PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Halliday (ranked 5706 p4p, 572 weight class) and Stockton Yard (ranked 5807 p4p, 587 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Halliday
vs
Yard

194 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

The Juice

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Halliday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stockton Yard!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Halliday.
Yard dodges the punch combination from Halliday.
Halliday misses with the body kick

and Yard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Halliday won't be happy with that.
Halliday tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Yard is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Halliday is defending well though. Yard let's go of the attempt for now.

Halliday showing good submission defense here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halliday trying to control the hands but Yard won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yard controlling well, preventing Halliday from escaping the position.

Yard looking for the choke from the back.
Yard tries to keep control of the position but Halliday is staying busy.

Yard working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
You can see the frustration on Halliday's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halliday trying to get back to his feet but Yard is in full control for now.
Halliday tries to escape but Yard has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Halliday trying to control but not successfully.
A lull in the action here.

Halliday showing good submission defense here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Halliday is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Halliday looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Halliday showing good submission defense here.
Halliday is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Halliday fending off the submission attempt from Yard.
Halliday tries to escape but Yard has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Yard has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Halliday has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Yard looking to break Halliday's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Halliday remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Yard will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stockton Yard dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Halliday throws a sloppy head kick and Yard moves out of range easily.
Yard looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Yard closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Halliday quickly recovers to half guard.
Yard takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Halliday is trying to control Yard's posture. Yard takes advantage of the lull and advances to side control. He also appears to have an arm triangle here! Uh oh, big trouble for Halliday! Yard is rotating here... this could be the end... Halliday is out! Yard has ended this one emphatically! Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Stockton Yard!