PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jon Cormier (ranked 24584 p4p, 492 weight class) and Nigel Yates (ranked 7654 p4p, 467 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Jon Cormier has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jon Cormier seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Cormier
vs
Yates

175 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

165 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jon Cormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nigel Yates!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier shoots in for a takedown but Yates shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

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

Yates gets to his feet - Cormier follows without any prompting.

Yates darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yates is trying to work for a kimura but Cormier is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cormier is trying is best to control the position here.

Yates seems to be looking for submissions.
Yates wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cormier keeps working.
Cormier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cormier is trying to control but can't.

That's two 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.
Yates throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yates is trying to control. Cormier wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cormier looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Cormier gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cormier holds on and takes a little breather.
Yates advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cormier keeps working.
Cormier controlling the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yates trying to control from half guard but Cormier is working away.
Yates trying to mount his opponent but Cormier defends it.
Cormier trying to control but Yates postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Yates in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cormier trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Cormier tries to reverse the position but Yates maintains control.
Yates throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cormier because Yates loaded up on that one.
Cormier tries to hold on but Yates pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cormier blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel Yates dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Yates shoots in and drives through. Cormier sprawls well.
Cormier attempts a counter takedown but Yates avoids it well and moves away.
Jon Cormier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yates tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cormier swivels and escapes.

Yates drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cormier looks to move to half guard but instead Yates has passed into mount! Damn!
Yates throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier manages to control the position for a moment.
Yates looking to control but Cormier is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Yates wants to finish this one by submission but Cormier is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Yates.
Cormier tries to hold on but Yates postures up.
Yates punching from mount but Cormier doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two 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.
Yates trying to control but Cormier is having none of it.
Yates controlling the pace for now.
Yates misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates wants to control the pace but Cormier is squirming around nicely.
Yates throwing strikes here but Cormier is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Yates tries to control but Cormier wriggling away.

Yates is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Yates fails with the takedown.
Jon Cormier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nigel Yates.
Yates shoots in but no luck this time.
Cormier changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yates shoots in looking for a takedown. Cormier tries to sprawl out of it but Yates keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cormier manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yates is breathing heavily.
Yates has his takedown stuffed

and Cormier counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cormier.
Cormier holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cormier dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel Yates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yates changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cormier tries to avoid it but Yates manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cormier to the ground. Cormier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yates doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cormier counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Yates is looking for a takedown.
Jon Cormier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nigel Yates.
Cormier tries to pull guard but Yates forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Yates fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cormier tries to work over Yates's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yates is trying to pull guard but Cormier turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates is trying to pull guard but Cormier turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cormier can't get the takedown.
Yates fails to pull guard.
Yates takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cormier jumps into guard, dragging Yates to the mat.
Cormier looking for a sweep. Not yet Cormier, not yet.
Cormier is working hard here to advance position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yates accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yates is looking to advance position but Cormier has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Jon Cormier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yates working to try and regain half guard.
Cormier controlling his opponent.
Yates tries to hold on but Cormier postures up.
Cormier tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Yates is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier content just to control the position here.
Yates wants to hold on but Cormier pushes him away.
Nigel Yates has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yates is trying desperately to improve position.
Cormier is stalling here but it's allowed Yates to get half guard.
Cormier performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Yates is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cormier pulls his head out easily.
Cormier wants to take a breather but Yates is having none of it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yates is trying to control but can't.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nigel Yates is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice sprawl there from Cormier as Yates shoots in.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Cormier showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nigel Yates!
Nigel Yates thanked the fans post fight for their support.