PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Franky French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Coll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

French
vs
Coll

177 cm
26
184 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

187 cm
24
170 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Franky French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xander Coll!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
French slaps away a takedown attempt from Coll, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from French. No joy for Coll on that attempt.
Coll misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Franky French has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Coll.
Coll showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from French.
French throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Coll.
Coll closes this distance looking for a takedown but French circles away.
Coll staying out of range there.
French leaves Coll with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
French doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Coll counters with a nice double leg into guard.
French bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Coll's guard.
Coll preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

French drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Coll manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now French has Coll in his guard.

Coll is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! French is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! French has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
French throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
French looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Coll trying to control the position here.

Coll pushes French off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

French gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Coll to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Coll landing with the ground and pound.
Coll working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

French had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Coll defends it easily.
Coll working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Coll postures up in French's guard and throws a big left but French blocks it.
French wants to stand up but Coll is controlling him.
Coll throwing strikes but missing.
Coll with a flurry of punches that miss.

French uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Coll fails with the takedown
and French counters with a left and a right that stings Coll.

Coll drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coll trying to control the position from guard on top but French is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Coll throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as French works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Coll trying to control the position from guard on top but French is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
French wants to get back to his feet but Coll is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
French is breathing heavily.
French looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Coll trying to control the position from guard on top but French is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

French is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Coll connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Coll stands up over French, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
French wants to get back to his feet but Coll is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Coll scoring with some ground and pound.

French throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Coll escapes and throws French's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Coll lands a decent elbow from side control.
Coll working the head with strikes.
French tries to buck Coll off but Coll is having none of it.

Coll tries for a kimura but French is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
French takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Coll 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.

French throws a right hand that Coll ducks under and follows up with a left that Coll also avoids with ease.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Coll.
Coll working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
French manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
French wants to get back to his feet.
Coll looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks French with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Coll takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
French wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
French is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Coll scores with a couple of nice shots.
Xander Coll has got the better of the ground game so far.
Coll is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
French is trying to stand back up but Coll is controlling him
Coll landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
French is trying to stand back up but Coll is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Coll there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Coll lands a nice short elbow.
Coll is trying to control the action in half guard but French is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Coll is looking to advance position but French won't allow it.
Coll 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.
Coll prevents French from standing back up.
French taking some punishment here, with Coll in his half guard.
French is trying to stand back up but Coll is controlling him
French tries to roll over but Coll keeps him under control.
Coll seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Coll connects with a nice short shot to French's temple.
Coll drops an elbow to the side of French's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coll working over French with some ground and pound. French looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Coll scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Coll stands up and beckons French to join him on the feet.
Coll's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Coll duly obliges.

Coll looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
French is trying to stand back up but Coll is controlling him
French has hold of Coll's hands but Coll slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Coll working French over with strikes.
Coll seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
French blocking the ground and pound attempt from Coll.

Coll is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
French punching from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French wants to get back to full guard.
Coll prevents French from standing back up.
Coll is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Coll misses with a series of wild punches.
Coll misses with a takedown

and French decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Coll's guard.
French wants to pass the guard but Coll is keeping the position.

Coll kicks French off and gets to his feet.

Coll drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Coll working the ground and pound but French is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French is pushing Coll's head away, looking to escape. Coll manages to hold on to the position though.
Coll landing a few strikes.
Coll landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Check out the look on Coll's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Coll prevents French from escaping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A nice combination there by Coll.

Coll closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

French manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Coll keeps the fight on the outside.

Coll bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Coll is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. French knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Coll creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Coll showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

French is looking to slow Coll down with leg kicks.
French throws a right hand that Coll ducks under and follows up with a left that Coll also avoids with ease.

Coll scores a takedown into full mount!
French tries to hold on but Coll postures up.
Coll putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
A nice elbow there by Coll.
Coll with shots to the head and body - French looks very uncomfortable down there.
French tries to reverse the position but Coll maintains control.
Coll working French over with strikes here.
Coll lands a big elbow.
Coll with the ground and pound from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Coll swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and French is now in Coll's guard. A big mistake from Coll there, giving up the dominant position!
Coll keeping moving, preventing French from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coll working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from French.
French is looking to work some ground and pound but Coll has wrist control.
French working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
French would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Coll controlling the position.
French trying to control but Coll is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Coll is on top in guard.
French keeping full guard, as Coll tries to pass.
Franky French has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
French has momentary wrist control but Coll slips an elbow through the middle.

French looking for subs off his back but Coll has passed one foot through into half guard.
French slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Coll scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

French has his foot on Coll's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Coll works his way back into a safe position though.
Coll landing some decent shots from guard.
French has momentary wrist control but Coll slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

French looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Coll passes into side control.
Coll scores with a couple of short elbows.
Coll cracks French with a big elbow.

Coll decides to stand back up.
French slips a jab and a cross from Coll.
Coll throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
French misses with a head kick.
Coll closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Coll shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and French counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
French scoring with some ground and pound.
French throws a strike but Coll rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French is looking to stand up but Coll isn't so interested in that idea.
Coll working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of French's head.
Coll pushing down on French's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Coll lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Coll is nestled in close to French, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
French gets full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Coll working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Coll loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
French is looking to stand up but Coll isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xander Coll comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Coll winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Xander Coll!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Xander Coll!
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight for Xander Coll!

Xander Coll wins by unanimous decision!