PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Yates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thufir Hawat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yates
vs
Hawat

173 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ralph Yates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thufir Hawat!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Hawat. No joy for Yates on that attempt.
Hawat looks to land a combination but Yates avoids it well.
Hawat feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Yates's calf.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Hawat has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Yates takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Ralph Yates has been cut.
Hawat tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Yates counters with a thumping low kick.

Yates rushes Hawat and presses him up against the cage.
Yates is trying to break the clinch but Hawat has him pressed against the cage.

Yates drags the fight down to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hawat drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hawat jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yates 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.

Hawat thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hawat is one step ahead there.
Yates wants to stand up but Hawat is controlling him.

Hawat drops back looking for a leg! Yates is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yates manages to kick Hawat off! Hawat jumps back into Yates's guard.

Hawat has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Yates to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Hawat is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Yates pulls down on the head and he's put Hawat to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ralph Yates!