PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zeke Hester (ranked 3755 p4p, 24059 weight class) and Stanley Yelnats (ranked 377 p4p, 448 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hester
vs
Yelnats

175 cm
23
164
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
164
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zeke Hester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stanley Yelnats!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Ron Honeybunn and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hester tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yelnats swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hester closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hester creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yelnats's defenses.
Hester misses with an elbow strike.
Yelnats throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hester throws an elbow but misses.
Hester definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Hester lands a nice elbow.
Hester throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hester throws an elbow that misses.
Yelnats throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hester pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hester looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hester pushes off an throws an elbow but Yelnats leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hester pushes off an throws an elbow but Yelnats leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Yelnats blocks the elbow strike.

Yelnats gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hester regains guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yelnats is pushing down on Hester's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hester is fighting to maintain full guard but Yelnats has managed to sneak the leg through.
Yelnats is taking a breather. Hester says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hester is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yelnats perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hester looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hester taking some punishment here, with Yelnats in his half guard.
Hester is trying to stand back up but Yelnats is controlling him
Yelnats is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hester is trying to stand up here but Yelnats is controlling him well.
Yelnats looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Yelnats stops Hester from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Hester moves into the clinch successfully.
Yelnats blocks an elbow strike from Hester.
Hester misses with an elbow strike.
Hester pushes off an throws an elbow but Yelnats leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hester lands an elbow just above Yelnats 's eye.
Yelnats avoids the elbow strike from Hester, against the cage.
Yelnats trying to stall but Hester improves his position.
Yelnats is trying to drag Hester to the mat but Hester just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hester blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yelnats blocks an elbow strike from Hester.
Yelnats looking to stall.
Hester creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yelnats tries to score a body lock takedown but Hester shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hester misses with an elbow strike.
Yelnats blocks the elbow strike.
Yelnats has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hester avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zeke Hester has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stanley Yelnats.
Hester throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hester looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hester pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hester just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yelnats's brow.
Yelnats blocks the elbow strike.
Yelnats misses with a body punch.
Hester throws an elbow but it misses.
Yelnats stalls.
Yelnats avoiding damage.
Hester pushes off an throws an elbow but Yelnats leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Yelnats looking to throw knees to the head but Hester is blocking nicely.
Hester gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hester pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yelnats avoids a wild elbow strike from Hester.
Hester misses with an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hester lands an elbow inside.
Yelnats blocks an elbow strike.
Yelnats looking to throw knees to the head but Hester is blocking nicely.
Hester lands an elbow that stopped Yelnats in his tracks for a moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yelnats trying to stall but Hester improves his position.

Yelnats lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Yelnats is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hester tries to kick Yelnats off but Yelnats keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Yelnats with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
It looks like Yelnats might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Yelnats trying to mount his opponent but Hester defends it.
Hester is looking to escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hester rushes Yelnats and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zeke Hester has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Yelnats dodges an elbow strike from Hester.
Yelnats tries for a takedown but Hester manages to get underhooks.
Hester lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hester throws an elbow but misses.
Hester lands a nice elbow.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hester throws an elbow but it misses.
Yelnats throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hester blocks it with crossed arms.
Hester throws an elbow but it misses.
Yelnats can't get the takedown.
Hester blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hester misses with an elbow strike.
Yelnats looking for a takedown.
Zeke Hester has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stanley Yelnats.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yelnats blocks an elbow strike.
Hester creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yelnats's defenses.
Yelnats takes an elbow to the forehead.
Yelnats tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hester lands a nice elbow.
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!
Yelnats takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yelnats creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hester looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hester creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Yelnats misses with some punches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hester just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yelnats's brow.
Hester lands an elbow inside that Yelnats shrugs off.
Hester throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Yelnats is looking to control Hester's arms but Hester gets an underhook and turns him. Now Yelnats has his back to the cage.
Hester lands a damaging elbow.
Yelnats blocks an elbow strike.
Hester lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hester lands an elbow just above Yelnats 's eye.
Hester comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hester throws an elbow but it misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Yelnats throws a head punch that misses.
Hester throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hester looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hester lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yelnats blocks an elbow strike.
Yelnats misses with an elbow over the top.
Hester creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hester lands an elbow just above Yelnats 's eye.
Yelnats is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hester is defending well for now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hester lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Yelnats is trying to drag Hester to the mat but Hester just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Yelnats working aggressively here.
Yelnats works on Hester's body with a couple of short punches.
Yelnats avoids the elbow strike from Hester, against the cage.
Yelnats changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hester fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Yelnats scores with a jab to the head.
Zeke Hester seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yelnats avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hester moves into the clinch successfully.
Hester throws an elbow but it misses.
Yelnats has Hester pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hester manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hester pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Yelnats doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Yelnats is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hester creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Yelnats blocks an elbow strike from Hester.
Yelnats avoids a wild elbow strike from Hester.
Yelnats misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hester.
Yelnats looking to slow down the pace here.
Hester is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yelnats can do to turn this around?
Yelnats looking to stall.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hester.
Hester lands an elbow just above Yelnats 's eye.
Yelnats tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hester's elbow.
Hester gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yelnats drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hester gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Yelnats stalling against the cage.
Yelnats trying to stall but Hester improves his position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hester just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yelnats's brow.
Hester creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yelnats's defenses.
Yelnats trying to control the position but instead, Hester has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yelnats into the cage.
Hester creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yelnats's defenses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yelnats blocks the elbow strike.
Yelnats wants to take the fight to the mat but Hester manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hester blocks an elbow strike from Yelnats.
Yelnats manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hester lands a damaging elbow.

