PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Drogo (ranked 7633 p4p, 651 weight class) and Kevin Gates (ranked 23168 p4p, 787 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Drogo
vs
Gates

194 cm
23
194 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
27
198 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tom Drogo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kevin Gates!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Gates.
Gates just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromDrogo.
Kevin Gates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gates throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Drogo tried to counter with a leg kick but Gates avoided it.
Sloppy strikes from Gates. Those never looked like landing.
Gates will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gates throws a right and a left that Drogo avoids nicely.
Gates throws a nice looking combination but Drogo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gates will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Drogo throws a big counter combination but Gates scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drogo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gates chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Drogo can pounce on him.
Gates misses with a double jab.
Gates throws a left and a right that both miss
and Drogo counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Drogo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Drogo looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Drogo slips a jab and a cross from Gates.
Gates throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Tom Drogo has been cut.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Gates has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Gates throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gates looks winded!
Gates throws a combination that misses
and Drogo counters with a low kick, right behind Gates 's knee.
Drogo dodges the punch combination from Gates.
Drogo tried to counter with a leg kick but Gates avoided it.
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo counters with an outside leg kick.
A good leg kick by Drogo.
Gates misses with a series of wild punches.
It looked like Drogo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gates throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Drogo counters with an inside leg kick.
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
That kick from Drogo tenderised Gates's leg. Gates is trying to keep his angry face on.
A nice leg kick lands there from Drogo.
Drogo feints and then cracks Gates's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gates down.
Gates misses with a double jab
and Drogo counters with a thumping low kick.
Gates fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As Gates backs away, Drogo returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo counters with a leg kick.
Drogo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gates.
Sloppy strikes from Gates. Those never looked like landing.
Gates throws a combination that misses
and Drogo counters with a good low kick that Gates was not able to check.
Drogo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Drogo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gates stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Drogo.
Gates throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Drogo seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Gates rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Drogo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Drogo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gates's calf.
Gates rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Drogo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Drogo is looking for a counter combo.
Drogo scores with a head kick. Gates tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gates throws a combination that misses
and Drogo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Nice body kick there by Drogo.
Gates misses with a double jab
and Drogo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Drogo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gates throws a combination that misses
and Drogo counters with an outside leg kick.
Drogo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gates takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Drogo throws a leg kick which misses Gates's front leg but catches the back leg as Gates tries to avoid it.
Gates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Drogo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gates.
As Gates looks to move away, Drogo throws a big counter combo but Gates just gets out of the way.
Gates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogo counters with a nice leg kick.
Drogo connects with a leg kick. Gates looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Drogo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Drogo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogo counters with a leg kick.
Gates throws a right and a left that Drogo avoids nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Gates. Those never looked like landing.
Drogo misses with a low kick.
Gates throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Drogo.
Drogo looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Gates lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Drogo dodges the punch combination from Gates.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gates lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Drogo circles away quickly and effectively.
Gates throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Drogo counters with a good low kick that Gates was not able to check.
Gates is breathing heavily.
Drogo cracks the inside of Gates's front leg.
Drogo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Drogo.
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gates misses with a double jab
and Drogo counters with a nice uppercut.
Drogo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tom Drogo is winning the standup battle so far.
Gates throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Drogo counters with a one-two to the body.
Drogo connects with a high kick.
Gates moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gates's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gates's calf.
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo counters with a low kick, right behind Gates 's knee.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Drogo connects with a solid leg kick.
Gates looks to land a combination but Drogo avoids it well.
Drogo lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gates will feel that in the morning.
Gates swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Drogo counters with a straight right hand.
Gates looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Drogo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A combination from Drogo does no damage.
Gates on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Drogo. Drogo obviously looking to wear him down.
Gates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogo counters with a left and a right that stings Gates.
A good leg kick by Drogo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gates takes a kick to the side of the head.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Gates in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A combination from Gates does no damage.
Gates looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Drogo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Drogo throws a nice head kick!
Gates throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
An attempted straight right counter from Drogo misses the target.
Gates's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Drogo.
Drogo throws a nice head kick!
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Gates might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Drogo has got the better of the exchanges.
Gates throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Drogo counter with a right hand.
Drogo scores with a kick to the body.
Drogo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gates takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drogo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gates.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Drogo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gates throws a combination that misses
and Drogo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Drogo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gates throws a left and a right that both miss
and Drogo counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Drogo dodges the punch combination from Gates.
Gates throws a right and a left that Drogo avoids nicely.
Drogo fires out a quick counter leg kick but Gates just manages to avoid it.
Drogo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gates's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Drogo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Drogo's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Drogo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gates.
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo counters with a leg kick.
Drogo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gates misses with a double jab
and Drogo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A good leg kick by Drogo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick lands from Drogo.
Gates swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Drogo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Drogo tenderised Gates's leg. Gates is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gates takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gates throws a series of punches but Drogo moves out of range.
Drogo thinks about countering with a head kick.
A good leg kick by Drogo.
A slapping body kick lands there for Drogo.
Drogo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Drogo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gates can do to turn this around?
Drogo throws a nice head kick!
Gates misses with a combination
and Drogo counters with a thumping low kick.
Drogo catches Gates with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Gates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogo counters with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gates tries to bum rush Drogo with a series of wild strikes but Drogo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Drogo thinks about countering with a body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gates on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gates's knee momentarily.
Gates fails to land with a series of punches.
Drogo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gates.
Drogo throws a leg kick which misses Gates's front leg but catches the back leg as Gates tries to avoid it.
Drogo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tom Drogo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gates takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gates takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gates has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Drogo.
Gates closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Drogo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Drogo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gates throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Drogo connects with an inside leg kick.
Gates throws a series of punches but Drogo moves out of range.
Gates swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Drogo counters with an inside leg kick.
Drogo throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drogo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Drogo feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Gates swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Drogo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Drogo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kevin Gates has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gates misses with a few strikes there.
Drogo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Drogo throws a series of punches but Gates moves out of range.
Drogo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Drogo is looking to counter with head kicks.
Tom Drogo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gates throws a right hand that Drogo ducks under and follows up with a left that Drogo also avoids with ease.
Drogo looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Drogo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Drogo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Drogo!