PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aznar Thrul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harrison Yates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harrison Yates told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Thrul
vs
Yates

189 cm
26
190 lbs
16 - 15 - 0

187 cm
29
199 lbs
14 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aznar Thrul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Harrison Yates!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thrul goes for a double leg but Yates avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yates continues to drive forward.
Thrul pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A little jabbing left from Yates on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Thrul misses with an uppercut. Yates saw that one coming.
Thrul throws a hook but Yates blocks it.
Yates fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thrul on the side of the head.

It looks like Aznar Thrul has been cut.
Thrul throws a head kick that misses.
Thrul misses with a low kick as Yates jumps back.
Yates swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Yates throws a head kick but Thrul moves out of range.
Thrul seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Yates misses with a body shot.
Thrul throwing a counter right hand but Yates manages to avoid it.
Yates checks the leg kick.
Yates has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Sloppy strikes from Yates. Those never looked like landing.
Yates lands a nice shot that snaps Thrul's head back.
Thrul tries to land a leg kick but Yates saw it coming and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yates just misses with a punch to the body.
Thrul misses with a wild body shot.
Thrul tries to clinch but Yates moves out of range.
Yates throws a series of punches but Thrul avoids them all with ease.
Yates gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Thrul counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thrul lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Yates at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thrul moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Harrison Yates is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thrul bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Yates's head.
Yates misses the shot to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Thrul crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Yates - the referee stops the clock and Thrul gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Yates. Thrul manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Thrul gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Thrul thuds his shin into the meat of Yates's side.
Thrul misses the jab.
Thrul avoids the body shot from Yates.
Thrul seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Yates tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thrul was well out of range. Poor timing from Yates.
Thrul fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thrul avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Thrul scores with a hook to the body. Yates takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yates checks a low kick from Thrul.
Yates stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yates wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aznar Thrul. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thrul steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yates.
Yates's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Thrul connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Yates scrambles back to his feet.
Thrul slips a jab from Yates.

Yates clinches up against the cage.
Thrul tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yates's elbow.
Yates lands with a left to the head.
Thrul has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Yates is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Yates working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thrul blocks an elbow strike from Yates.

Thrul has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Yates is trying to keep an underhook but Thrul manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Thrul trying to control from half guard but Yates is working away.
Yates is trying to maintain the position but Thrul is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yates might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Thrul haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates moves into full guard.
Thrul throws a big right hand that misses.
Thrul slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Thrul throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yates works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yates is trying to keep Thrul in close.
Thrul trying to control the position from guard on top but Yates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yates keeping full guard, as Thrul tries to pass.

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

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.
Thrul fakes the leg kick and cracks Yates in the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Thrul. That's going to slow Yates down.
Thrul ducks under a wild hook from Yates.
Thrul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thrul cracks Yates with a right hand to the side of the head.
Yates tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Thrul is able to avoid easily.
Thrul takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jab, jab by Yates - just one landing.
Thrul chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yates can pounce on him.
Thrul tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yates was well out of range. Poor timing from Thrul.
Thrul avoids a kick to the body.
Thrul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yates swats away the attempt to clinch by Thrul.
Thrul scores with a hook to the body. Yates takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Aznar Thrul will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Aznar Thrul's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Yates avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thrul tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yates drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Yates lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Thrul at a distance.