Yelnats has hold of one of Hester's legs. Hester is fighting the takedown attempt but Yelnats gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Hester dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hester blocks a head kick by Yelnats.
Hester was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Hester closes the distance and pushes Yelnats back into the cage.
Yelnats takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Stanley Yelnats has been cut.
Hester lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Yelnats has Hester pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Yelnats pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hester tumbling to the mat - Yelnats dives into Hester's guard.
Yelnats loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hester wants to stand and escape but Yelnats is having none of it.
Hester keeping moving, preventing Yelnats from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yelnats is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hester wants to stand but Yelnats is controlling the position.
Hester keeping full guard, as Yelnats tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yelnats is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hester tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yelnats swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hester fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yelnats, pushing him back against the cage.
Hester throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hester blocks an elbow strike from Yelnats.
Hester throws an elbow that misses.
Hester misses with an elbow strike.
Hester throws an elbow but it misses.
Hester lands an elbow inside that Yelnats shrugs off.
Hester looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hester as Yelnats tries to tie him up.
Hester pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hester throws an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hester throws an elbow but misses.
Yelnats avoids a wild elbow strike from Hester.
Hester misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yelnats blocks an elbow strike.

Hester wriggles free and stands up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yelnats avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yelnats swats away the attempt to clinch by Hester.
Yelnats lands a nice looking body shot.

Hester instigates a clinch.
Hester lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Yelnats is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hester is defending well.
Hester creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hester throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hester looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hester comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hester lands an elbow just above Yelnats 's eye.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hester throws an elbow but misses.
Yelnats avoiding damage.
A head punch on the inside from Yelnats fails to land.
Hester lands an elbow inside.
Yelnats is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hester looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hester on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hester comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hester throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Yelnats looking to throw knees to the head but Hester is blocking nicely.
Hester throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hester lands a damaging elbow.
Hester throws an elbow but it misses.
Yelnats tries to throw a body punch but Hester avoids it by throwing Yelnats back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hester throws an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hester misses with an elbow strike.
Hester throws an elbow but it misses.
Yelnats softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Yelnats blocks the elbow strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yelnats blocks an elbow strike from Hester.
Hester pushes off an throws an elbow but Yelnats leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Yelnats is trying to maintain a safe position but Hester gets an underhook and turns Yelnats into the cage.
Hester throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hester creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hester lands a nice elbow.
Yelnats avoids the elbow strike from Hester, against the cage.
Yelnats misses with a punch to the body.
Hester pushes off an throws an elbow but Yelnats leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Yelnats takes an elbow to the temple.
Yelnats taking a breather.
Hester throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hester throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Stanley Yelnats has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yelnats is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hester gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hester lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zeke Hester showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hester, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 30:27
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeke Hester!
After winning the bout, Zeke Hester thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.