PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bernardo Quelhas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tonny Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Quelhas's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Chama os Mulekes - Cone Crew Diretoria. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Quelhas
vs
Franco

180 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bernardo Quelhas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tonny Franco!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco rushes Quelhas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Franco decides to pull guard.

Franco had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Quelhas defends it easily.

Franco looking for a guillotine here but Quelhas defends easily.
Quelhas connects with a couple of short punches.
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.
Franco wants to stand but Quelhas is controlling the position.
Franco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Quelhas is one step ahead there.

Franco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Franco has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Quelhas has passed into side control.
Quelhas in side control lands a decent elbow.

It looks like Tonny Franco has been cut.
Franco is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Quelhas's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Franco tries to get to full guard but Quelhas has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quelhas lands with a punch from half guard.
Franco slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Franco looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quelhas is pushing down on Franco's leg trying to pass to half guard. Franco is fighting to maintain full guard but Quelhas has managed to sneak the leg through.
Franco really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Quelhas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Franco throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Quelhas wants to pass the guard but Franco is defending well.
Franco tries to get to full guard but Quelhas has control of the leg.
Quelhas tries to pass to full mount but Franco defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bernardo Quelhas will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tonny Franco's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Franco looks for a takedown but Quelhas sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Franco. No joy for Quelhas on that attempt.
Tonny Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Quelhas closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Quelhas tries to move into full mount but can't pass Franco's legs.
Franco tries to bench press Quelhas off him but Quelhas keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Quelhas are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Franco is looking to regain half guard here but Quelhas keeps moving and retains side control.
Franco wants to control but Quelhas postures up.
Franco looking for a sweep but Quelhas has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Franco really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco wants to control but Quelhas is having none of it.
Franco is trying desperately to improve position.
Quelhas lands a big shot there that rocks Franco but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco wants to hold on but Quelhas pushes him away.
Quelhas putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Franco wants to hold on but Quelhas pushes him away.
Quelhas lands with some strikes.
Franco is desperately trying to improve his position but Quelhas has a good base and remains in mount.
Franco is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quelhas lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Quelhas 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.
Franco tries to lock up and control but Quelhas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Franco working to try and regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Quelhas connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernardo Quelhas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tonny Franco's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Quelhas throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Franco tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Quelhas is in Franco's guard.
Franco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Quelhas is one step ahead there.
Franco is looking to sweep but instead, Quelhas has passed into half guard.
Franco is trying to stand up here but Quelhas is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernardo Quelhas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franco tries to roll over but Quelhas keeps him under control.
Franco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Quelhas prevents Franco from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco is trying to control but can't.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bernardo Quelhas just wasn't active enough.

Franco gets caught napping as Quelhas dives in and scores a takedown. Franco manages to retain guard.
Quelhas advances to half guard.
Franco is looking to improve his position.
Quelhas moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Quelhas working the ground and pound.
Franco taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quelhas working the ground and pound from side control.
Franco striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Franco tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Quelhas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Franco regains half guard.
Quelhas passes to full mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Quelhas pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernardo Quelhas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Quelhas, 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernardo Quelhas!
Bernardo Quelhas decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.