PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Pfeifer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthuro Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Gabriel Pfeifer has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Pfeifer
vs
Franco

186 cm
19
198 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

185 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Pfeifer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arthuro Franco!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pfeifer.

Pfeifer takes the fight into the clinch.
Pfeifer is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pfeifer prevents the takedown attempt.
Franco goes for a takedown attempt but Pfeifer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pfeifer is defended easily by Franco.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pfeifer.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Pfeifer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco tries for a takedown but Pfeifer circles away easily

and Pfeifer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pfeifer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Franco has a closed guard, preventing Pfeifer from standing up.
Franco wants to stand but Pfeifer is controlling the position.

Franco pushes Pfeifer off and scrambles back to his feet.

Pfeifer gets a clinch.
Pfeifer leaning his opponent against the cage.
Franco tries for a takedown. No joy.

Pfeifer pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco wants to pass the guard but Pfeifer is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pfeifer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pfeifer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Franco.
Franco wants to pass the guard but Pfeifer is keeping the position.
Franco looks gassed!
Franco postures up.
Pfeifer keeping moving, preventing Franco from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Franco doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pfeifer wants to clinch.

Pfeifer scores with a takedown into Franco's guard.
Franco working a defensive guard here.
Pfeifer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Franco is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pfeifer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Pfeifer!
Franco is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Franco avoids the attempt from Pfeifer to control.
Pfeifer tries to reverse the position but Franco maintains control.
Pfeifer tries to lock up and control but Franco gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pfeifer is desperately trying to improve his position but Franco has a good base and remains in mount.
Franco pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Franco postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Pfeifer looks a forlorn figure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Pfeifer dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pfeifer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Franco has his takedown stuffed

and Pfeifer decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Franco's guard.
Pfeifer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Franco pulls Pfeifer in close to prevent any damage.
Pfeifer trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franco with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Pfeifer can't handle though.
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.
Pfeifer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Franco trying to control the position.
Franco is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Franco perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pfeifer wants to improve his position but Franco is controlling well.
Franco is looking to take a break and control but Pfeifer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pfeifer is trying to stand up here but Franco is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pfeifer won't allow Franco to pass to mount.
Pfeifer is looking to improve his position.
Franco is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Pfeifer is trying to stand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franco misses with a takedown attempt
and Pfeifer counters with a slapping leg kick.
Franco closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pfeifer circles away.
Gabriel Pfeifer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthuro Franco.
Pfeifer with a poor takedown

and Franco counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Franco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pfeifer keeps working.
Pfeifer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Franco is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Franco there.
Franco is looking to pass Pfeifer's guard but actually Pfeifer recovers to full guard.
Pfeifer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Franco.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Pfeifer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pfeifer has his foot on Franco's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Franco works his way back into a safe position though.
Franco wants to control from the top but Pfeifer keeps moving.
Franco throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Franco wants to control from the top but Pfeifer keeps moving.
Franco trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Pfeifer manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Franco wants to sweep but no luck.
Franco wants to hit a switch here but Pfeifer passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Franco there!
Franco tries to reverse the position but Pfeifer maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arthuro Franco will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Pfeifer moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Pfeifer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franco defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pfeifer.
Franco has his takedown stuffed
and Pfeifer counters with a body kick that stops Franco in his tracks momentarily.
Franco misses with a takedown
and Pfeifer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pfeifer shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Franco napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Franco tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Franco wants to control but Pfeifer postures up.
Pfeifer working the body and head with strikes.

Pfeifer stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Pfeifer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Franco's guard.
Pfeifer preventing the sweep.
Pfeifer throwing strikes but missing.

Franco is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Franco wants a takedown.
Gabriel Pfeifer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthuro Franco.
Pfeifer is looking to control Franco's arms but Franco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pfeifer has his back to the cage.
Franco goes for a takedown attempt but Pfeifer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Franco with a poor takedown
and Pfeifer counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pfeifer with a poor takedown

and Franco counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Franco.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Pfeifer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franco might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Pfeifer kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Franco slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pfeifer manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Franco working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pfeifer keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Franco is trying to control the action in half guard but Pfeifer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Franco wants to stand up but Pfeifer is controlling the position.
Franco is trying to control the action in half guard but Pfeifer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pfeifer wants to control but Franco is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Franco is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Franco thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

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 Gabriel Pfeifer.
Well Pfeifer has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Gabriel Pfeifer!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Gabriel Pfeifer!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Gabriel Pfeifer!

Gabriel Pfeifer wins by unanimous decision!