PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Simon Stickler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Yossarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stickler
vs
Yossarian

178 cm
20
157 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

175 cm
19
149 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Simon Stickler !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Yossarian!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jorge Garcia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stickler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yossarian moves away.

Yossarian clinches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Yossarian.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Yossarian.
Stickler struggles to land a body shot inside as Yossarian controls his hands.
Yossarian is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Yossarian tries a body shot but Stickler blocks it.
Yossarian tries to throw a body punch but Stickler avoids it by throwing Yossarian back against the cage.
Yossarian misses with a body punch.
Stickler prevents a body shot from Yossarian.
Yossarian lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yossarian struggles to land a body shot inside as Stickler controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stickler tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yossarian smiles and moves away.
Yossarian works over Stickler 's head and body with a nice combination.
Yossarian scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Stickler shoots in for a takedown but Yossarian shows good takedown defense.
Stickler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yossarian moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Stickler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yossarian.

Yossarian drives through and clinches with Stickler against the cage.
Stickler tries to pull guard but Yossarian won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Stickler . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yossarian throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yossarian tries to land knees in the clinch but Stickler avoids the damage to the body.
Stickler blocks an uppercut.
Yossarian struggles to land a body shot inside as Stickler controls his hands.
Yossarian tries a body shot but Stickler blocks it.
Yossarian misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stickler is looking to take this one to the mat.
Yossarian has a couple of punches blocked by Stickler .
Stickler wants to get back to striking at distance but Yossarian won't allow it.
Stickler can't get the takedown.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Yossarian just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stickler 's brow.
Yossarian softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Yossarian lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yossarian using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Yossarian with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Yossarian can't find room to land a body shot as Stickler controls the action.
Yossarian pushes Stickler back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Yossarian digs a right hand underneath Stickler 's ribcage. Stickler let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Yossarian misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yossarian lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yossarian tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stickler avoids it.
Yossarian goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Stickler looking to stall.
Yossarian tries to work over Stickler 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stickler jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Yossarian walks away with a smile on his face. Stickler gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Yossarian has closed the distance and engaged Stickler in a clinch.
Yossarian scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stickler blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yossarian tries a body shot but Stickler blocks it.
Stickler stalling in the clinch but Yossarian improves position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yossarian misses with the head strike.
Stickler tries to pull guard but Yossarian won't allow it.
Yossarian throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stickler blocks it with crossed arms.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice left hand lands by Yossarian.
Stickler is trying to pull guard but Yossarian has him pressed against the cage.
Yossarian cracks Stickler with a nice body shot.
Yossarian misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Yossarian dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yossarian looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yossarian stuns Stickler with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Stickler checks a low kick from Yossarian.
Yossarian scores with a push kick.
Stickler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stickler misses with a straight left.
Stickler moves out of range as Yossarian throws a body kick.
Yossarian dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stickler . That did some damage!
Yossarian swings away with a body shot that misses

so Stickler counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Stickler stands and throws Yossarian's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stickler trying to control the position but Yossarian is working away.
Stickler in side control, throwing shots but Yossarian defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stickler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yossarian keeps working.

Stickler tries for a kimura but Yossarian is defending well.
Yossarian is trying to improve his position.
Yossarian is not content to let Stickler control the position.
Stickler just content to control the position.
Yossarian struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stickler goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Yossarian has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Stickler but great work by Yossarian.
Stickler tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yossarian wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Yossarian working away.
Yossarian trying to control the position but Stickler is working away.
Yossarian in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stickler is looking for a sweep.
Yossarian creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Stickler sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Stickler tries to bench press Yossarian off him but Yossarian keeps the position.
Stickler gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stickler wants to control but Yossarian is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stickler has a hand on Yossarian's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Yossarian takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Yossarian raining down shots from the mount!
Stickler is looking to improve his position but Yossarian isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Simon Stickler will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Yossarian is looking to score with low kicks.
Yossarian throws a leg kick but Stickler sees it coming and moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Yossarian.
Yossarian slips under a jab.
Stickler misses the shot to the body.
Yossarian lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stickler 's sensitive parts.
Stickler lunges at Yossarian with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Yossarian's hand.
Yossarian rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stickler moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yossarian lands a jab-cross combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stickler . Yossarian does a little dance to reset his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stickler .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yossarian is working to avoid the ground and pound but Stickler connects with a decent elbow.
A lull in the action here as Stickler stalls from top position.
Yossarian struggling a bit here.
Stickler laying and praying for a moment but Yossarian takes advantage and regains half guard.
Yossarian wants to get back to full guard.
Stickler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yossarian keeps working.
Yossarian wants to control but Stickler is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yossarian trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

Stickler jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Yossarian is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Yossarian and Stickler has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Yossarian is looking to regain half guard here but Stickler keeps moving and retains side control.
Yossarian is trying to get back to his feet.
Stickler is looking to take a break and control but Yossarian is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Simon Stickler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yossarian is trying to improve his position.

Stickler tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stickler has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Yossarian tries to improve position but can't.
Yossarian is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stickler swings around for an armbar but Yossarian sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Stickler 's guard.
Yossarian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stickler is keeping the position for now.

Yossarian stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Stickler has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Yossarian manages to get his head free but now Stickler has transitioned to an armbar! Yossarian grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Stickler ! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Simon Stickler !