PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lamar Yates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lamar Yates has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yates
vs
Ross

197 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

187 cm
22
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Lamar Yates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Ross!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross moves into range and connects with a jab.

It looks like Lamar Yates has been cut.
Ross looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ross looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Yates fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ross avoids it really well and circles away.

Ross has closed the distance and engaged Yates in a clinch.

Ross has clasped his hands together around Yates's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
An elbow from Ross crashes against the mat.
Ross is looking to take a break and control but Yates is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yates can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates tries to bench press Ross off him but Ross keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Yates's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yates keeps working.
Yates is trying to control Ross's posture but Ross avoids it.
Yates wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Ross trying to control the position but Yates is working away.
Ross working away.
Yates is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yates parries the strikes from Ross easily there. Ross is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Yates to escape.
Ross trying to control the position but Yates is working away.
Yates is trying to control Ross's posture but Ross avoids it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yates takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Ross closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Yates to the mat! Yates manages to get full guard.
Yates is controlling Ross's posture.
Ross throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yates works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yates throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ross is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ross wants to get up but he can't break Yates's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ross won't allow Yates to sweep him here.
Yates is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Yates drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Yates shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Yates was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ross wants to get back to his feet but Yates drags him back down.

Yates thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Yates working the ground and pound but Ross is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross is trying to buck Yates off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Ross dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lamar Yates's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ross pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Yates gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ross to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Yates trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Yates not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ross with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yates controls Ross momentarily but Ross frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yates pulls Ross in to control the position.

Yates has his foot on Ross's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ross works his way back into a safe position though.
Yates keeping moving, preventing Ross from controlling successfully.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates throws a right hand that Ross ducks under and follows up with a left that Ross also avoids with ease.
Ross cracks a nice hook into Yates's ribs.
Ross's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ross duly obliges.
Ross pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ross throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Yates counters with a shoot takedown. Ross fights it but they end up in guard.
Ross is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yates is controlling him.

Ross kicks Yates off and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ross throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ross forces Yates back against the cage and clinches.
Ross just leaning against Yates, taking a breather.

Ross has hold of one of Yates's legs. Yates is fighting the takedown attempt but Ross gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Yates is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nick Ross has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yates has his foot on Ross's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ross works his way back into a safe position though.
Ross 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.
Yates controls Ross momentarily but Ross frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ross not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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

Ross fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Yates sprawls well initially but Ross persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ross with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yates keeps working.
Yates punching from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ross prevents Yates from improving his position.
Yates trying to control from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ross content to control rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ross has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Ross showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lamar Yates's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ross jabs Yates to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Ross forces Yates back against the cage and clinches.
Ross blocks an elbow strike from Yates.

Ross lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Yates won't allow Ross to pass to mount.
Yates flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Yates tries to roll over but Ross keeps him under control.
Yates trying to control but Ross postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ross trying to pass the guard but Yates defending well.
Yates is trying to stand up here but Ross is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Yates punching from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A punch combination from Ross misses.
Yates misses with a takedown attempt
and Ross connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ross falls off balance throwing a combination
and Yates counters with a body kick that stops Ross in his tracks momentarily.

Yates tries to sprawl but Ross drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Yates keeping control of the position.
Yates is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yates is trying to maintain the position but Ross is very close to passing his half guard.
Yates wants to get back to full guard.
Ross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yates keeps working.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ross is thwarting Yates's attempts to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross digs a good body shot into Yates's ribs.

Ross instigates a clinch.

Ross has clasped his hands together around Yates's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Yates is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Yates tries to buck Ross off but Ross is having none of it.
Yates throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Yates is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yates has one of Ross's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Yates's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ross trying to control the position but Yates is working away.
Yates tries to bench press Ross off him but Ross keeps the position.
Yates is working hard here to advance position.

Ross tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yates dives in and grabs Ross's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ross pushes down on Yates's head and hops out.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Ross comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ross 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 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Ross!