PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Clayton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Clayton
vs
Yamamoto

187 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ethan Clayton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lyoto Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Clayton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Clayton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yamamoto leaves Clayton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Clayton blocks a head kick by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto wants to clinch.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clayton fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Clayton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayton misses with a takedown attempt - Yamamoto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Clayton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yamamoto but Yamamoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Clayton is defended easily by Yamamoto.
Clayton steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Yamamoto. That one must have hurt.
Clayton is breathing heavily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Yamamoto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Clayton!
Yamamoto throws some wild stikes that Clayton manages to avoid easily.
Yamamoto thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Yamamoto in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Yamamoto sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Yamamoto wants to stand but Clayton is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clayton is squirming around, avoiding Yamamoto's attempts to control the action.
Yamamoto controlling from mount.
Clayton avoids a series of strikes thrown by Yamamoto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Clayton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yamamoto counters with a series of strikes. Clayton will be more careful next time no doubt.
Yamamoto throws a sloppy head kick and Clayton moves out of range easily.
Yamamoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yamamoto throws a sloppy head kick and Clayton moves out of range easily.
Yamamoto tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Clayton is able to avoid easily.
A right-left combo lands from Yamamoto.

Yamamoto gets the takedown into side control.
Yamamoto working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clayton dodges the ground and pound from Yamamoto.
Clayton can't do much from the bottom here.

Yamamoto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Clayton, who protects the arm well.
Yamamoto working away.

Yamamoto looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Clayton is not content to let Yamamoto control the position.
Clayton is looking to regain half guard here but Yamamoto keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Yamamoto dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yamamoto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Yamamoto shoots in and bounces Clayton off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Clayton looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Clayton keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to stand but Clayton is controlling his posture from full guard.

Clayton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Yamamoto throwing strikes from guard but Clayton blocks nicely.
Yamamoto wants to stand but Clayton has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Clayton with a poor takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Clayton keeps the fight on the outside.

Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clayton wants to hold on but Yamamoto pushes him away.
Yamamoto content just to control the position here.
Clayton working to try and regain half guard.

Clayton defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Yamamoto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clayton wants to hold on but Yamamoto pushes him away.

Yamamoto stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Clayton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yamamoto counters with a right hand to the body.
Yamamoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Clayton stuffs the takedown.
Clayton with a poor takedown

and Yamamoto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Clayton's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Clayton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to control from the top but Clayton keeps moving.

Yamamoto stands up from Clayton's guard - Yamamoto perhaps looking for a knockout.
Clayton doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Yamamoto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Clayton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yamamoto manages to get himself to full guard.
Clayton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yamamoto keeping moving, preventing Clayton from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Yamamoto 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Clayton doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Yamamoto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Clayton holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Yamamoto gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Yamamoto scores with a sloppy right hand. Clayton should have avoided that one.
Clayton misses with a takedown attempt
and Yamamoto counters with a stiff right hand.

Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamamoto looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayton really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yamamoto avoids the attempt from Clayton to control.
Clayton can't escape the position.
Yamamoto controlling the position easily from mount.
Lyoto Yamamoto has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Yamamoto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Clayton is looking to escape.
Yamamoto might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Clayton kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Clayton is looking to improve his position but Yamamoto isn't that keen on the idea.
Yamamoto lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clayton regains half guard.
Clayton wants to control but Yamamoto is keeping busy.
Clayton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Yamamoto wants to control from the top but Clayton keeps moving.
Yamamoto is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Clayton wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
Clayton working a defensive guard here.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
Clayton keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Clayton keeping full guard, as Yamamoto tries to pass.

Yamamoto stands and steps away. Clayton gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Clayton fails with the takedown
and Yamamoto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ethan Clayton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lyoto Yamamoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Clayton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Clayton's calf.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Yamamoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yamamoto 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Yamamoto!