PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willy Yarbourgh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Willy Yarbourgh was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Grant
vs
Yarbourgh

184 cm
31
195 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

190 cm
26
195 lbs
12 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Fast

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 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brandon Grant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Willy Yarbourgh!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yarbourgh is looking to clinch.
Yarbourgh wants to clinch.
Grant lands a jab-cross combination.
Yarbourgh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grant swivels and escapes.
Grant throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yarbourgh fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Grant displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yarbourgh throws out the jab.

Yarbourgh has Grant up against the cage in a clinch.
Yarbourgh tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yarbourgh has Grant pressed against the cage.
Grant looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant is looking for a takedown.
Grant goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yarbourgh prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Grant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grant can't get the takedown.

Yarbourgh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grant misses with a shot to the body
and Yarbourgh counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yarbourgh moves in looking to clinch but Grant pushes him off.

Grant shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Yarbourgh trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yarbourgh avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Grant.
Yarbourgh is trying to stand back up but Grant is controlling him
Grant is pressing down on Yarbourgh's thigh, looking to free his foot. Yarbourgh is holding on for now.
Yarbourgh trying to control here.

Grant is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yarbourgh manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yarbourgh trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant prevents Yarbourgh from getting back to his feet.
Yarbourgh preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Grant throws a big right hand that misses.
Grant trying to control but Yarbourgh is working from the bottom.
Grant sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yarbourgh's guard.

Grant is working for a kimura but Yarbourgh is defending it quite comfortably.
Grant passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yarbourgh managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Grant.

Grant swings around for an armbar but Yarbourgh sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Grant's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Grant is looking for a triangle but Yarbourgh pushes his legs off easily.
Yarbourgh wants to control from the top but Grant keeps moving.

Grant working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yarbourgh doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yarbourgh manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Grant is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yarbourgh is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Grant dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Grant throws a body punch but Yarbourgh moves out of range.

Yarbourgh forces Grant back against the cage and clinches.
Yarbourgh displaying some good clinch control by pressing Grant up against the cage.

Yarbourgh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yarbourgh tries to clinch there but Grant circles away.
Grant keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Grant misses with a wild combination.
Grant misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yarbourgh looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yarbourgh fails with the takedown

and Grant counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yarbourgh wants to get back to his feet.
Grant is looking to take a break and control but Yarbourgh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Brandon Grant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yarbourgh tries to roll over but Grant keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Grant there.

Grant is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Yarbourgh sees it coming and defends easily.
Grant has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Yarbourgh wants to get back to his feet.
Grant throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grant is looking to advance position but Yarbourgh won't allow it.
Grant missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Grant throwing shots but Yarbourgh is blocking nicely.
Yarbourgh avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Grant.

Grant is working for a submission of some sort.
Yarbourgh wants to get back to his feet.

Grant is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yarbourgh has managed to free his arm - good work.
Grant tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yarbourgh knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yarbourgh has hold of Grant's hands but Grant slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Grant missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Grant missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Grant is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Yarbourgh is defending against the submission attempts here by Grant.

Grant is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant looks to land a strike but Yarbourgh avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Grant postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Grant throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yarbourgh works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grant stops Yarbourgh from standing up.

Grant has gone for a leg lock! Yarbourgh slips out almost immediately though and dives into Grant's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yarbourgh trying to control but Grant is working from the bottom.

Grant is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Grant dominated that second round.
That's time! Grant's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Grant has closed the distance and engaged Yarbourgh in a clinch.
Yarbourgh is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Yarbourgh is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Grant gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yarbourgh tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Yarbourgh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grant's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yarbourgh will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Grant up against the cage.

Yarbourgh pulls Grant into guard.
Yarbourgh pulls Grant in close to prevent any damage.

Grant drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Yarbourgh dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant wants to sweep but no luck.
Yarbourgh controlling from the top position.

Grant looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Yarbourgh trying to control but Grant is working from the bottom.

Grant is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Grant keeping moving, preventing Yarbourgh from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Yarbourgh throws a big elbow that misses.
Grant wants to sweep here but Yarbourgh controlling him for the moment.
Grant throwing short punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yarbourgh with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Yarbourgh avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Grant has his foot on Yarbourgh's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yarbourgh works his way back into a safe position though.
Yarbourgh stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grant swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yarbourgh passes Grant's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Grant is looking for a sweep. Yarbourgh is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yarbourgh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grant keeps working.
Yarbourgh controlling the pace.
Yarbourgh tries to pass the half guard into mount. Grant knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant wants to improve his position but Yarbourgh is controlling well.
Yarbourgh passes to full mount!
Grant manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Brandon Grant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Grant looking for submissions off his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yarbourgh is looking to take a break and control but Grant is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are battling for position here. Grant manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Willy Yarbourgh.
I think Grant has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Grant!