PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Manners (ranked 2985 p4p, 336 weight class) and Stockton Yard (ranked 22865 p4p, 540 weight class). Stockton Yard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Manners
vs
Yard

200 cm
20
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
210 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Manners!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stockton Yard!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Kavanagh and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yard comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Yard throws a head kick but Manners moves out of range.
Manners throws a big counter combination but Yard scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Manners forces Yard back against the cage and clinches.
Manners misses with a punch to the body.
Manners misses with a knee to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Manners.
Nice body punch from Manners.
A body shot lands from Manners.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Yard has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Manners effectively controlling the action here.
Manners leaning his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manners landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Manners tries to throw a body punch but Yard avoids it by throwing Manners back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Manners creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Manners connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yard's face.

It looks like Stockton Yard has been cut.
Manners creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yard's defenses.
Yard is pushing Manners up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Manners goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Manners stalls.
Yard managing to block the knees to the body from Manners.
Manners lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Manners prevents a body shot from Yard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manners tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short right from Manners on the inside.
Manners gets underhooks to prevent Yard's takedown attempt.
Yard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Manners goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Manners leaning his opponent against the cage.
Yard is trying to drag Manners to the mat but Manners just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Manners lands an elbow that stopped Yard in his tracks for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manners scores with a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yard tries to pull guard but Manners forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Matt Manners has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stockton Yard.
Manners works on Yard's body with a couple of short punches.
Manners lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yard.
Yard has had enough of the clinch but Manners keeps him there for the moment.
Manners scores with a shot to the side of Yard's head.
Manners lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Manners with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Manners.

Manners drops Yard with a big knee straight up the middle! Yard is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
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!
Manners tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yard swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Manners rushes Yard and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Manners obliges.
Yard looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manners with a knee to the head.
Yard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Manners pulls his leg out and moves away.
Manners tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Manners takes the fight into the clinch.
Yard wants to stall.
Manners trying to land knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Manners.
Manners dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Manners.
Yard takes an elbow to the forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Manners dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stockton Yard's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Manners tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manners is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yard can do to turn this around?
A jab lands there for Manners.
Manners avoids the body shot from Yard.
It looked like Manners was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Yard gets a takedown into half guard.
Manners wants to get back to his feet.
Manners is looking to improve his position.
Yard passes into side control, despite Manners's attempt to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yard content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Manners wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manners struggling a bit here.
Yard remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Manners sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Yard is pressing down on Manners's thigh, looking to free his foot. Manners is holding on for now.
Manners is looking for a sweep. Yard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Manners works his way to full guard. Good work.
Manners has his hands on Yard's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Manners is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yard trying to control the position from guard on top but Manners is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yard wants to control from the top but Manners keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Manners gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Manners has Yard pressed against the cage.
Manners throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manners lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Manners stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Manners.
Yard is breathing heavily.
Manners lands a good knee to the midsection. Yard won't want to take too many of those.
Manners lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yard.
Manners lands a shoulder strike.
Manners lands an elbow just above Yard 's eye.
Manners misses with a hook to the ribs.
Manners lands an elbow inside.
Manners working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Manners lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That has opened up Stockton Yard's cut even more.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manners lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Manners drops Yard with a big knee straight up the middle! Yard is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Yard is rocked!
We've been told by Manners's head coaches at The Forge that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Manners throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Yard is still on wobbly legs! Can Manners finish him?

Manners rushes Yard and presses him up against the cage.
Manners lands with a short shot to the head.
Manners creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Yard's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Yard drops to his knees and Manners pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Matt Manners!