PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Konichiwa Jempsa (ranked 1589 p4p, 4224 weight class) and Armad Bates (ranked 215 p4p, 513 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Jempsa
vs
Bates

170 cm
31
170
24 - 15 - 0

190 cm
27
183
7 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
The Dirty Needle Project

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Konichiwa Jempsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Armad Bates!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates looks for a takedown but Jempsa sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Jempsa. No joy for Bates on that attempt.
Armad Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bates shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bates trying to control the position from guard on top but Jempsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jempsa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bates regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jempsa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bates wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates is adopting a defensive guard.
Jempsa trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bates lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jempsa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jempsa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bates trying to control the position from guard on top but Jempsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jempsa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jempsa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bates is one step ahead there.
Bates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jempsa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jempsa trying to keep a closed guard but Bates is proving a slippery customer.

Bates is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jempsa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jempsa has escaped and now he's on top!

Jempsa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jempsa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bates keeping moving, preventing Jempsa from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates looking for a guillotine here but Jempsa defends easily.
Bates pulls Jempsa in close to his closed guard and prevents Jempsa from doing any damage or advancing position.

Bates looking for a guillotine here but Jempsa defends easily.

Bates looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bates has his hands on Jempsa's head, controlling the position.
We've been hearing that Jempsa has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's four 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.
Jempsa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bates swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jempsa trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bates is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Bates has his foot on Jempsa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jempsa works his way back into a safe position though.

Bates has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jempsa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jempsa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jempsa cracks Bates with a solid left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Armad Bates will probably get the nod.
That's time! Jempsa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bates is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jempsa's half guard.
Bates passes to full mount!
Bates looking to control but Jempsa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jempsa is desperately trying to improve his position but Bates has a good base and remains in mount.
Jempsa gets back to half guard.
Jempsa trying to control here.

Bates is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates wants to pass to mount but Jempsa is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bates seems to be looking for submissions.
Jempsa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jempsa.
Bates postures up.
Bates wants to control from the top but Jempsa keeps moving.
Jempsa wants to sweep here but Bates controlling him for the moment.
Bates trying to control but Jempsa is working from the bottom.
Bates looking to sit in guard and control but Jempsa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa connects with a couple of short punches.
Armad Bates has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bates is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jempsa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bates's head.
Bates looking to control.
Bates keeping moving, preventing Jempsa from controlling successfully.
Bates seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Jempsa throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jempsa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bates is trying to control the position but Jempsa postures up.

Jempsa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jempsa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bates's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jempsa trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bates working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jempsa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jempsa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jempsa chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jempsa won't allow Bates to sweep him here.
Bates controls Jempsa momentarily but Jempsa frees himself.
Jempsa stands and throws Bates's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Jempsa connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bates some visible discomfort.
Jempsa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bates keeps working.
Bates is trying to control Jempsa's posture but Jempsa avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bates regains half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jempsa lands a nice short elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Konichiwa Jempsa will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Bates shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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!
Jempsa is not content to let Bates control the position.
Jempsa tries to buck Bates off but Bates is having none of it.

Bates tries for a kimura but Jempsa is defending well.
Jempsa prevents Bates from improving position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bates tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bates has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Jempsa is looking to regain half guard here but Bates keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates tries to advance to mount but Jempsa denies him.
Bates working away.
Jempsa is looking to regain half guard here but Bates keeps moving and retains side control.
Jempsa is not content to let Bates control the position.
Jempsa gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jempsa is looking to get to half guard.
Bates has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bates trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Bates working for a submission but Jempsa is keeping him at bay.
Bates wants to control the pace but Jempsa is squirming around nicely.

Bates jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Jempsa is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Jempsa and Bates has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Bates tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Jempsa stops Bates from passing to mount.
Jempsa manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Bates looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jempsa working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Jempsa is controlling the pace.

Bates looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa controlling the action here.
Jempsa is keen to just control but Bates is a slippery customer.

Bates looking for submissions off his back.
Jempsa slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bates is refusing to be controlled, as Jempsa sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armad Bates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bates has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armad Bates!
An out of breath Armad Bates thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.