PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthon Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Lewis (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.

Franco
vs
Lewis

175 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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, Anthon Franco!
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, Charles Lewis!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Dean Styles and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lewis keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lewis.

Lewis has closed the distance and engaged Franco in a clinch.

Franco works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Franco trying to control but Lewis is working from the bottom.
Franco's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Franco looking to sit in guard and control but Lewis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lewis sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lewis stands up from Franco's guard - Lewis perhaps looking for a knockout.

Franco scores a takedown into full mount!
Franco won't let Lewis get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Franco tries to control but Lewis wriggling away.
Lewis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Franco connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Lewis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Franco looking to control but Lewis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lewis wants to hold on but Franco pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lewis can do anything to dispel that myth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Franco controlling his opponent.
Franco looking to control but Lewis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lewis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Franco looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis really wants to buck Franco off and get back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Franco can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lewis is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franco is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lewis can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthon Franco dominated that 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.

Lewis looks for a takedown but Franco sprawls well.
Franco shoots in for a double leg but Lewis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lewis misses with a low kick.
Lewis tries to clinch but Franco is having none of it.
Lewis doesn't manage to clinch there - Franco circles away.
Lewis leaves Franco with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lewis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lewis wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthon Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lewis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco pushes Lewis up against the cage in a clinch.

Lewis breaks the clinch.

Lewis clinches up against the cage.
Franco tries to pull guard but Lewis won't allow it.
Franco wants a takedown.

Lewis has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Franco regains guard immediately.
Lewis wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.
Franco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lewis is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lewis lands a couple of elbows.
Lewis wants to stand and escape but instead Franco has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franco trying to control but Lewis is working from the bottom.

Franco avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lewis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Lewis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franco gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lewis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Franco wants to control from the top but Lewis keeps moving.
Franco might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis keeping full guard, as Franco tries to pass.

Lewis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Franco defends it easily.
Franco looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Lewis 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!

Franco tries to clinch up.

Franco scores a takedown into full mount!

Franco has control of Lewis's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lewis regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Franco thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Franco is landing with some decent strikes but Lewis is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lewis somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Lewis lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Lewis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Franco counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lewis's guard now.

Lewis is looking for a triangle but Franco pushes his legs off easily.

Lewis uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franco walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis tries to bum rush Franco with a series of wild strikes but Franco uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lewis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Lewis darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Lewis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lewis blocks the strikes from Franco.
Franco is staying active underneath Lewis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Franco makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Franco.

Franco working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lewis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lewis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lewis has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Franco is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco pulls Lewis in to control the position.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Lewis from controlling successfully.
Lewis is looking to work some ground and pound but Franco has wrist control.
Lewis stopping the sweep attempt from Franco.
Franco is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Franco can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lewis controls the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Charles Lewis wasn't active enough on the ground.
Franco shoots in looking for a takedown. Lewis tries to sprawl out of it but Franco keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lewis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Franco tries a head kick but it misses.
Franco tries to clinch up
and Lewis counters with a two punch combo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Franco gets caught napping as Lewis dives in and scores a takedown. Franco manages to retain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Charles Lewis.
I think Lewis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charles Lewis!