PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stockton Yard (ranked 23180 p4p, 551 weight class) and Gabrielius Nieves (ranked 24436 p4p, 533 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Yard
vs
Nieves

185 cm
19
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stockton Yard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabrielius Nieves!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Russell Pearce and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Nieves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Nieves takes the fight into the clinch.
Nieves is trying to maintain a safe position but Yard gets an underhook and turns Nieves into the cage.
Yard wants to take the fight to the mat but Nieves manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Yard decides to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Yard has his foot on Nieves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nieves works his way back into a safe position though.
Nieves looking to sit in guard and control but Yard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nieves is trying to keep Yard in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yard chips away with some ground and pound.
Nieves keeping full guard, as Yard tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yard drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nieves manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Yard has Nieves in his guard.

Yard is trying to control the position but Nieves postures up.
Yard looking for a sweep. Not yet Yard, not yet.
Yard pulls Nieves in close to his closed guard and prevents Nieves from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nieves wanted to stand there but Yard had control of the position.
Nieves really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nieves trying to control but Yard is working from the bottom.
Yard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yard is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yard tries to free his leg and advance position but Nieves is retaining full guard.
Yard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Yard landing with the ground and pound.
Nieves can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yard controls the pace.
Yard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nieves works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yard stopping the sweep attempt from Nieves.
Yard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nieves trying to keep a closed guard but Yard is proving a slippery customer.
Yard won't allow Nieves to sweep him here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Yard looking to pass the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yard swats away the attempt to clinch by Nieves.
Nieves falls off balance throwing a combination

and Yard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nieves won't be happy with that.
Nieves tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieves tries to hold on but Yard pushes him away.
Nieves takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Yard controlling the position easily from mount.
Yard avoids the attempt from Nieves to control.
Yard controlling his opponent.
Yard dominating with strikes here.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Yard jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nieves manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Yard tries for a kimura but Nieves is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stockton Yard dominated that round.
That's time! Yard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nieves ducks under a wild hook from Yard.
Nieves has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Yard is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Nieves throws a head kick but Yard moves out of range.
Yard keeps the fight on the outside.
Nieves wants to clinch

and Yard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Yard 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.
Yard lands strikes from half guard.
Yard is keen to just control but Nieves is a slippery customer.

Yard is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nieves is not content to let Yard control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nieves is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yard's back!
Yard breaks Nieves's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yard trying to control but Nieves is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Yard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nieves is trying to control the position but Yard postures up.
Yard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Yard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nieves can do to turn this around?
Nieves looking to control.
Yard wants to control from the top but Nieves keeps moving.
Yard cracks Nieves with a solid left hand.
Nieves keeping moving, preventing Yard from controlling successfully.

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.
Yard controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nieves keeping moving, preventing Yard from controlling successfully.
Nieves trying to keep a closed guard but Yard is proving a slippery customer.
Yard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nieves tries to clinch but Yard moves out of range.
Yard swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yard throws a sloppy head kick and Nieves moves out of range easily.
Nieves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nieves throws a head kick that misses.

Nieves fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yard, pushing him back against the cage.
Yard can't get the takedown.
Nieves with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yard blocks an elbow strike.
Our sources have told us that Yard has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Nieves throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nieves walks away with a smile on his face. Yard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nieves tries to clinch up.
Yard feinted with a counter takedown.

Yard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nieves did well to prevent Yard getting side control.
Nieves scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Yard manages to mount him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stockton Yard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yard controlling from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nieves tries to reverse the position but Yard maintains control.

Yard goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Nieves is on top in guard.
Yard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yard prevents Nieves from improving his position.
Yard looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nieves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nieves prevents it.
A head punch on the inside from Yard fails to land.
Nieves presses Yard against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nieves's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nieves throws an elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yard has Nieves pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Yard pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nieves tumbling to the mat - Yard dives into Nieves's guard.
Yard pushing down on Nieves's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yard is pressing down on Nieves's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nieves is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nieves is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yard's back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Yard rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Yard is looking to improve his position.

Yard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nieves pulls his head out easily.
Yard is looking for a sweep. Nieves is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieves is keen to just control but Yard is a slippery customer.
Nieves takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Yard is not content to let Nieves control the position.
Yard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nieves's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nieves's back!
Yard is landing with strikes from the back.
Yard controls the position.
Yard is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Yard gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Yard gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Yard apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Yard avoids the head kick by Nieves.

Nieves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yard breaks from the clinch.

Nieves moves into the clinch.
Yard misses with some punches.
Nieves throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yard blocks it with crossed arms.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Yard as Nieves tries to tie him up.
Nieves misses with a knee strike.
Nieves tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yard avoids it.
Nieves with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nieves misses with a knee strike.
Nieves tries to throw a body punch but Yard avoids it by throwing Nieves back against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Yard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieves connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yard's face.
Nieves avoiding damage as Yard throws knees to the body.

Yard manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Yard has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Yard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nieves is sitting in close to Yard's body. Yard has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Nieves is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Nieves is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Yard.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Stockton Yard!