PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wes Walker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Walker
vs
Francis

188 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Wes Walker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jon Francis!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, David Schapiro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walker smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Walker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Francis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Walker lands a lovely overhand right.
Francis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Walker.
A head kick by Francis misses
and Walker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Francis forces Walker back against the cage and clinches.
Walker swings wildly with an uppercut but Francis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Francis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Francis has Walker pressed against the cage, preventing Walker from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Francis's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Francis tries for a takedown. No joy.

Francis decides to pull guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Francis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Walker wants to pass the guard but Francis is keeping the position.

Francis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Walker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Francis wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Walker is now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker is stalling here. Francis is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Walker seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Francis has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Francis has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Francis jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Walker is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Walker and Francis has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Francis is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Let's hope that Francis has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Francis working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Walker tries to improve position but can't.
Francis is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Walker tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Francis presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Francis controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Walker wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Francis missing with strikes from the back.

Walker defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Walker tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Francis looking to control but Walker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Francis dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Walker jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A slow jab from Walker misses its intended target.
Walker takes a swing at Francis's ribcage but misses.
Walker throws a lazy uppercut

and Francis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Walker is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Francis drops down looking for an ankle pick but Walker pulls his leg out and moves away.
Francis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Walker lands a right hook to the body.
Francis misses with the combination.
Walker takes a swing at Francis's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Francis.
Francis avoids the body shot from Walker.
Francis throws a solid leg kick but Walker takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Francis.
Wes Walker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Walker throws a shot to the body.
Walker cracks a nice hook into Francis's ribs.
Walker connects with a good right hand that stumbles Francis. Francis circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Francis wants to clinch up but Walker keeps it at a distance.
Walker moves into range and connects with a jab.
Walker misses the shot to the body.
Walker is looking to wear down Francis with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
No luck for Francis with that takedown attempt.
Wes Walker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Francis.
Francis is breathing heavily.
Francis takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Walker swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Francis momentarily.
Jon Francis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Francis takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Francis.
Francis ducks right into an uppercut from Walker.
Walker lands a slapping body shot.
Walker catches Francis with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Walker misses with a body shot.
Walker lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Walker lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Walker works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Walker bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Francis's head backwards.

Francis is rocked!
Francis swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Francis looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nice straight punches there by Walker. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Walker.
Wes Walker is winning the standup battle so far.

Walker sends Francis crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Walker is motioning to the referee to let Francis up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Francis is still on wobbly legs! Can Walker finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Walker ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Walker drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Francis right on the button. Francis goes down! Walker follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Walker gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Wes Walker!
During a confident post fight interview, Wes Walker thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.