PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ferdinando Branca (ranked 2624 p4p, 3212 weight class) and Theo Long (ranked 341 p4p, 417 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Branca
vs
Long

175 cm
26
190
4 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
195
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Arcticus University: London

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ferdinando Branca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Theo Long!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Branca drives through and clinches with Long against the cage.

Long has hold of one of Branca's legs. Branca is fighting the takedown attempt but Long gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Branca tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Branca throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Long wants to pass the guard but Branca is keeping the position.
Branca tries to strike from the bottom.
Long trying to control the position from guard on top but Branca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Long pushes down on Branca's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Branca wants to improve his position but Long is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Long is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Branca has managed to free his arm - good work.
Branca wants to get back to full guard.
Branca slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Branca is keeping the position for now.
Branca manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Long manages to get himself to full guard.

Long escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Branca gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Branca postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Long is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Long keeping moving, preventing Branca from controlling successfully.

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

Branca avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Branca controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Branca is in close to Long's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Long is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Long is looking to cinch up a triangle. Branca throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Long's body to avoid the submission. Long has instead reached around Branca's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Long arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Theo Long!
A very excited looking Theo Long made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.