PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert Barber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Barber
vs
Bates

208 cm
18
346 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

218 cm
25
296 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gilbert Barber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Bates!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Paul Tew and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates dives in and grabs Barber's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barber pushes down on Bates's head and hops out.
Barber could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bates throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Bates throws a combination. Barber tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Barber circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barber tries a head kick but it misses.

Bates clinches with his opponent.
Barber tries to score a body lock takedown but Bates shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Bates breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barber keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barber tries to counter by clinching up but Bates breaks away and moves out of range.
Bates tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barber sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bates somewhat.
Gilbert Barber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Bates.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barber's waist but Barber gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bates off to one side.
Nice shot by Bates.
Bates throws a series of punches but Barber avoids them all with ease.
Jon Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bates looks winded!

Barber scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Barber wants to stand but Bates has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Bates looking for submissions off his back.

Barber stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barber but Barber pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Barber throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bates throws a fast counter high kick but Barber manages to duck under it in time.

Bates closes the distance and clinches.
Barber misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bates blocks a body shot from Barber.
Barber tries to pull guard but Bates won't allow it.
Barber is trying to drag Bates to the mat but Bates just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Barber tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barber looking for a takedown.

Barber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bates jabs at Barber's body.
Barber avoids a kick to the body.
Barber is looking to counter the offense by Bates and move into the clinch.
Bates fails with a takedown attempt.
Barber is looking for a counter combo.
Bates scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Barber jumps guard.
Bates trying to control the position from guard on top but Barber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Barber has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bates can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barber being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bates darts in looking for a takedown but Barber gets double underhooks and turns Bates into the cage.
As Bates tries to get set, Barber tries to push him back and clinch up but Bates manages to avoid the attempt.
Barber keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
It looked like Barber was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Bates darts in looking for a takedown but Barber gets double underhooks and turns Bates into the cage.
Gilbert Barber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Bates.
Barber looks to land a combination but Bates avoids it well.

Barber forces Bates back against the cage and clinches.

Barber jumps guard and drags Bates to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates controlling from the top position.
Barber managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barber throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Barber working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Bates has passed into half guard!
Barber tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bates wants to pass to mount but Barber is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bates controlling the action here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Barber actively working from the bottom here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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.

Bates darts in and clinches Barber up against the cage.
Barber is looking for a takedown.
Barber has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bates after a bit of a struggle.
Barber wants to get back to striking at distance but Bates won't allow it.
Bates can't get the takedown.
Barber 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. Barber gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bates changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Bates gets a clinch.

Bates breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bates gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barber misses with a knee strike.
Bates on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Bates pulls guard effortlessly.
Bates has his hands on Barber's head, controlling the position.
Bates throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bates has Barber pulled in close to control his posture.

Bates pushes Barber off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barber as he avoids it easily.
Bates is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barber sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Barber seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Barber misses with the combination.
Bates throws a head kick but Barber moves out of range.

Bates closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bates drops down looking for an ankle pick but Barber pulls his leg out and moves away.

Bates moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Bates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bates keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barber.
Bates shoots in but no luck this time.
Barber looks for a takedown but Bates sprawls well.
A slow jab from Barber misses its intended target.
Barber misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bates throws a half hearted mid kick.
As Bates tries to get set, Barber tries to push him back and clinch up but Bates manages to avoid the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bates shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barber pinned against the cage. Barber gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barber shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bates but Bates pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bates tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barber swivels and escapes.
Gilbert Barber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Bates.

Bates moves into the clinch.
Bates wants to break the clinch but can't.
Barber misses with a punch on the inside.
Bates is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barber gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bates prevents a takedown attempt there.
Barber is trying to pull guard but Bates has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Bates's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bates gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Barber.
Bates wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bates has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A frustrated look appears on Bates's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barber putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bates in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Barber jumps guard but Bates stands there with Barber around his waist. Barber gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bates has had enough of the clinch but Barber keeps him there for the moment.

Bates has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Barber uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates is trying to control the position but Barber postures up.
Bates is pulling down on Barber's head to control his posture.
Bates working a defensive guard here.
Bates looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Bates isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Barber stacks Bates on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Barber!

Barber is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bates knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bates is not content to let Barber control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Bates clinches with his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Bates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Bates!
A very excited looking Jon Bates rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.