PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Munhoz (ranked 1620 p4p, 1874 weight class) and Master Bates (ranked 209 p4p, 241 weight class). Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Munhoz
vs
Bates

177 cm
25
180
5 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
170
6 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Highland Clothing
Island Boys Nutrition

Island Boys Nutrition
Fighters Connection

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alex Munhoz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Master Bates!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bates clinches up against the cage.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Bates 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.
Munhoz can't break the clinch.
Bates is trying to drag Munhoz to the mat but Munhoz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Munhoz goes for a takedown attempt but Bates pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Master Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bates closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Munhoz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Bates's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bates throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Munhoz.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bates.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bates has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Munhoz swats away the attempt to clinch by Bates.
Munhoz tries to counter with a takedown but Bates is quick to defend against it.
Munhoz keeps the fight on the outside.
Munhoz feinted with a counter takedown.

Bates shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Bates was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bates working the ground and pound from side control.
Munhoz is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bates's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Munhoz tries to get to full guard but Bates has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates is looking to advance position but Munhoz won't allow it.
Munhoz looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Bates tries to stand and escape but Munhoz is controlling the position.
Bates winds up and cracks Munhoz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Munhoz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Munhoz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Munhoz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bates is aware though and is defending well.
Munhoz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Munhoz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bates manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates keeping full guard, as Munhoz tries to pass.

Bates is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bates looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Bates is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Munhoz is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bates can't keep his opponent in guard - Munhoz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four 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 is not content to let Munhoz control the position.

Munhoz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bates tries to get to full guard but Munhoz has control of the leg.
Bates throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bates wants to get back to full guard.
Munhoz tries to pass to full mount but Bates defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bates tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Munhoz defends well and Bates ends up having to push Munhoz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Munhoz appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Bates is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bates misses with a series of wild punches.
Munhoz half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Bates tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bates darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bates blocks the strikes from Munhoz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Munhoz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bates slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Munhoz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bates.
Bates really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Munhoz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Munhoz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bates wants to pass the guard but Munhoz is keeping the position.
Bates must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two 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.

Munhoz working for a triangle but Bates defends it easily.
Bates would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Munhoz wants to sweep here but Bates controlling him for the moment.
Munhoz wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bates is now in half guard.
Bates tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munhoz trying to hold on to Bates's head to control him but Bates postures up.
Munhoz is pressing down on Bates's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Munhoz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bates with a nice head shot there.
Munhoz is trying to control the position but Bates postures up.
Munhoz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Munhoz wants to free his trapped foot but Bates is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Munhoz stalling away here and it's allowed Bates to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Munhoz trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bates manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Master Bates has got the better of the ground game so far.
Munhoz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bates manages to get himself to full guard.

Bates not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Munhoz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bates is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Munhoz is working hard here to advance position.
Bates trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Master Bates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Bates tries to clinch up.

Bates is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Munhoz's half guard.
Munhoz is looking to improve his position.
Munhoz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Munhoz.
Bates not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Munhoz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bates wanted to stand there but Munhoz had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munhoz thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Bates wanted to stand there but Munhoz had control of the position.
Munhoz is trying to control the position but Bates postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bates looks to throw a body kick

and Munhoz counters with a single leg into guard. Bates didn't expect that.
Munhoz looking to pass the guard.
Munhoz trying to control but Bates is working from the bottom.
Munhoz passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Munhoz tries to advance to mount but can't.

Munhoz is trying to get an arm triangle but Bates is defending well.
Munhoz working away.
Bates is trying to improve his position.
Munhoz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bates keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Munhoz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Munhoz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bates knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bates sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Munhoz trying to control the action but Bates is working from the bottom.
Munhoz 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 four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bates is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bates works his way to full guard. Good work.
Munhoz tries to free his leg and advance position but Bates is retaining full guard.
Bates seems keen to control Munhoz's posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bates looking for a sweep. Not yet Bates, not yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bates tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Munhoz swivels and escapes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bates misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Munhoz appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Munhoz showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Master Bates!
Master Bates is the new welterweight champion!