PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darian Hardy (ranked 2732 p4p, 2730 weight class) and Kameron Yates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Hardy
vs
Yates

150 cm
18
135
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Darian Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kameron Yates!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yates.
Hardy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hardy wants it to stay on the feet.
A counter left hand to the body from Hardy misses its target.
Yates lands a high kick!
Hardy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yates's waist but Yates gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hardy off to one side.

Yates closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yates prevents a takedown attempt there.
Yates slowing the pace effectively.
Yates slows down the pace here.
Yates receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yates avoids it.
Hardy tries to pull guard but Yates forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darian Hardy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yates prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates jumps guard but Hardy stands there with Yates around his waist. Yates gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Yates pulls guard effortlessly.
Yates is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yates doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Yates wants to sweep here but Hardy controlling him for the moment.
Hardy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hardy trying to control but Yates is working from the bottom.
Hardy could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Yates wants to stand and escape but Hardy is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Yates looking for a sweep. Not yet Yates, not yet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hardy closes the distance and clinches up with Yates, looking for a takedown. Hardy pushes Yates against the cage but Yates circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hardy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yates sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hardy somewhat.
Hardy darts in looking for a takedown but Yates gets double underhooks and turns Hardy into the cage.

Yates jumps guard and drags Hardy to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hardy postures up in Yates's guard and throws a big left but Yates blocks it.
Hardy looking to pass the guard.

Yates is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hardy is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is stalling in the full guard.
Hardy's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Yates wants to stand but Hardy is controlling the position.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Yates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

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

Yates tries to keep at a distance but Hardy has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hardy's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Hardy jumps into guard, dragging Yates to the mat.
Hardy controlling the position.
Hardy wants to hit a sweep here but Yates passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hardy there!
Hardy is working to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kameron Yates dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yates displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hardy.
Hardy sets himself, and Yates steps forward looking for the clinch! Hardy avoids it this time.
Yates looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hardy is fending him off so far but Yates persists. Nope, Hardy circles away and we're back to standing.
Hardy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hardy shoots in looking for a takedown. Yates tries to sprawl out of it but Hardy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yates manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yates is defended easily by Hardy.
Hardy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darian Hardy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy slaps away a takedown attempt from Yates, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hardy throws a counter high kick but Yates was just alert enough to avoid it.
Yates fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hardy avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A head kick from Yates lands but Hardy takes it in his stride.
Hardy tries to clinch there but Yates circles away.
Hardy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yates as he avoids it easily.
Yates is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Hardy tries to clinch but Yates is having none of it.
Yates swings for the body but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Hardy shoots in for a double leg but Yates sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hardy misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yates rushes Hardy and presses him up against the cage.
Yates prevents Hardy from breaking the clinch.

Yates breaks from the clinch.
Yates has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hardy closes the distance and clinches.
Hardy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yates tries to pull guard but Hardy won't allow it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Hardy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A leg kick checked by Yates.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Yates's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hardy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yates closes the distance and clinches up with Hardy, looking for a takedown. Yates pushes Hardy against the cage but Hardy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hardy fails with a takedown attempt.
Yates goes for a double leg but Hardy avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hardy continues to drive forward.
Hardy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yates sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hardy somewhat.
Hardy throws a right and a left that Yates avoids nicely.
Yates uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hardy.
Yates shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hardy sprawls well. Hardy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Yates gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy shoots in looking for a takedown but Yates manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hardy's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Yates cracks a nice hook into Hardy's ribs.

Yates closes the distance and clinches.
Hardy is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Yates to keep the fight standing.
A knee to the head by Yates.

Yates pulls guard successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yates is controlling Hardy's posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardy is looking to work some ground and pound but Yates has wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kameron Yates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Yates jabs Hardy right on the nose. Hardy blinks but takes it well.
Hardy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yates as he avoids it easily.
Yates misses with a takedown attempt - Hardy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hardy appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hardy throws a looping overhand right but Yates ducks down to avoid it.
Yates will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hardy looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Yates blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Yates shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense.
Hardy is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Darian Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kameron Yates.
Hardy scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy wants to clinch up but Yates keeps it at a distance.
Hardy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hardy slaps away a takedown attempt from Yates, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yates tries to avoid it but Hardy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yates to the ground. Yates escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Yates or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardy, which made it look bad.
Kameron Yates seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yates shoots in for a double leg but Hardy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Yates shoots in for a double leg but Hardy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hardy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yates.
Yates takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hardy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yates avoids it really well and circles away.
Hardy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yates pinned against the cage. Yates gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yates is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hardy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Hardy has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hardy dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Yates jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hardy walks away with a smile on his face. Yates gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Darian Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Hardy. Yates shrugs it off though.
Hardy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yates avoids it really well and circles away.
Yates fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
As Yates looks to move away, Hardy throws a big counter combo but Yates just gets out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates looks for a takedown but Hardy sprawls well.
Hardy scores with a spinning back kick!
Hardy shoots in for a takedown but Yates shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hardy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hardy fails with a takedown attempt.
Yates scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hardy in his tracks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yates, pushing him back against the cage.
Hardy jumps guard but Yates stands there with Hardy around his waist. Hardy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Yates taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hardy is trying to pull guard but Yates turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hardy taking a breather.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hardy as Yates tries to tie him up.
Hardy is trying to pull guard but Yates has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yates is trying to pull guard but Hardy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Yates tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hardy smiles and moves away.
Darian Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yates shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darian Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yates has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for Kameron Yates!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Kameron Yates!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Kameron Yates!

Kameron Yates wins by unanimous decision!