PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jacques Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Yates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yates has chosen He's a mental giant as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Jacques Stone has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jacques Stone seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Stone
vs
Yates

167 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
26
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jacques Stone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aaron Yates!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Ben Hemmingworth and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stone tries to keep at a distance but Yates has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stone tries to work over Yates's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stone tries for a takedown but Yates manages to get underhooks.

Yates pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yates dives in for a single leg takedown but Stone sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Yates darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Yates fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yates shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stone pinned against the cage. Stone gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jacques Stone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Yates.
Yates looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick by Stone misses

and Yates holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Yates lands with a light punch inside.
Stone throws an elbow that misses.

Yates breaks from the clinch.

Yates gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stone tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yates just stands there and leans against the cage.

Yates escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stone tries to keep at a distance but Yates has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stone really is a fat lump.

Yates breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yates has a takedown stuffed.
Yates keeps the fight on the outside.
Yates shoots in but no luck this time.
Yates doesn't manage to clinch there - Stone circles away.
Stone moves in looking to clinch but Yates pushes him off.
Yates keeps the fight on the outside.

Stone moves into the clinch.
Yates is trying to pull guard but Stone has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yates avoiding damage as Stone throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yates manages to break the clinch.
Yates tries for a takedown but Stone circles away easily
and Stone counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Stone throws a push kick but Yates slaps the foot to one side.

Stone forces Yates back against the cage and clinches.
Yates is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Stone scores with a shot to the side of Yates's head.
Yates drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stone pulls his leg out and moves away.
Stone is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yates keeps the fight on the outside.
Stone shoots in for a takedown but Yates shows good takedown defense.
Yates throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stone tries to clinch there but Yates circles away.

Yates gets tackled into the cage by Stone. Stone maintains the clinch.
Stone working aggressively here.
Yates keeps control of Stone as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stone lands an elbow just above Yates 's eye.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Yates successfully pulls guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stone wanted to stand there but Yates had control of the position.
Stone landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aaron Yates will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Yates tries to clinch up.
Yates shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stone counters with a shoot takedown. Yates fights it but they end up in guard.

Yates wriggles free and stands up.
Stone is looking to clinch but Yates is avoiding it.
Yates shoots in looking for a takedown but Stone manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yates's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stone moves in looking to clinch but Yates pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone wants to clinch.
Yates tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Yates is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Stone shoots in and drives through. Yates sprawls well.
Yates throws a shot from downtown. Stone moves away and avoids it.
Yates fails with the takedown.
Jacques Stone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Yates.
Stone dives in and grabs Yates's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yates pushes down on Stone's head and hops out.
Stone tries to clinch but Yates moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Stone misses.
Yates throws a counter combo.
Yates throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Stone circles away from the clinch attempt
and Stone counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yates circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stone circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yates dives in and grabs Stone's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stone pushes down on Yates's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone tries to clinch but Yates moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Stone misses.
Aaron Yates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yates fails with a takedown attempt.
Stone is looking to clinch but Yates is avoiding it.
Stone tries to clinch up.
Stone tries to clinch up but Yates circles away and keeps his distance.
Stone fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four 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.
Stone doesn't manage to clinch there - Yates circles away.

Stone has closed the distance and engaged Yates in a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Stone just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yates's brow.
Stone misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yates.
Stone tries to throw a body punch but Yates avoids it by throwing Stone back against the cage.
Yates looking for a takedown.
Stone pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Yates avoids a wild elbow strike from Stone.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stone misses with an elbow over the top.

Yates breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stone fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aaron Yates will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Yates swats away the attempt to clinch by Stone.
Yates shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stone but Stone pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stone fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yates fails with a takedown attempt.
Aaron Yates seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yates looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

Yates instigates a clinch.
Yates takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stone throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yates jumps guard but Stone stands there with Yates around his waist. Yates gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jacques Stone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Yates.
Stone lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Stone throws an elbow but it misses.
Yates has Stone pressed against the cage, preventing Stone from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stone tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stone pushes off an throws an elbow but Yates leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Stone fails to pull guard.
Stone lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yates backwards.

Yates manages to pull guard.
Stone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yates works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone stopping the sweep attempt from Yates.
Stone postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Stone drops back looking for a leg! Yates is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yates manages to kick Stone off! Stone jumps back into Yates's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stone stands up from Yates's guard - Stone perhaps looking for a knockout.
Stone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stone tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yates swivels and escapes.
Nice takedown defense from Stone. No joy for Yates on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stone swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Stone moves into the clinch.
Stone lands an elbow inside that Yates shrugs off.

Yates manages to pull guard.
Stone has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Yates is proving hard to escape from.
Aaron Yates has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yates escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Stone gets to his feet. Yates looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Yates circles away from the clinch attempt.
As Stone backs off Yates throws a huge counter combo but Stone manages to avoid it all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yates fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stone tries to clinch up but Yates circles away and keeps his distance.
Yates scores with a head kick.
Stone tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yates defends well and Stone ends up having to push Yates into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Yates misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yates shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Stone counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jacques Stone.
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 Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jacques Stone!