PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stratton Hartford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Omi Yusura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hartford
vs
Yusura

190 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
27
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stratton Hartford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Omi Yusura!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yusura misses with a low kick.
Yusura wants to clinch

and Hartford counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hartford slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hartford won't allow Yusura to sweep him here.
Hartford chips away with some ground and pound.
Hartford controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stratton Hartford wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Yusura closes the distance but Hartford moves to the side

and Hartford counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Yusura's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hartford sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Yusura bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hartford's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartford controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Stratton Hartford wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Yusura tries to clinch up

and Hartford counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hartford's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hartford trying to control the position from guard on top but Yusura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hartford engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Stratton Hartford.
Yusura wants to clinch but Hartford slips to the side

and Hartford counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!
Hartford is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartford has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Yusura is trying to keep Hartford in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Stratton Hartford.
Yusura closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hartford counters by moving into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hartford gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Hartford takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yusura is trying to break the clinch but Hartford has him pressed against the cage.
Yusura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hartford.
Yusura trying to land knees to the body.
Yusura using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hartford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hartford blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hartford is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Yusura with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hartford'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.
Yusura tries to pull guard but Hartford forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hartford drags the fight down to the ground.
Yusura throwing strikes but missing.
Hartford keeping moving, preventing Yusura from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Omi Yusura hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Yusura tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hartford counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hartford wants to free his trapped foot but Yusura is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yusura darts in trying to clinch

and Hartford counters with a shoot takedown. Yusura fights it but they end up in guard.

Yusura escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hartford gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Yusura pulls Hartford in close to prevent any damage.
Hartford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hartford engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Yusura is trying to control the position but Hartford postures up.
Hartford slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Stratton Hartford has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Yusura rushes Hartford and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartford is struggling to control the position.
Hartford avoiding damage as Yusura throws knees to the body.
Hartford effectively controlling the action here.
Hartford blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yusura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hartford.
Hartford stalling against the cage.
Yusura working Hartford over with knees to the body.
Hartford manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Stratton Hartford.
Yusura fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hartford checks it well.
Omi Yusura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yusura looks to clinch

and Hartford counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Yusura's guard now.
Yusura is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hartford is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Stratton Hartford wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Yusura closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hartford counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hartford.

Yusura looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hartford slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yusura wants to stand but Hartford is controlling the position.
Yusura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yusura doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hartford controlling from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stratton Hartford just wasn't active enough.
Hartford checks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Yusura.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yusura looks to clinch

and Hartford counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hartford not doing much here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hartford is looking to advance position but Yusura won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stratton Hartford dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yusura looks to clinch

and Hartford counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yusura is trying to control but can't.
Hartford is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hartford seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Yusura for as long as he can get away with.

Stratton Hartford has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Yusura wants to clinch

and Hartford counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hartford wants to control from the top but Yusura keeps moving.
Yusura is controlling Hartford's posture.
Hartford's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hartford trying to control but Yusura is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stratton Hartford just wasn't active enough.
Yusura looks to clinch

and Hartford counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yusura trying to control here.
Hartford sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Yusura is trying to get back to full guard.
Hartford throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hartford with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stratton Hartford wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Yusura looks to clinch

and Hartford counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hartford is looking to advance position but Yusura won't allow it.
Hartford controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yusura manages to get to full guard.
Hartford not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

We're going to have a standup here because Stratton Hartford wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hartford checks a low kick from Yusura.
Yusura tries to clinch

and Hartford counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hartford wants to free his trapped foot but Yusura is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Yusura is looking to control Hartford's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yusura avoid being mounted?
Hartford wants to free his trapped foot but Yusura is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Yusura trying to control here.
Yusura is pressing down on Hartford's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartford postures up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Omi Yusura hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Yusura wants to clinch but Hartford slips to the side

and Hartford counters with a takedown into side control.
Hartford is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yusura can do to turn this around?
Yusura is looking to reverse the position.
Hartford has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Hartford in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Yusura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Yusura tries to hold on but Hartford postures up.
Hartford content just to control the position here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stratton Hartford wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Yusura wants to clinch but Hartford slips to the side

and Hartford counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hartford is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hartford wants to control from the top but Yusura keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Yusura working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stratton Hartford clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yusura rushes Hartford and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hartford dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Yusura using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hartford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Yusura throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hartford blocks it with crossed arms.
Yusura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hartford.
Yusura using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hartford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hartford stalling in the clinch.
Yusura using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hartford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yusura tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hartford avoids it.
Hartford will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Yusura up against the cage.
Yusura misses with a knee to the head.
Yusura throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hartford blocks it with crossed arms.
Hartford on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hartford pressing his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Hartford for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartford on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Hartford works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hartford trying to control but Yusura is working from the bottom.
Yusura is adopting a defensive guard.
Yusura bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hartford's guard.
Yusura tries to free his leg and advance position but Hartford is retaining full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Stratton Hartford wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Hartford has closed the distance and engaged Yusura in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yusura tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yusura is trying to stall.
Yusura missing with knees to the body.
Hartford content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Yusura tries to land a knee to the head but Hartford blocks with his arms.
Hartford displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yusura up against the cage.
Yusura misses with a knee to the head.
Yusura lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hartford has Yusura pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yusura tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hartford avoids it.
Yusura is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hartford is keeping busy.

Hartford gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Yusura trying to control from the bottom.
Hartford wants to free his trapped foot but Yusura is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hartford perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Yusura trying to hold on to Hartford's head to control him but Hartford postures up.
Yusura is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Stratton Hartford will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Yusura moves into range and clinches up with Hartford.
Hartford avoiding damage as Yusura throws knees to the body.
Yusura lands a nice knee to the body.
Hartford on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hartford pressing his opponent against the cage.
Yusura throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hartford blocks it with crossed arms.
Hartford is stalling here.
Yusura scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yusura throws a knee to the head but misses.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hartford - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Yusura using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Yusura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hartford.
Yusura tries for a takedown. No joy.
Yusura trying to land knees to the body.
Hartford just leaning against Yusura, taking a breather.
Yusura missing with knees to the body.
Yusura lands a good knee to the midsection. Hartford won't want to take too many of those.
Yusura trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartford stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Yusura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hartford.
Hartford content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Hartford tightens his grip and picks Yusura up, before dumping him to the ground. Yusura manages to land in guard.
Yusura looking to control.
Yusura is looking to stand up but Hartford isn't so interested in that idea.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yusura can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hartford controls the pace.
Hartford'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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stratton Hartford wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Yusura darts in trying to clinch

and Hartford counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Yusura's guard now.
Hartford wants to control from the top but Yusura keeps moving.
Hartford not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hartford has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Yusura working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stratton Hartford wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Yusura looks to clinch

and Hartford counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hartford.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hartford seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Stratton Hartford has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Hartford decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hartford takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yusura wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yusura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Omi Yusura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stratton Hartford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hartford avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stratton Hartford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hartford, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Stratton Hartford!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Stratton Hartford!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Stratton Hartford!

Stratton Hartford wins by unanimous decision!