PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fransico Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Power (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Power comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Gary Pucket - Lady Will Power kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Junior
vs
Power

188 cm
23
184 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

183 cm
22
180 lbs
7 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fransico Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Will Power!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Power throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Junior counters with a shoot takedown. Power fights it but they end up in guard.
Junior stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Power swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Power can do anything to dispel that myth.
Junior sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Power is trying to control the position but Junior postures up.
Junior trying to control but Power is working from the bottom.
Power throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Power wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Junior not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

We're going to have a standup here because Fransico Junior wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Power throws a poor cross that misses

and Junior counters with a shoot takedown. Power fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Junior looking to pass the guard.
Power is looking to sweep but instead, Junior has passed into half guard.
Junior looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Power with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Power really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Junior. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Junior is just content to waste time from the top position. Power takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Power keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Power pulls Junior in close to his closed guard and prevents Junior from doing any damage or advancing position.
Junior stands and throws Power's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Junior wants to lay and pray for a moment but Power keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior slows the pace down.
Junior has control of an arm but Power manages to advance to Junior's back!
Junior trying to control the hands but Power breaks the grip.
Power is trying to stick to Junior's back but Junior is turning into Power. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Power's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Junior.
Junior stands up over Power, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Junior wants to control from the top but Power keeps moving.
Power 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Power keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Power is on top in guard.
Power tries to free his leg and advance position but Junior is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fransico Junior dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Power swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Junior counters with a single leg into guard. Power didn't expect that.
Junior trying to control but Power is working from the bottom.
Junior is really struggling to control Power but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Junior's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Junior stops Power from standing up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Power manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Junior is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Power can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Junior is looking to escape.
Junior really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Junior regains half guard.
Junior won't allow Power to pass to mount.
Power is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Power trying to control from half guard but Junior is working away.
Power is stalling here. Junior is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Power seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Junior has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Power trying to remain calm as Junior controls from the top position.
Power stops Junior from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Power is not content to let Junior control the position.
Fransico Junior overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Power is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Power is staying active underneath Junior, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Power tries to roll over but Junior keeps him under control.
Junior keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Power is staying active underneath Junior, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

We're going to have a standup here because Fransico Junior wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Junior fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Junior misses with a straight right.
Nice uppercut there from Power.
Power misses with a double jab
and Junior connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Junior lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Junior with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Power to score with a decent uppercut.
Jab, jab by Power - just one landing.
Power throws a leg kick that misses.
Junior moves out of range of the body kick from Power.
Junior comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fransico Junior dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Power throws a head kick that misses.
Power throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Junior counters with a straight right hand.
Junior slips a jab and a cross from Power.
Power tries to land a leg kick but Junior saw it coming and moves away.
Junior takes one on the button.
Power punishes Junior's body with a nice straight punch.
A head kick by Power misses

and Junior counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Junior.
Junior seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Junior trying to control but Power is working from the bottom.
Power looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Power wants to improve his position but instead Junior has moved into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Junior lands a nice short elbow.
Power is refusing to be controlled, as Junior sits in half guard.
Fransico Junior is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Will Power has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Power is holding on to half guard well.
Power tries to get to full guard but Junior has control of the leg.
Junior is trying to control. Power wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

We're going to have a standup here because Fransico Junior wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Junior looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Power throws a low kick but Junior moves out of range easily.
Power misses with an attempted mid kick.
Power swinging wildly here.

Junior shoots in and bounces Power off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Junior won't allow Power to sweep him here.
Junior stays in close to Power's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Power is trying to control the position but Junior postures up.
Junior trying to control but Power is working from the bottom.
Junior trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

We're going to have a standup here because Fransico Junior wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nice shot by Power.
Power tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Power connects with a solid leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fransico Junior showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Junior, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fransico Junior!