PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Principo Adam (ranked 123 p4p, 315 weight class) and James Yarborough (ranked 19 p4p, 41 weight class). Adam comes to the cage accompanied by Dona Eis Requiem. Yarborough has chosen Derezzed as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Adam
vs
Yarborough

185 cm
32
188
26 - 10 - 2

185 cm
31
190
24 - 11 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Conviction

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 26 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Principo Adam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Yarborough!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yarborough ducks under a wild hook from Adam.
Adam misses with a looping right.
A jab lands there for Yarborough.
Adam throws a lazy right hand but Yarborough sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Adam lands with a good body shot.
Yarborough scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Adam swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Yarborough throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Adam throws a body punch but Yarborough moves out of range.
Yarborough scoring well with a low kick there.
Adam misses with a straight right.
Adam misses with a hook.
Yarborough moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The fighters circling - Adam throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yarborough takes a jab right on the kisser.
Yarborough looks to land a left hand but Adam moved out of range nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yarborough jabs Adam to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Yarborough misses with an uppercut. Adam saw that one coming.
Yarborough throws out a leg kick but Adam moves out of range and Yarborough only half commits.
Adam cracks Yarborough with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Yarborough swings for the body but Adam moves out of range.
James Yarborough seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yarborough fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Adam checks it well.
Adam looks to score with a jab to the body but Yarborough is just out of range.
Adam swings for the body but Yarborough moves out of range.
Yarborough with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Adam moves away from the strike by Yarborough.
Yarborough needs to keep his hands up - Adam had a free shot at his head there.
Yarborough is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Adam.
Adam appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nice jab there from Adam.
Yarborough looks to land a right hand but Adam moved out of range.
Yarborough lands an overhand right.
Yarborough misses with a body shot.
Yarborough swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yarborough with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice defenses there by Adam.
Adam lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Yarborough misses with a leg kick

and Adam counters with a shoot takedown. Yarborough fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yarborough is looking to stand up but Adam isn't so interested in that idea.
Adam has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Adam wants to control from the top but Yarborough keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yarborough wants to get back to his feet but Adam is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Adam throws a big elbow that misses.

Yarborough kicks Adam off and gets to his feet.
Yarborough has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Yarborough walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Adam checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Yarborough with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Adam to score with a decent uppercut.
Adam ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
James Yarborough is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Adam misses with a low kick.

Adam drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Yarborough manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Adam walks into a jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Adam.
Adam takes one to the side of the head.
Adam slips a jab and a cross from Yarborough.
A chopping leg kick lands by Yarborough.
Yarborough misses with an uppercut. Adam saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adam missing with a left hand there. Yarborough was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yarborough swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yarborough misses with an uppercut
and Adam counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yarborough looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Adam misses with a straight right.
Adam uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yarborough.
The fighters circle momentarily. Yarborough darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Yarborough moves forwards but Adam connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Good shot there by Yarborough.
Adam staying out of range there.
Adam feinted with a counter takedown.

Adam shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Adam trying to control the action but Yarborough is working from the bottom.
Yarborough is trying to stand.
Adam controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adam stops Yarborough from getting back to his feet.
Adam is taking a breather. Yarborough says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Yarborough is looking to escape.

Yarborough kicks Adam off and gets back to his feet.
Nice defenses there by Adam.
Yarborough steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Adam.
Yarborough swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yarborough misses with a leg kick
and Adam counters with a good low kick that Yarborough was not able to check.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yarborough. Adam does a little dance to reset his feet.
Adam missing with a left hand there. Yarborough was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yarborough ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Adam moves away.
Adam uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yarborough.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yarborough fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Adam looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Yarborough looks to throw the jab but Adam is out of range.
Adam throws a body punch but Yarborough moves out of range.
Adam lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Yarborough will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Adam moves away from the strike by Yarborough.
Yarborough on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Yarborough lands with an overhand left.
Yarborough fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Adam checks a low kick from Yarborough.
Adam with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Adam with a nice cross.
Yarborough missing with a left hand there. Adam was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yarborough throws a leg kick but Adam sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Adam half committed to a counter leg kick.
Adam uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yarborough.
Yarborough uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Adam.
Yarborough misses with an uppercut.
Adam uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yarborough.
Adam moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Adam with a nice cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Adam on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Yarborough lands the left hand.

