PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Prince Symbol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ariel Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco comes into a darkened arena with his song building. 50Cent - Ready for War kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ariel Franco will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Symbol
vs
Franco

150 cm
29
196 lbs
17 - 15 - 0

185 cm
22
199 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 17 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Prince Symbol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ariel Franco!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco throws a combination that misses

and Symbol counters with a shoot takedown. Franco fights it but they end up in guard.
Symbol chips away with some ground and pound.
Symbol throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.
Franco really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Symbol. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Symbol thows a big elbow that misses.
Symbol postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Symbol throwing strikes but missing.
Symbol postures up and lands a big shot to Franco's brow.
Symbol might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Franco controls Symbol momentarily but Symbol frees himself.
Symbol trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franco wants to sweep here but Symbol controlling him for the moment.
Franco preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Symbol has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Symbol trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symbol working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Symbol trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Symbol keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Franco's head.
Franco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Symbol accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Symbol wants to pass the guard but Franco is keeping the position.
Symbol throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Symbol pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franco is keeping the position for now.
Symbol missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Franco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Symbol trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Symbol trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Symbol is looking to work some ground and pound but Franco has wrist control.
Franco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Symbol.
Symbol loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Symbol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Symbol thows a big elbow that misses.
Symbol throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Symbol missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Symbol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Franco can do anything to dispel that myth.
Symbol throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Symbol landing some decent shots from guard.
Symbol working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Symbol tries to free his leg and advance position but Franco is retaining full guard.
Symbol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Franco looking to control.
Symbol throws a big right hand that misses.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Symbol from controlling successfully.
Symbol tries to free his leg and advance position but Franco is retaining full guard.
Symbol with a flurry of punches that miss.
Symbol working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Symbol landing with the ground and pound.
Symbol throws a big right hand that misses.
Symbol cracks Franco with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Symbol landing some decent shots from guard.
Franco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Symbol.
Symbol throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Symbol accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Symbol with a flurry of punches that miss.
Franco wants to stand and escape but Symbol is having none of it.
Symbol is looking to work some ground and pound but Franco has wrist control.
Symbol cracks Franco with a solid left hand.
Franco wants to stand and escape but Symbol is having none of it.
Symbol lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Symbol thows a big elbow that misses.
Symbol scoring with some ground and pound.
Symbol throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Prince Symbol 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.

Franco shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Franco tries a head kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Franco misses.
Symbol tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Franco swivels and escapes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Symbol.
Nice straight punches there by Franco. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Franco.

Symbol 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.
Franco preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Symbol's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Symbol makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Symbol in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symbol stops Franco from standing up.
Franco wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Symbol is now in half guard.
Symbol seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Symbol working the head and body with strikes.
Symbol lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Franco is holding on to half guard well.
Franco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Symbol.
Symbol looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Franco with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Symbol is nestled in close to Franco, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Franco is looking for a sweep. Symbol is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Symbol is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Symbol is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Franco is breathing heavily.
Franco on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Symbol throwing shots but Franco is blocking nicely.
Symbol thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Franco to regain full guard.
Franco has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Franco is on top in guard.
Franco is fighting to break Symbol's control of his arms but Symbol is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco looking to sit in guard and control but Symbol gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Symbol keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Franco's head.
Symbol trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Franco wants to stand but Symbol is controlling the position.
Symbol content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Symbol lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Symbol's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Symbol missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Symbol postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Symbol throwing strikes but missing.

Franco pushes Symbol off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Franco cracks the inside of Symbol's front leg.
Prince Symbol is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Symbol darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Symbol is trying to control. Franco wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Symbol thows a huge punch but Franco dodges it nicely.
Symbol thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franco's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Prince Symbol dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Symbol misses with a takedown attempt - Franco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Franco misses with a wild body shot.
Franco connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Symbol momentarily.
Franco throws a left and a right that both miss

and Symbol counters with a shoot takedown. Franco fights it but they end up in guard.
Symbol chips away with some ground and pound.
Symbol postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Symbol lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Symbol thows a big elbow that misses.
Franco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Symbol.
Symbol content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Franco is on top in guard.
Franco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
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!
Symbol 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 one minute gone in the round.
Symbol bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Franco's guard.
Symbol pushing down on Franco's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Symbol is pressing down on Franco's thigh, looking to free his foot. Franco is holding on for now.
Symbol throws a strike but Franco avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Prince Symbol overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Symbol trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Symbol scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Symbol advances position into side control!
Franco wants to control but Symbol postures up.
Franco is looking to regain half guard here but Symbol keeps moving and retains side control.
Symbol scores with a couple of short elbows.
Franco taking a bit of punishment here - Symbol scoring with strikes.
Symbol working the ground and pound from side control.
Symbol working the ground and pound.
Symbol working away.
Symbol working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Symbol landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Symbol working the head with strikes.
Symbol lands a nice forearm strike.

Franco is rocked!
Symbol lands an elbow.
Franco is still in real trouble! Can Symbol finish him?
You can see the frustration on Franco's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Franco seems to have recovered his senses.
Symbol is putting a hurting on Franco here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ariel Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Symbol is putting a hurting on Franco here, landing some big shots from side control.
Symbol in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Symbol is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franco can do to turn this around?
Franco gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Symbol has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Franco's face.
Symbol lands a big elbow - Franco is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Franco is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Prince Symbol!