.
Bates tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bates has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Bates wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gilmore, who protects the arm well.
Bates throwing strikes but Gilmore manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bates throws Gilmore to one side and escapes!

Bates shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bates showed some decent athleticism there.
Gilmore avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bates.

Bates seems to be working for a kimura but Gilmore defends the submission attempt.
Bates missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gilmore keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Bates dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bates throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gilmore tries to counter by clinching up but Bates breaks away and moves out of range.
Bates throws a leg kick but Gilmore moved away.
Bates has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Bates has managed to clinch.
Bates wants to get back to striking at distance but Gilmore won't allow it.
Bates has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Bates manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Bates has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gilmore 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 Bates.
Gilmore really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gilmore wants to control but Bates is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gilmore is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bates is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates gets back to half guard.

Bates looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bates is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gilmore pulls his head out easily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gilmore stops Bates from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gilmore missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gilmore in particular looking to stall.

Bates is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gilmore pulls his head out easily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Bates actively working from the bottom here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bates misses with a wild combination.
Bates throws a jab when Gilmore was well out of range.

Gilmore closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Bates has picked Gilmore up - he's going for a ride! Bates dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Bates is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilmore is looking to control Bates's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gilmore avoid being mounted?
Bates not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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

Bates is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bates throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bates prevents Gilmore from standing back up.
Simon Bates has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bates misses with a combination
and Gilmore makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Bates really felt that one!
Gilmore throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gilmore enables Bates to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gilmore manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gilmore working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bates.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bates drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gilmore looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gilmore looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gilmore!

Gilmore laying and praying for a moment but Bates takes advantage and regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Bates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gilmore's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gilmore looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bates is fending him off so far but Gilmore persists. Nope, Bates circles away and we're back to standing.

Bates has Gilmore up against the cage in a clinch.

Bates successfully pulls guard.
Gilmore wants to stand and escape but instead Bates has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Bates missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bates postures up in Gilmore's guard and throws a big left but Gilmore blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bates drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gilmore dives on top into guard.

Gilmore pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bates is keeping the position for now.

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

Bates is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gilmore is aware though and is defending well.
Gilmore trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gilmore trying to control but Bates is working from the bottom.
Gilmore slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bates is looking for a triangle here but Gilmore uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bates tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gilmore remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Gilmore trying to control the action but Bates is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates sneaks out the side door and pushes Gilmore away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
A punch combination from Bates misses.

Bates fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gilmore, pushing him back against the cage.

Bates jumps into guard, dragging Gilmore to the mat.

Bates throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gilmore escapes and throws Bates's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Gilmore trying to control the position but Bates is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates is trying to improve his position.

Gilmore decides to stand back up. Gilmore steps back and let's Bates get back to his feet.
Bates throws a combination that misses
and Gilmore counters with a one-two to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gilmore fails in his attempt to clinch.
Simon Bates is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bates does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gilmore is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Bates.
Shawn Gilmore has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gilmore looks for the body kick but Bates saw that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Bates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bates has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Bates!
Simon Bates took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.