PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heavy Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franco
vs
Storm

190 cm
25
214 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
215 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryan Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Heavy Storm!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Storm doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Franco counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Franco prevents Storm from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franco looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Franco is working hard here to advance position.

Storm looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Storm is looking for a sweep. Franco is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Franco trying to mount his opponent but Storm defends it.
Storm is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Franco is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Franco scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Storm?
Franco landing punches.
Franco landing shots from mount.
Franco lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Storm manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Franco is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Franco wants to free his trapped foot but Storm is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Storm is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco wants to pass to mount but Storm is defending the position.

Storm actively working from the bottom here.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Storm actively working from the bottom here.
Storm scores with a few weak punches.
Storm is pressing down on Franco's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Franco wants to pass the guard but Storm is keeping the position.
Franco keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Storm's head.
Franco pushing down on Storm's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Franco trying to pass the guard but Storm defending well.
Franco seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Franco works his way into side control.
Storm is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Franco wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Storm sneaks back into half guard.

Storm looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Franco drops an elbow to the side of Storm's head.
Franco slips a nice elbow through Storm's hands, connecting with Storm's forehead.

Storm looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Storm looks gassed!
Franco lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Franco passes the guard and advances to mount!
Franco lands with some strikes.
Franco landing strikes from the mount and Storm is in trouble!
Storm is desperately trying to improve his position but Franco has a good base and remains in mount.
Franco lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
A nice elbow there by Franco.
Storm is in a horrible position here. Franco smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Storm hang on?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco looking to finish Storm with some ground and pound. This is bad for Storm!
Franco unloading with bombs!
Storm keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Storm is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Franco pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Franco pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Franco lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
BOOM! Franco connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Storm is working to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Storm that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Storm is trying desperately to improve position.
Franco scoring with strikes but Storm is staying in there.
Franco lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Franco dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Franco shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Storm as he avoids it easily.
Franco gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Storm counters with a shoot takedown. Franco fights it but they end up in guard.
Franco is adopting a defensive guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Storm accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Storm throws a strike but Franco rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Storm looking for a guillotine here but Franco defends easily.
Storm lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Franco!
Storm looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Storm prevents Franco from getting the reversal.
Storm thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Storm dominating with strikes here.
Franco blocking the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Storm sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Franco regains half guard.

Storm seems to be working for a kimura but Franco defends the submission attempt.
Storm trying to control the action but Franco is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm throwing shots but Franco is blocking nicely.
Franco blocking the ground and pound attempt from Storm.
Storm throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Storm is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Storm is keen to just control but Franco is a slippery customer.
Storm not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Storm thows a huge punch but Franco dodges it nicely.
Storm thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Franco slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Storm.
Storm is looking to work some ground and pound but Franco has wrist control.
Franco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franco on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Franco tries to get out of the position.
Storm trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Storm working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Storm missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Storm trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Storm throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heavy Storm showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Franco as Storm shoots in.
Franco closes this distance looking for a takedown but Storm circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Storm shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Franco sprawls well. Franco wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Storm gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Franco counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Franco.
Bryan Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heavy Storm.
Franco preventing the sweep.
Franco has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Franco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Storm is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franco defends well.
Franco postures up and lands a big shot to Storm's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Storm working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Franco doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Franco manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Storm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franco landing with the ground and pound.
Franco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Storm is keeping the position for now.
Franco stopping the sweep attempt from Storm.
Franco keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Storm's head.
Franco postures up and lands a big shot to Storm's brow.
Franco landing with the ground and pound.
Franco tries to free his leg and advance position but Storm is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Storm looking for a guillotine here but Franco defends easily.

Storm looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Franco sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Storm's guard.
Franco wants to pass the guard but Storm is defending well.
Bryan Franco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Franco stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Storm shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franco shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Storm napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Storm is trying to improve his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Storm takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Franco in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Storm is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Franco off and has taken his back!

Storm is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Franco showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Franco has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Franco!