Thrul rushes Yates and presses him up against the cage.
Yates lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thrul backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thrul.
Yates tries to land knees in the clinch but Thrul avoids the damage to the body.
Thrul misses with a punch to the body.
Thrul pushes Yates back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yates is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thrul is defending well for now.
Yates tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thrul can't find room to land a body shot as Yates controls the action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thrul.
Yates misses with a punch to the body.
Thrul tries to throw a body punch but Yates avoids it by throwing Thrul back against the cage.
Thrul changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Yates fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thrul walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thrul staying out of range there.
Yates lands with a nice body kick.
Yates misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Yates ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thrul moves away.
Yates cracks the inside of Thrul's front leg.
Yates keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Thrul throws a jab when Yates was well out of range.
Thrul shoots in and drives through. Yates sprawls well.
Thrul takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Yates buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Yates scores with a body shot.
Thrul steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yates.
Nice body punch from Yates.
Yates chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thrul can pounce on him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yates scores with a hook to the body. Thrul takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thrul lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Yates at a distance.
Thrul thumps Yates with a low kick.
Yates misses with a body kick.
Yates lands a head shot.
Yates throws a head kick that Thrul semi-blocks.
Yates tries to work over Thrul's front leg with a kick but Thrul checks it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thrul.
Yates dodges the punch combination from Thrul.
Thrul on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yates. Yates obviously looking to wear him down.
Yates takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Yates lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thrul circles away quickly and effectively.
Yates throws a looping overhand right but Thrul ducks down to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Yates.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thrul.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thrul chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yates can pounce on him.
Yates just misses with a punch to the body.
Thrul scores with a hook to the body. Yates takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thrul looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A nice side step and Yates releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Harrison Yates seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yates throws a good cross that connects.
Yates takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Thrul ducks right into an uppercut from Yates.
Thrul keeps the fight on the outside.
Yates misses with a looping right.
Yates moves out of range as Thrul strikes.
Yates throws a jab when Thrul was well out of range.
Yates circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yates goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thrul cracks the inside of Yates's front leg.
Yates misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yates pivots, looking for a leg kick but Thrul is out of range and Yates settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yates swings for the body but Thrul moves out of range.
Yates throws a body punch but Thrul moves out of range.
Yates throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thrul moves away from the strike by Yates.
Yates misses with a looping right.
Yates misses with a looping left.
Thrul throwing a counter right hand but Yates manages to avoid it.
Thrul's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thrul duly obliges.
Yates moves out of range as Thrul strikes.
Yates throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thrul stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Yates lands a nice hook to Thrul's body. Thrul takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Yates swings away with a body shot that misses
and Thrul counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yates lands a jab to Thrul's midsection.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thrul clinches up against the cage.
Thrul swings wildly with an uppercut but Yates uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice left hand lands by Thrul.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harrison Yates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aznar Thrul's cut.
That's time! Thrul's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thrul goes for a double leg but Yates avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yates continues to drive forward.
Yates feints a counter leg kick.
Yates digs a good hook to Thrul's body.
Yates displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thrul throws out the jab.
Yates throws a body shot but no joy.
Thrul with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Thrul throws a body shot but no joy.
Yates chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yates avoids the body shot from Thrul.
Thrul throws a sloppy head kick and Yates moves out of range easily.
Yates lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Yates connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yates throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thrul counters with a good low kick that Yates was not able to check.
Thrul shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yates. Thrul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yates thuds a left hand into Thrul's body.
A shot to the liver by Yates. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Thrul waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yates.
Yates misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thrul pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Yates swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Thrul to counter with a crisp jab.
Yates misses with an uppercut.
Thrul takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thrul throws a leg kick that misses.
Thrul throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thrul is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Nice straight punches there by Thrul. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thrul.
Thrul slips a jab from Yates.
Thrul tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yates was well out of range. Poor timing from Thrul.
No joy there for Yates, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Thrul lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Yates has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Yates and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thrul.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yates misses with a kick to the body.
Yates pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thrul fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yates avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aznar Thrul. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thrul throws a left and a right that both miss
and Yates counters with a leg kick.
Yates wants to clinch.
Yates with a nice cross.
Thrul missing with a left hand there. Yates was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A little jabbing left from Yates on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Thrul moves forwards but Yates connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Yates walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thrul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yates.
Thrul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yates throws a head kick that Thrul semi-blocks.
Yates misses with a kick to the body
enabling Thrul to counter with a crisp jab.
Thrul fails to land with a series of punches.
Yates misses the jab.
Yates pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A combination from Yates does no damage.
Yates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thrul counters with a big head kick but Yates shrugs it off.
Thrul tries a head kick but it misses.
Thrul looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yates scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Yates ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thrul thows a left - swing and a miss!
Yates keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thrul's corner calls for a 1-2. Thrul obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thrul fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Yates throws a head kick but Thrul moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Yates.
Thrul misses with a body shot.
Yates will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Good shot there by Yates.
Yates throws a body kick that misses.
Yates takes a swing at Thrul's ribcage but misses.
Thrul throws a body kick that misses.
Thrul thows a left - swing and a miss!

And that's the end of the fight!
Harrison Yates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yates 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harrison Yates!