PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Po Ping (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ping comes into the arena with Kung Fu Fighting blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ping
vs
Tate

195 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Po Ping!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Max Tate!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ping cracks the inside of Tate's front leg.
Ping closes the distance but Tate moves to the side
and Tate counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ping doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tate moves into the clinch.

Tate jumps into guard, dragging Ping to the mat.
Ping sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tate has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Ping has passed into side control.
Ping knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tate on the ground.
Tate is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ping off and has taken his back!
Tate is trying to stick to Ping's back but Ping is turning into Tate. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tate's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ping.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tate is on top in guard.
Ping looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ping is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ping preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tate wants to stand but Ping is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tate is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tate connects with a couple of short punches.
Tate trying to control the position from guard on top but Ping is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ping wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tate being controlled here momentarily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Tate trying to control but Ping is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Max Tate hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ping fails with the takedown
and Tate counters with a two punch combo.
Tate misses with a takedown
and Ping counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tate is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ping moves to clinch but Tate breaks away

and Tate counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ping won't be happy with that.
Ping is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate throwing strikes but Ping manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Tate tries to improve position but can't.
Tate manages to get back to half guard.

Tate is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ping pulls his head out easily.
Ping passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tate!
Ping tries to control but Tate wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A nice elbow there by Ping.
Ping sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Ping working for a guillotine from mount but Tate is in no mood to give up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tate is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Max Tate will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tate keeps the fight on the outside.
Tate connects with a high kick.
Ping tries to clinch up.

Ping closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tate's guard.

Tate is looking for a triangle but Ping pushes his legs off easily.
Tate will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Ping drops back looking for a leg! Tate is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tate manages to kick Ping off! Ping jumps back into Tate's guard.
Ping throwing strikes from guard but Tate blocks nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate has his hands on Ping's head, controlling the position.
Ping is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tate keeping moving, preventing Ping from controlling successfully.
Tate is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Ping got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tate has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ping has managed to get both his arms back between Tate's legs - danger averted.
Ping trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ping has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ping trying to control but Tate is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Po Ping wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Tate moves out of range as Ping throws a body kick.
Ping with a poor takedown

and Tate counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tate trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tate decides to return to a standing position.
Tate with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ping counters with a shoot takedown. Tate fights it but they end up in guard.
Ping trying to control but Tate is working from the bottom.
Ping slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Max Tate has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tate wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate is trying to control Ping's posture but Ping avoids it.
A lull in the action here as Ping stalls from top position.
Ping tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Max Tate will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ping is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tate.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tate.
Tate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ping looks to clinch

and Tate counters by clinching up.
Tate is trying to break the clinch but Ping is controlling him.

Tate breaks the clinch.
Ping tries to clinch but Tate is having none of it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ping.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tate is not content to let Ping control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tate bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate moves out of range of the leg kick from Ping.
Ping tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tate paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tate shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ping counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tate's guard now.
Tate is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tate can't keep his opponent in guard - Ping advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ping wants to take a breather but Tate is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ping not doing much here.
Ping is looking to advance position but Tate won't allow it.
Tate moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tate is trying to keep Ping in close.

Tate working for a triangle but Ping defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ping landing with the ground and pound.
Ping postures up.
Ping wanted to stand there but Tate had control of the position.

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.
Tate keeping moving, preventing Ping from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Tate bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ping's guard.
Ping is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tate advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Po Ping clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ping tries to clinch but Tate moves away

and Tate counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ping!
Ping regains half guard.
Ping trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Tate manages to pass to mount!

Tate stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Tate connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ping. Ping circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ping looks to clinch
and Tate counters with a straight right hand.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Tate throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Ping counters with a head kick.
Good leg kick by Tate there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Tate will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ping clinches up against the cage.
Tate prevents a body shot from Ping.
Tate is trying to push Ping away but Ping has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Tate tightens his grip and picks Ping up, before dumping him to the ground. Ping manages to land in guard.
Ping keeping moving, preventing Tate from controlling successfully.
Tate trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ping looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tate throwing strikes from guard but Ping blocks nicely.
Ping keeping full guard, as Tate tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate wants to control from the top but Ping keeps moving.
Ping keeping full guard, as Tate tries to pass.
Tate trying to control the position from guard on top but Ping is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Tate wants to stand and escape but instead Ping has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate trying to keep a closed guard but Ping is proving a slippery customer.
Tate wants to improve his position but instead Ping has moved into half guard.
Tate has hold of Ping's hands but Ping slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Ping decides to return to a standing position.
Tate thows a leg kick but Ping checks it

so Ping counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Tate escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ping gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ping would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate looking for a sweep. Not yet Tate, not yet.
Ping stands and throws Tate's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ping is looking to take a break and control but Tate is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ping decides to stand back up. Ping steps back and let's Tate get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Po Ping will probably get the nod.
That's time! Ping's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ping shoots in for a double leg but Tate sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck for Tate with that takedown attempt.
Ping tries to clinch up but Tate circles away and keeps his distance.
Ping changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tate tries to avoid it but Ping manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tate to the ground. Tate escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tate dives in and grabs Ping's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ping pushes down on Tate's head and hops out.

Ping tries to keep at a distance but Tate has taken the fight into the clinch.

Tate jumps guard and drags Ping to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ping advances position into side control!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Tate struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ping is putting a hurting on Tate here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ping is looking to take a break and control but Tate is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ping scores with punches from side control.
Tate sneaks back into half guard.

Ping decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate scores with a nice right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ping looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tate shoots in but Ping avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Po Ping has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Tate.
Tate is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tate stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ping.
Ping swats away the attempt to clinch by Tate.
Po Ping is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tate gets caught flat footed, as Ping shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ping trying to control the position from guard on top but Tate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tate is looking for a triangle but Ping pushes his legs off easily.
Tate is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ping is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tate keeping moving, preventing Ping from controlling successfully.
Tate is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Po Ping has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A shot to the body from Ping misses

and Tate counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ping won't be happy with that.
Tate looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ping is avoiding damage well.

Tate looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tate laying and praying for a moment but Ping takes advantage and regains half guard.
Ping tries to get to full guard but Tate has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Max Tate.
I think Tate 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 47:48
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 47:48
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Tate!
Max Tate is the new heavyweight champion!