PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Yates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renan Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yates's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Here comes Tecca Nina - Tech N9ne. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Yates
vs
Gracie

195 cm
26
235 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

192 cm
29
231 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aaron Yates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renan Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yates has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yates manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Yates lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.

Yates's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gracie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Yates is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yates regains full guard. Nicely done.

Yates looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Yates looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Yates is retaining full guard.
Yates is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie postures up.

Yates looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Yates working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.

Yates working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two 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.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Yates is trying to improve his position.
Gracie trying to control the position but Yates is working away.
Yates is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Yates sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie wants to control but Yates is keeping him busy.
Yates prevents Gracie from moving into mount.
Gracie trying to control the action but Yates is working from the bottom.
Yates tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Yates is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four 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 throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yates as he jumps to the side.
Gracie takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

It looks like Renan Gracie has been cut.
Jab by Yates.

Yates clinches with his opponent.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yates just stands there and leans against the ropes.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Yates.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Aaron Yates has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renan Gracie.
Yates effectively controlling the action here.

Yates breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yates avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yates is looking to counter punch.
Yates pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yates throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Yates dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Renan Gracie's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yates paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Yates throws a body shot but no joy.
Renan Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Yates counters with a right, left combo that wobbles Gracie badly! Yates follows up with a massive right hook, straight to the bridge of the nose that knocks Gracie out cold! Oh wow, what a finish! Very reminiscent of Koscheck vs Yoshida as Yates finished him against the ropes.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:14 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Aaron Yates!
After winning the bout, Aaron Yates thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.