Adam drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Yarborough is looking to stand up but Adam isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Adam stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yarborough swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yarborough wants to stand but Adam is controlling the position.
Adam tries to free his leg and advance position but Yarborough is retaining full guard.
Yarborough is looking to stand up but Adam isn't so interested in that idea.
Adam trying to control but Yarborough is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Adam tries to free his leg and advance position but Yarborough is retaining full guard.
Yarborough is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Adam is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A big right from Yarborough misses.
Yarborough looks to throw the jab but Adam is out of range.
Yarborough tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Adam is able to avoid easily.
Adam is looking to counter punch.
Adam moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yarborough lands with a shot to the body.
Adam throws a low kick but Yarborough avoids it.
Yarborough tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Adam was well out of range. Poor timing from Yarborough.
Adam takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Adam misses with a hook. Yarborough ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Yarborough on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Adam takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Yarborough looks to land a right hand but Adam moved out of range.
Yarborough misses with a looping right.
Yarborough attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Adam ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yarborough moves away.
Adam throws a big shot that misses.
Yarborough throws a nice looking combination but Adam bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Yarborough throws out a loose jab but Adam uses good head movement to avoid it.
Adam throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yarborough ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Adam moves away.
Yarborough throws out a loose jab but Adam uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yarborough thumps Adam with a low kick.
Adam is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Yarborough looks to throw the jab but Adam is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yarborough ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yarborough lands a nice leg kick that just misses Adam's sensitive parts.
Adam tries to move into range but Yarborough moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Yarborough throws a leg kick

and Adam counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Yarborough!

Adam is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Yarborough has escaped the position, nice work there.
Yarborough is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Adam is controlling him well.
Principo Adam overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Adam wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yarborough keeps working.
Adam looks up at the clock and then as Yarborough takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Adam smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Yarborough is trying to buck Adam off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Adam looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Adam scoring with punches and elbows.
Yarborough is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Adam is controlling him well.

Adam is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yarborough knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yarborough is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Adam is controlling him well.
Adam wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yarborough keeps working.
Adam prevents Yarborough from escaping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Yarborough will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Adam's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Adam lands a right hook to the body.
Adam tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yarborough sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Adam somewhat.
Yarborough only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Adam swings for the body but Yarborough moves out of range.
James Yarborough seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A swing and a miss from Yarborough.

Adam closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Adam lands in his opponent's guard.

Yarborough has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Adam is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Adam is leaning against Yarborough and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Adam is trying to break free.
Yarborough lands with a right to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Adam wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Yarborough has him pressed against the cage.

Adam breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yarborough wants to slow Adam down by chopping away at his legs.
Yarborough slips under a jab.
Adam throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Yarborough! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yarborough misses with a leg kick.
Adam throws a shot from downtown. Yarborough moves away and avoids it.
Yarborough misses with a low kick.
Yarborough throws a hook to the side of Adam's head but Adam sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
It looked like Adam wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Adam jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Yarborough looks to throw the jab but Adam is out of range.
Yarborough is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Adam looks to score with a jab to the body but Yarborough is just out of range.
Yarborough doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Yarborough misses with a body shot.
Adam was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Yarborough with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yarborough swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Adam.
Yarborough misses with a leg kick

and Adam counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Yarborough!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Adam working the ground and pound.
Adam tries to move into full mount but can't pass Yarborough's legs.
Yarborough is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Adam cracks Yarborough with a big right hand but Yarborough just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adam trying to control the position but Yarborough is working away.

Adam tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Adam has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Adam throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Yarborough is pushing Adam's head away, looking to escape. Adam manages to hold on to the position though.
Check out the look on Adam's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Adam controlling from side mount.
Principo Adam has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yarborough pushes Adam away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Adam gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Adam tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Yarborough is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Yarborough bucks up and tries to throw Adam off but instead Adam has got his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adam scores with punches from the back.
Adam is looking to control Yarborough but Yarborough is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Yarborough is trying to get back to his feet but Adam has full control of the position and if anything, Yarborough has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Yarborough is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Yarborough wants to get back to his feet.
Adam controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yarborough trying to get back to his feet but Adam is in full control for now.

Adam has his opponent's back but Yarborough is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Adam.
Yarborough uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Adam.
Adam ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yarborough takes one on the button.
Yarborough takes a swing at Adam's ribcage but misses.
Adam throwing a counter right hand but Yarborough manages to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Yarborough.
Adam attempts a counter takedown but Yarborough avoids it well and moves away.
Yarborough ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Adam moves away.
Adam was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Adam lands the left hand.
Yarborough cracks Adam with a good jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Adam on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Yarborough moves away from the strike by Adam.
Yarborough cracks Adam with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Adam jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It seemed like Yarborough was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Adam on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yarborough. Yarborough obviously looking to wear him down.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Principo Adam.
I think Yarborough 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Yarborough!
A relieved looking James Yarborough thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.