PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chad Roth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lorenzo Yates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lorenzo Yates has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Roth
vs
Yates

154 cm
21
151 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

166 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chad Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lorenzo Yates!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roth gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Roth kicks Yates off and gets to his feet.
Roth takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Yates scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
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!
Yates tries to advance to mount but Roth denies him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yates stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Yates has managed to clinch.
Roth is looking to take this one to the mat.
Roth is looking to control Yates's arms but Yates gets an underhook and turns him. Now Roth has his back to the cage.
Yates blocking some punches.

Yates is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Roth can't fight it off and eventually Yates manages to take the fight to the floor. Roth looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Roth looking for a sweep. Not yet Roth, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates pushes down on Roth's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Roth is looking to control Yates's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Roth avoid being mounted?
Roth avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yates.
Yates content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Roth pushes Yates off looking to stand but Yates dives back in and keeps control.
Roth is trying to get back to full guard.
Roth could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Roth wants to stand back up but Yates manages to pass into side control.
Yates is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Roth's shoulder. That is not cool.
Yates wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roth keeps working.
Yates in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Roth bucks up and tries to throw Yates off but instead Yates has got his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Roth looking very determined here, making life difficult for Yates.
Yates missing with strikes.

Roth is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Yates gets his way!
Yates slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Roth looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Roth is trying to get back to his feet but Yates has full control of the position and if anything, Roth has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Roth tries to escape the position.

Yates working for the choke.
Roth has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Yates.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yates keeps control of the position easily here as Roth tries to buck him off.
Roth rolls, trying to escape but Yates keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Yates dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Yates closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Yates lands in his opponent's guard.
Yates has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Roth looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yates is one step ahead there.
Roth keeping moving, preventing Yates from controlling successfully.
Yates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yates wants to control from the top but Roth keeps moving.

Roth is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth misses with the head strike.
Roth tries to pull guard but Yates forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Roth is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Yates is defending well.
Yates is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Roth throws a head punch that misses.
Roth misses with a punch to the body.

Roth has hold of one of Yates's legs. Yates is fighting the takedown attempt but Roth gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Yates has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Roth has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Roth tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chad Roth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Yates breaks from the clinch.
Chad Roth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yates goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Yates drives through and clinches with Roth against the cage.
Roth jumps guard but Yates stands there with Roth around his waist. Roth gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth has had enough of the clinch but Yates keeps him there for the moment.
Roth tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yates smiles and moves away.

Yates closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Roth tries to pull guard but Yates holds him up against the cage and eventually Roth drops back down to his feet.

Yates lands a takedown into guard.
Yates is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Yates with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yates passes Roth's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Yates works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Yates is continuing to stall.
Yates throwing strikes here but Roth is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Yates raining down hammerfists from mount.
Yates wants to control the pace but Roth is squirming around nicely.

Yates looking for a guillotine from mount but Roth is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Roth tries to hold on but Yates pushes him away.
Yates thowing shots but they're missing.
Roth is wriggling around trying to escape.
Yates sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Yates wants to control the pace but Roth is squirming around nicely.
Yates takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Yates thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Yates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Yates moves out of range of the body kick from Roth.
Roth moves in looking to clinch but Yates pushes him off.
Yates drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Roth defends it well.

Yates darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Yates in particular looking to stall.
Yates's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Roth might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Yates not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yates wants to work for an arm triangle but Roth is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Yates looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Yates thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Roth misses with some strikes from the bottom.

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

Yates takes the fight into the clinch.
Roth looking for a takedown.

Yates pulls Roth into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Roth got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yates has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Roth has managed to get both his arms back between Yates's legs - danger averted.
Roth loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Roth postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Roth throws a big elbow that misses.
Lorenzo Yates has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yates wants to stand but Roth is controlling the position.
Yates preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yates pulls Roth in close to his closed guard and prevents Roth from doing any damage or advancing position.
Roth throwing strikes from guard but Yates blocks nicely.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Roth's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth preventing the sweep.
Roth connects with a couple of short punches.
Yates looking for a sweep. Not yet Yates, not yet.
Yates takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Roth with a flurry of punches that miss.

Yates has his foot on Roth's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Roth works his way back into a safe position though.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Roth scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Roth working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roth scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Roth lands a couple of digs.
Roth has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Roth landing some decent shots from guard.

Yates had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roth defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roth cracks Yates with a solid left hand.
Roth trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Roth throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yates works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Roth cracks Yates with a solid left hand.
Roth keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yates's head.
Roth is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Roth in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roth accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Roth scoring with punches to the head and body.
Chad Roth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lorenzo Yates is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Roth postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Roth showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yates 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

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