PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sambulo Yeboah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yeboah comes into the arena with Lionel Richie - All Night Long blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Franklin's choice of entrance music: Tron Cat- Tyler, The Creator. On his way into the cage it seems that Sambulo Yeboah has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Sambulo Yeboah seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Yeboah
vs
Franklin

172 cm
24
154 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sambulo Yeboah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yeboah is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Yeboah stuns Franklin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Yeboah scores with a body shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Yeboah scores with a four punch combination!
Yeboah throws a combination that misses

and Franklin counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Yeboah!

Franklin is trying to get an arm triangle but Yeboah is defending well.
Yeboah definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
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!
Franklin tries to score with some ground and pound. Yeboah controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Franklin tries for a kimura but Yeboah is defending well.

Franklin is trying to get an arm triangle but Yeboah is defending well.
Franklin fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franklin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Yeboah rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Franklin's guard! Nice work there by Yeboah!

Yeboah got a little sloppy there for a moment and Franklin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yeboah has managed to get both his arms back between Franklin's legs - danger averted.
Yeboah slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Yeboah trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Franklin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Franklin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yeboah doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yeboah manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Yeboah sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Yeboah wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Yeboah forces his way into half guard.

Franklin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Franklin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Yeboah wants to control but Franklin is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yeboah tries to pass to full mount but Franklin defends it.
Yeboah controlling the action here.

Yeboah is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to improve his position.

Yeboah seems to be looking for submissions.

Franklin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yeboah uses his free foot to push down on Franklin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Franklin.
Yeboah looking to control and managing it successfully.
Franklin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Yeboah has control of Franklin's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Franklin regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Franklin is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is still trying to improve position.
Yeboah can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Franklin is looking to escape.
Yeboah is really struggling to control Franklin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Yeboah is trying to take his opponent's back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franklin tries to improve his position but instead Yeboah has taken his back!

Yeboah is looking for the choke from the back position but Franklin is controlling his hands well.

Yeboah is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Franklin defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Yeboah keeps control of the position as Franklin tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sambulo Yeboah dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yeboah misses with a wild body shot.
Franklin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Yeboah defends it well.
Franklin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yeboah.
Franklin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Franklin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yeboah.
Yeboah is looking to wear down Franklin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nice shot by Yeboah.
Yeboah misses the shot to the body.
Franklin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yeboah 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.
Yeboah takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yeboah scores with a sloppy right hand. Franklin should have avoided that one.
Yeboah connects with a good right hand that stumbles Franklin. Franklin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Franklin is rocked!
Franklin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Franklin is still on wobbly legs! Can Yeboah finish him?
Franklin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yeboah sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Franklin somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yeboah drops Franklin with a big left hand! Franklin is injured, injured bad! Yeboah jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:11 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sambulo Yeboah!
During a confident post fight interview, Sambulo Yeboah thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.