PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lance Yardstick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey ONeill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ONeill comes into a darkened arena with his song building. "This Is England" by The Clash kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Mickey ONeill told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Yardstick
vs
ONeill

182 cm
24
179 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

188 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

5th Round
*S&M* Sweat Shop [MFS Bloodsport]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lance Yardstick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mickey ONeill!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ONeill looking to land some kicks to the body here.

ONeill has taken the fight to the clinch.

ONeill manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
ONeill keeping moving, preventing Yardstick from controlling successfully.
Yardstick won't allow ONeill to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yardstick trying to control but ONeill is working from the bottom.

ONeill working for a triangle but Yardstick defends it easily.
ONeill is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yardstick drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yardstick jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Yardstick wants to control from the top but ONeill keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yardstick tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but ONeill swivels and escapes.

Yardstick shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yardstick in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
ONeill utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
ONeill wants to stand up but Yardstick is controlling him.
Yardstick trying to control but ONeill is working from the bottom.
Yardstick with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yardstick working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of ONeill's head.
Yardstick slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
ONeill is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Yardstick misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Yardstick throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. ONeill was covering up waiting for the punch and Yardstick finishes the takedown easily into guard.
ONeill is looking to stand up but Yardstick isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yardstick working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yardstick wants to control from the top but ONeill keeps moving.
Yardstick wants to pass the guard but ONeill is keeping the position.
ONeill wants to stand and escape but Yardstick is having none of it.
Yardstick sitting in guard here, content to control.
Yardstick'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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
ONeill slaps away a takedown attempt from Yardstick, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lance Yardstick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ONeill dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Yardstick. That did some damage!
ONeill throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ONeill looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Yardstick shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yardstick throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around ONeill's waist but ONeill gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yardstick off to one side.
Yardstick is breathing heavily.

Yardstick shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Yardstick was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
ONeill is working to get back to half guard.

Yardstick goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now ONeill is on top in guard.
Yardstick has ONeill pulled in close to control his posture.
ONeill wants to pass the guard but Yardstick is keeping the position.
ONeill throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yardstick works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ONeill throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
ONeill wants to control from the top but Yardstick keeps moving.
ONeill preventing the sweep.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Yardstick holds on and takes a little breather.
Yardstick looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
ONeill lands a high kick!

Yardstick looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for ONeill!
Yardstick looking to control but ONeill is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
ONeill keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Yardstick wants to take ONeill's back but he can't do it this time.
Yardstick with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yardstick looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? ONeill is fending him off so far but Yardstick persists. Nope, ONeill circles away and we're back to standing.
ONeill lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yardstick circles away quickly and effectively.
Yardstick closes the distance and clinches up with ONeill, looking for a takedown. Yardstick pushes ONeill against the cage but ONeill circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yardstick fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lance Yardstick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ONeill stuffs the takedown.

Yardstick scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Yardstick thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
ONeill is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Yardstick off and has taken his back!
ONeill connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Yardstick to escape the position.
ONeill is landing with strikes from the back.
Yardstick rolls, trying to escape but ONeill keeps control of the position.
Yardstick is covering up but some of the strikes from ONeill are getting through and doing damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee is taking a good look at Yardstick as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from ONeill!

ONeill is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ONeill lands shots from the back.
I really don't envy Yardstick right now.

ONeill has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
ONeill is punishing Yardstick with strikes - can he finish him?!
ONeill lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Yardstick wants to control his opponent's hands but ONeill gets his hands free.
ONeill missing with punches from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ONeill doesn't have the hooks in and Yardstick manages to turn into his guard.
Yardstick passes into half guard.
Yardstick seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but ONeill does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
ONeill is looking to escape.

Yardstick is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and ONeill defends it well.
Lance Yardstick overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
ONeill is trying to stand back up but Yardstick is controlling him
ONeill is staying active underneath Yardstick, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yardstick prevents ONeill from improving his position.

Yardstick is working for a submission of some sort.
Yardstick trying to control from half guard but ONeill is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
ONeill will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
ONeill leaves Yardstick with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Yardstick fails with the takedown.

ONeill closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
ONeill landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Yardstick is looking for a sweep. ONeill is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Yardstick is defending against the submission attempts here by ONeill.
Yardstick manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yardstick wants to sweep here but ONeill controlling him for the moment.
ONeill connects with a couple of short punches.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yardstick is on top in guard.
Yardstick landing some decent shots from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yardstick accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yardstick preventing the sweep.
Yardstick prevents ONeill from getting back to his feet.
Yardstick wants to pass the guard but ONeill is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey ONeill showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Yardstick bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Yardstick is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, ONeill has escaped the position, nice work there.

Yardstick is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. ONeill knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

ONeill throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
ONeill misses with a few strikes there.
Yardstick gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and ONeill counters with a lovely straight right hand!
ONeill lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
ONeill shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yardstick pinned against the cage. Yardstick gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yardstick with a lazy takedown attempt

and ONeill counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yardstick is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
ONeill scoring with punches to the head and body.
ONeill working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
ONeill is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
ONeill throwing strikes from guard but Yardstick blocks nicely.
Yardstick keeping moving, preventing ONeill from controlling successfully.
Yardstick lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for ONeill!
Yardstick looking to control but ONeill is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Yardstick working for a guillotine from mount but ONeill is in no mood to give up.
ONeill wants to hold on but Yardstick pushes him away.
Yardstick prevents ONeill from getting the reversal.
Yardstick connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Yardstick looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
ONeill regains half guard.
ONeill flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
ONeill gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ONeill manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Yardstick wants to control but ONeill is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, ONeill cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Yardstick is desperately trying to improve his position but ONeill has a good base and remains in mount.
ONeill trying to control but Yardstick is having none of it.
Yardstick is looking to improve his position but ONeill isn't that keen on the idea.
A nice elbow there by ONeill.
Yardstick is squirming around, avoiding ONeill's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Yardstick really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
ONeill avoids the attempt from Yardstick to control.
ONeill landing shots from mount.
Yardstick regains half guard.
Yardstick trying to control from the bottom.
Yardstick taking some punishment here, with ONeill in his half guard.
Yardstick is looking to improve his position.
Yardstick works his way to full guard. Good work.
ONeill not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey ONeill comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well ONeill 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey ONeill!