PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Fransisco (ranked 4191 p4p, 4991 weight class) and Ivan Ivan (ranked 517 p4p, 568 weight class). The key to victory for Gabriel Fransisco has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Fransisco
vs
Ivan

188 cm
25
193
2 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
192
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gabriel Fransisco !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Ivan!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivan misses with a lunging right hand
and Fransisco counters with a left to the body.
Fransisco keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ivan looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ivan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fransisco sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ivan somewhat.
Fransisco lands a nice shot to the body.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Fransisco enables Ivan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Fransisco manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Fransisco pushes Ivan off and gets back to his feet.
Fransisco misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ivan.
Fransisco throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ivan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A low kick from Ivan is predictable there
and Ivan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ivan misses with a hook
enabling Fransisco to counter with a crisp jab.

Ivan has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fransisco gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gabriel Fransisco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Ivan.
Fransisco is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Fransisco is trying to break the clinch but Ivan has him pressed against the cage.
Ivan prevents Fransisco from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Fransisco 's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Ivan decides to pull guard.

Fransisco gets to his feet - Ivan follows without any prompting.

Ivan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Ivan breaks the clinch.
Ivan misses with a takedown attempt
letting Fransisco counter with a right hand.
Fransisco stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fransisco wants it to stay on the feet.
Fransisco throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ivan with a poor takedown
and Fransisco counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ivan thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fransisco throws out a powerful jab.
A slow jab from Ivan misses its intended target.
Ivan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ivan is looking for a takedown.

Ivan pulls guard.
Fransisco won't allow Ivan to get back to his feet.
Ivan throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fransisco decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ivan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ivan closes the distance and clinches.
Fransisco looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Fransisco prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fransisco has had enough of the clinch but Ivan keeps him there for the moment.
Ivan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fransisco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fransisco prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fransisco wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fransisco stops a takedown attempt from Ivan.
Ivan has Fransisco pressed against the cage, preventing Fransisco from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Fransisco is pressed up against the cage. Ivan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fransisco down to the mat. Fransisco avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fransisco smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Fransisco fakes the leg kick and cracks Ivan in the body.
Fransisco checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivan shoots for a takedown but Fransisco saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Fransisco misses the target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ivan.
Ivan with a poor takedown
and Fransisco counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fransisco keeps the fight on the outside.
Ivan moves in looking to clinch but Fransisco pushes him off.
As Ivan looks to move away, Fransisco throws a big counter combo but Ivan just gets out of the way.
Ivan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Fransisco scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Ivan Ivan has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ivan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Fransisco sneaks out the side door and pushes Ivan away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Fransisco looks to score with a jab to the body but Ivan is just out of range.
Ivan misses with a left hand
and Fransisco counters with a left to the body.
Ivan ducks right into an uppercut from Fransisco .
Ivan slips a jab and a cross from Fransisco .
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Fransisco dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Ivan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ivan with a poor takedown
and Fransisco counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fransisco throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ivan.
Fransisco fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ivan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Fransisco gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ivan to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Fransisco pushes Ivan off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Fransisco moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fransisco slaps away a takedown attempt from Ivan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ivan misses with a takedown attempt - Fransisco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gabriel Fransisco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Ivan.
Ivan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fransisco as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fransisco changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gabriel Fransisco is winning the standup battle so far.
Fransisco throws a right hand that Ivan ducks under and follows up with a left that Ivan also avoids with ease.
Ivan misses with a takedown
and Fransisco counters with a two punch combo.
Ivan tries for a takedown but Fransisco circles away easily
and Fransisco counters with a one-two to the body.
Fransisco cracks a nice hook into Ivan's ribs.
Ivan blocks a head kick by Fransisco .

Ivan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
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!
Ivan scores with punches from side control.
Ivan working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivan lands a decent elbow from side control.

Fransisco throws Ivan to one side and escapes!
Fransisco ducks under a wild hook from Ivan.

Ivan moves into the clinch.

Ivan breaks the clinch.
Gabriel Fransisco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ivan is looking to clinch but Fransisco is avoiding it.
Fransisco throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Fransisco is looking to slow Ivan down with leg kicks.

Ivan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Fransisco has one foot on Ivan's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Fransisco throws a one two combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivan swings for the body but Fransisco moves out of range.

Ivan closes the distance and pushes Fransisco back into the cage.

Ivan is trying to trip Fransisco . He has hold of a leg but Fransisco is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ivan persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Ivan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fransisco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ivan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fransisco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Fransisco pushes Ivan off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ivan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Ivan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fransisco to the mat! Fransisco manages to get full guard.
Ivan working some strikes from top position.

Fransisco kicks Ivan off and gets to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ivan instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivan prevents Fransisco from breaking the clinch.
Fransisco wants to break the clinch but can't.
A shot in the inside from Ivan.
Fransisco is pressed up against the cage. Ivan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fransisco down to the mat. Fransisco avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fransisco throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ivan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Fransisco connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Ivan has Fransisco up against the cage in a clinch.
Fransisco is trying to break the clinch but Ivan has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ivan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Fransisco avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ivan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fransisco walks away with a smile on his face. Ivan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Fransisco dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Ivan'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. And we move into the final round!

Ivan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fransisco pinned against the cage. Fransisco gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ivan takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Fransisco scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fransisco fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Ivan moves into the clinch.
Ivan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fransisco prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivan is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Fransisco is defending well.
Gabriel Fransisco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Ivan.
Ivan looking for a takedown.
Ivan can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fransisco gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Fransisco 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ivan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Donk. Fransisco catches Ivan right on the button with a cross.
Ivan tries for a takedown but Fransisco circles away easily
and Ivan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ivan dodges the punch combination from Fransisco .
Fransisco throws a series of punches but Ivan moves out of range.
Ivan tries for a takedown but Fransisco circles away easily
and Fransisco finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Ivan closes the distance and pushes Fransisco back into the cage.
Fransisco wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ivan Ivan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fransisco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ivan can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivan tries a body shot but Fransisco blocks it.

Ivan wants the takedown. Fransisco is fighting it off but Ivan persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Fransisco 's guard against the cage.
Ivan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Fransisco has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ivan off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Gabriel Fransisco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ivan drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Fransisco jabs Ivan right on the nose. Ivan blinks but takes it well.
Ivan fails with the takedown
and Fransisco counters with a two punch combo.
Fransisco moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fransisco throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Ivan is rocked!

That has opened up Ivan Ivan's cut even more.

Ivan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Fransisco has one foot on Ivan's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Ivan with that takedown attempt.
Ivan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ivan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ivan looks to land a right hand but Fransisco moved out of range.
Ivan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ivan fails with a takedown attempt.
Fransisco appears to be looking for a big counter.
Fransisco fakes the leg kick and cracks Ivan in the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivan takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Fransisco uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ivan.
Ivan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Fransisco .
Fransisco shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ivan eats them both and turns towards Fransisco to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fransisco jabs Ivan to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ivan Ivan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ivan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ivan lands with a left to the head.
Fransisco has had enough of the clinch but Ivan keeps him there for the moment.

Ivan jumps into guard, dragging Fransisco to the mat.

Ivan throws his legs up looking for a submission but Fransisco uses it to pass to side control.

Fransisco has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gabriel Fransisco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ivan throws a solid leg kick but Fransisco takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ivan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Fransisco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fransisco , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Fransisco !