PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katar Hilal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hilal has chosen JawBreaker as his entrance music. Jon Bates has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Bates
vs
Hilal

218 cm
25
296 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

200 cm
23
275 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Max Octane Fight Wear
Zipp Zapp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jon Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Katar Hilal!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bates forces Hilal back against the cage and clinches.

Hilal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hilal clinches up against the cage.
Bates looking to slow down the pace here.
Bates tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Hilal manages to break the clinch.
Bates swats away the attempt to clinch by Hilal.
Hilal is looking to clinch.

Bates moves into range and clinches up with Hilal.

Hilal breaks from the clinch.
Hilal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bates throws a series of strikes that have Hilal backpedaling.

It looks like Katar Hilal has been cut.
Hilal keeps the fight on the outside.

Bates moves into the clinch.

Hilal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Bates has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hilal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hilal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hilal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bates swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates swats away the attempt to clinch by Hilal.

Hilal clinches.
Hilal stalling against the cage.
Bates tries to stall but Hilal uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Bates manages to break the clinch.
Hilal tries to clinch there but Bates circles away.
Bates swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Bates drives through and clinches with Hilal against the cage.

Hilal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bates throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bates definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Bates lands a nice shot to the body.
Bates works Hilal's body with a nice hook.
Bates fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bates changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Bates gets a clinch.

Hilal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jon Bates is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fight stays on the outside here - Bates looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates digs a good hook to Hilal's body.

Hilal gets tackled into the cage by Bates. Bates maintains the clinch.
Bates throws an elbow that misses.

Bates manages to break the clinch.
Bates misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hilal lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Bates takes the fight into the clinch.

Hilal breaks from the clinch.
Bates connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hilal momentarily.
Hilal wants to clinch up but Bates keeps it at a distance.
Hilal is looking to clinch but Bates is avoiding it.
Hilal fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hilal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Bates pushes Hilal up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates leaning against his opponent.

Hilal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Hilal.
Hilal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bates sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hilal somewhat.
Jon Bates has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katar Hilal.
Hilal looks winded!
Bates fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Hilal instigates a clinch.

Hilal breaks the clinch.
Bates lands a slapping body shot.

Hilal moves into the clinch.
Bates drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bates pushes Hilal back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hilal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bates lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Bates clinches with his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hilal stops a takedown attempt from Bates.

Hilal breaks the clinch.
Hilal throws a head kick that misses

and Bates counters by moving into the clinch.

Bates escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hilal is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bates.
A combination from Bates does no damage.
Hilal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bates drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hilal sprawls and moves away.
Bates swats away the attempt to clinch by Hilal.
Hilal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hilal tries a head kick but it misses.
Bates is looking to counter the offense by Hilal and move into the clinch.
Bates throws a nice looking combination but Hilal bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Bates dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Katar Hilal's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hilal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Bates breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bates tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Bates has managed to clinch.

Hilal manages to break the clinch.
Hilal closes the distance but Bates moves to the side
and Bates counters with a stiff right hand.
Bates keeps the fight on the outside.
Hilal has his takedown stuffed

and Bates moves into the clinch.

Hilal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bates doesn't manage to clinch there - Hilal circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hilal doesn't manage to clinch there - Bates circles away.

Hilal moves into the clinch successfully.
Jon Bates has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Bates breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bates is looking to clinch.
Jon Bates is winning the standup battle so far.

Bates gets tackled into the cage by Hilal. Hilal maintains the clinch.
Hilal with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Bates.
Bates is trying to pull guard but Hilal turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hilal tries to break the clinch but Bates is controlling the position.

Hilal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bates is looking to clinch but Hilal is avoiding it.
Hilal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hilal moves in looking to clinch but Bates pushes him off.
Jon Bates is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hilal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bates scores with a hook to the body. Hilal takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hilal throws a head kick that Bates semi-blocks.
Hilal tries to clinch there but Bates circles away.
Bates lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Hilal rushes Bates and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Bates escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bates stuffs the takedown attempt from Hilal. Hilal gets slowly back to his feet.
Hilal is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates swats away the attempt to clinch by Hilal.
A jab lands there for Bates.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hilal clinches with his opponent.

Bates pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bates lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hilal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

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

Bates pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bates is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hilal can do to turn this around?

Hilal moves into the clinch successfully.

Hilal breaks from the clinch.
Katar Hilal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bates fails in his attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hilal is defended easily by Bates.
Jon Bates has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katar Hilal.
Hilal closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Bates counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilal darts in trying to clinch
letting Bates counter with a right hand.
Hilal takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Bates lands a body shot.
Hilal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hilal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bates is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Bates forces Hilal back against the cage and clinches.

Hilal breaks from the clinch.
Bates scores with a three punch combo!
Bates connects with a body shot.
A punch combination from Bates misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Bates fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hilal, pushing him back against the cage.
Hilal tries for a takedown but Bates manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilal avoids the elbow strike from Bates, against the cage.
Hilal working aggressively here.
Bates is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hilal is defending well for now.

Hilal jumps guard and drags Bates to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bates decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hilal keeps the fight on the outside.
Hilal is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bates sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Bates takes the fight into the clinch.
Hilal jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bates walks away with a smile on his face. Hilal gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bates lands a nice hook to Hilal's body. Hilal takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bates fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Bates closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Bates.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Bates dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Katar Hilal's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bates lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Bates tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hilal manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hilal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bates as he avoids it easily.

Bates moves into the clinch successfully.

Bates manages to break the clinch.
Bates circles away from the clinch attempt.

Bates clinches.

Bates breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bates misses with a wild body shot.
Bates wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates lands with a right hand.

Hilal has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hilal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates tries to clinch but Hilal is having none of it.
Bates tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hilal darts in and clinches Bates up against the cage.
Hilal working hard to break the clinch.

Hilal jumps into guard, dragging Bates to the mat.

Hilal wriggles free and stands up.
Hilal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bates tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hilal swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Bates pushes Hilal up against the cage in a clinch.
Bates misses with a knee strike.

Hilal manages to break the clinch.

Hilal closes the distance and clinches.

Bates ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bates no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Hilal gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hilal with a poor takedown
and Bates counters with a straight right hand.
Hilal is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hilal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bates is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bates moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bates is looking to wear down Hilal with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bates scores with the left hand. Hilal knows he should have avoided that one.

Hilal moves into the clinch.

Bates escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bates takes the fight into the clinch.
Hilal tries to pull guard but Bates won't allow it.
Jon Bates has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katar Hilal.

Hilal breaks from the clinch.

Bates gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hilal breaks the clinch.

Bates clinches up with Hilal and pushes him back against the cage.
Bates fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilal using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bates has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bates stalling in the clinch but Hilal improves position.

Hilal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bates avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hilal avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bates scores with a punch to the head.
Bates lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That has opened up Katar Hilal's cut even more.
Hilal takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hilal tries to clinch up but Bates circles away and keeps his distance.

Bates moves into the clinch.

Hilal ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hilal no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hilal is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Bates stands up from Hilal's guard - Bates perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilal shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bates pinned against the cage. Bates gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bates lands a nice shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bates closes the distance and clinches.

Bates manages to break the clinch.

Bates moves into range and clinches up with Hilal.
Bates is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hilal looking to stall.

Hilal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hilal closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bates circles away.
Katar Hilal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jon Bates is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bates shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hilal eats them both and turns towards Bates to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Bates showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bates, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Bates!
Jon Bates bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.