PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jacques Francel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Francel comes to the cage accompanied by Voix de fait. Jaa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Siren. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Francel
vs
Jaa

176 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jacques Francel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tony Jaa!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jaa throws a head kick that Francel semi-blocks.
Jaa shoots in looking for a takedown. Francel tries to sprawl out of it but Jaa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Francel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick from Jaa lands but Francel takes it in his stride.
Francel misses with a takedown attempt
and Jaa counters with a big head kick but Francel shrugs it off.

Francel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jaa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Jaa trying to keep a closed guard but Francel is proving a slippery customer.
Francel controlling from the top position.
Jaa trying to keep a closed guard but Francel is proving a slippery customer.
Francel content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa wants to stand and escape but Francel is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jaa looking for a sweep. Not yet Jaa, not yet.
Jaa being controlled here, momentarily.
Francel has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Francel looking to pass the guard.
Francel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Jaa wants to sweep here but Francel controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jacques Francel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Jaa shoots and misses

and Francel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jaa pushes Francel off looking to stand but Francel dives back in and keeps control.
Francel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Jaa is in trouble now - Francel has advanced to mount!
Jaa is looking to get to half guard.
Francel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Francel lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacques Francel dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Francel takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jaa shoots and misses

and Francel counters with a takedown into side control.
Francel fails to land a wild elbow strike.
A lull in the action here.
Francel seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jaa for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jacques Francel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A head kick by Jaa misses

and Francel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jaa won't be happy with that.
You can see the frustration on Jaa's face as Francel controls the position.
Jacques Francel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jaa can't do much from the bottom here.
Jaa trying to remain calm as Francel controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Francel looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Jaa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Francel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Francel happy to just control the position for now.
Francel throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa is looking to regain half guard here but Francel keeps moving and retains side control.

Francel working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Francel moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jacques Francel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Francel scores a takedown into full mount!
Francel lands a big elbow.
Francel controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacques Francel dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Francel shoots and misses
and Jaa counters with a nice kick to the body.
Jaa lands with a slapping head kick.
Jaa misses with a takedown

and Francel counters with a takedown into side control.
Francel prevents Jaa from escaping the position.
Jaa is letting Francel control him for a moment.
Jaa tries to improve position but can't.
Jaa can't do much from the bottom here.
Francel remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Francel works to advance to full mount. Jaa defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Francel has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Jaa's face.
Jaa is working to get back to half guard.
Francel looking to control and managing it successfully.
Jaa working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Francel controlling from mount.
Francel's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Jaa is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francel tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jacques Francel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Jaa throws a head kick that misses.
Tony Jaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jaa throws a head kick but Francel moves out of range.
Jaa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Francel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Francel stalling.
Jaa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Francel scores with a couple of nice shots.
Jaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francel works his way into full mount!
Francel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tony Jaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jacques Francel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Francel cracks Jaa with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacques Francel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Francel, 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacques Francel!