PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between JR Adams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eerikki Kurki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adams comes to the cage accompanied by 'Looking For The Stone' by Dry Branch Fire Squad. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Adams
vs
Kurki

177 cm
30
191 lbs
19 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
197 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

Phantom Fightwear

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 19 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, JR Adams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eerikki Kurki!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Adams slips under a jab.
Adams attempts a counter takedown but Kurki avoids it well and moves away.
Kurki has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Adams is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Eerikki Kurki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Adams closes the distance and clinches.
Kurki looking for a takedown.
Kurki swings wildly with an uppercut but Adams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kurki avoids a wild elbow strike from Adams.
Adams pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kurki wants to take the fight to the mat but Adams manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kurki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Adams is defending well.
JR Adams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eerikki Kurki.
Kurki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Adams gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Adams breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Kurki misses.
Kurki lands a nice hook to Adams's body. Adams takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Adams slips a straight right by Kurki.
Adams wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Adams gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Adams breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kurki throws a lazy right hand but Adams sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Adams throws a head kick but Kurki moves out of range.
Kurki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Adams circles away quickly and effectively.
Adams drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kurki sprawls and moves away.

Adams drives through and clinches with Kurki against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Kurki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kurki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Adams misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kurki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Adams wants the takedown. Kurki is fighting it off but Adams persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kurki's guard against the cage.
Adams stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kurki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Adams stopping the sweep attempt from Kurki.
Adams trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kurki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Adams defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adams slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Adams trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kurki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kurki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Adams manages to get himself to full guard.

Kurki pushing down on Adams's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kurki wants to free his trapped foot but Adams is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adams is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Adams trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Adams makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Adams.
Adams keeping full guard, as Kurki tries to pass.

Adams had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kurki defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Adams wants to sweep here but Kurki controlling him for the moment.
Kurki advances to half guard.
Kurki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Adams does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Adams trying to control but Kurki postures up.
Adams taking some punishment here, with Kurki in his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kurki lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eerikki Kurki will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kurki throws the left hand but Adams avoids the punch easily.
Adams dives in for a single leg takedown but Kurki sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Adams looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kurki throws out a loose jab but Adams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Adams throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Kurki drops Adams with a right and a left! Kurki comes rushing in but Adams regains his composure and manages to keep Kurki in guard.

Adams is rocked!

It looks like JR Adams has been cut.
Kurki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Eerikki Kurki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Oh Adams is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Adams looking for a sweep. Not yet Adams, not yet.
Adams seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kurki postures up in Adams's guard and throws a big left but Adams blocks it.
Kurki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Adams manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kurki manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adams stopping the sweep attempt from Kurki.
Kurki trying to control the position.
Adams is looking to work some ground and pound but Kurki has wrist control.
Adams controlling from the top position.
Kurki wants to sweep here but Adams controlling him for the moment.
Kurki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Adams is in close to Kurki's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Adams landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Adams missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kurki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Adams is controlling Kurki's trapped leg to prevent Kurki from advancing to side control.
Kurki tries to pass to full mount but Adams defends it.
Adams is trying to get back to full guard.
Kurki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Adams knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Adams wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adams regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kurki throwing strikes but missing.
Adams looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurki is one step ahead there.
Kurki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Adams is keeping the position for now.
Kurki trying to control the position from guard on top but Adams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kurki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Adams is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Adams is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Adams frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Adams cracks Kurki with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Adams landing punches.
Adams pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Adams trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kurki is in all sorts of trouble here.
Adams looking to control but Kurki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eerikki Kurki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on JR Adams's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Adams changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kurki tries to avoid it but Adams manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kurki to the ground. Kurki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kurki throws a hook but Adams blocks it.

Adams rushes Kurki and presses him up against the cage.
Adams tries to land knees in the clinch but Kurki avoids the damage to the body.
Adams is pressed up against the cage. Kurki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Adams down to the mat. Adams avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kurki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Adams lands a nice hook to Kurki's body. Kurki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Adams looks to land a right hand but Kurki moved out of range.
A jab from Adams misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Adams closes the distance and clinches.
Kurki wants a takedown.
Kurki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Adams is defending well.
JR Adams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eerikki Kurki.

Adams tightens his grip and picks Kurki up, before dumping him to the ground. Kurki manages to land in guard.
Adams looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adams stopping the sweep attempt from Kurki.
Kurki is still trying to improve position.
Adams throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kurki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kurki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Adams's guard.

Kurki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kurki advances to half guard.
Kurki working Adams over with strikes.
Kurki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Adams trying to hold on to Kurki's head to control him but Kurki postures up.
JR Adams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adams gets back to full guard.
Kurki postures up in Adams's guard and throws a big left but Adams blocks it.
Kurki throws a big right hand that misses.
Kurki looking to pass the guard.
Adams trying to control the position.
Kurki sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Adams looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurki is in close to Adams's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kurki stopping the sweep attempt from Adams.

Kurki drops back looking for a leg! Adams is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Adams manages to kick Kurki off! Kurki jumps back into Adams's guard.
Kurki is looking to pass into half guard but Adams pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Adams is in guard.

Eerikki Kurki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Adams lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adams stopping the sweep attempt from Kurki.
Kurki wants to hit a switch here but Adams passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kurki there!
Adams raining down shots from the mount!
Adams looking to control and managing it successfully.
Adams looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurki is wriggling around trying to escape.
The referee warns Kurki that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kurki can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
JR Adams showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kurki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Eerikki Kurki!
The defeated JR Adams had this to say: 'Ain't this terrible?!'.