PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Night (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Schiraz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Night
vs
Schiraz

199 cm
29
210 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

195 cm
26
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Night !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Franco Schiraz!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Night throws a nice looking combination but Schiraz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Night checks a leg kick nicely.
Schiraz blocks a head kick by Night .

Schiraz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Schiraz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Schiraz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Schiraz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Schiraz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Schiraz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Schiraz stops Night from standing up.

Schiraz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Schiraz drops back looking for a leg! Night is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Night manages to kick Schiraz off! Schiraz jumps back into Night 's guard.
Schiraz is looking to work some ground and pound but Night has wrist control.
Night wants to stand but Schiraz is controlling the position.
Schiraz works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schiraz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Night has managed to free his arm - good work.
Schiraz thows a huge punch but Night dodges it nicely.
Schiraz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Night is looking to escape.

Schiraz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Night has managed to free his arm - good work.
Night is trying to stand back up but Schiraz is controlling him

Schiraz seems to be looking for submissions.

Schiraz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Night is looking to escape.

Schiraz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Night defends it well.

Night makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schiraz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Schiraz showed some decent athleticism there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Schiraz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Schiraz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Night has managed to free his arm - good work.
Night wants to get back to his feet.

Schiraz seems to be working for a kimura but Night defends the submission attempt.

Schiraz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Schiraz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Night defending well though.
Schiraz moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Night is trying to buck Schiraz off.

Schiraz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Night is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Schiraz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Night is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Schiraz is controlling him well.
Schiraz working the head with strikes.

Schiraz is trying to get an arm triangle but Night is defending well.
Night wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Night knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Schiraz on the ground.

Schiraz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Night is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schiraz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Night has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Schiraz looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Night is avoiding damage well.

Schiraz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Schiraz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Schiraz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Night knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Schiraz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Night parries the strikes from Schiraz easily there. Schiraz is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Night to escape.
Night wants to get back to his feet but Schiraz drags him back down.

Schiraz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Night has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Night slips a jab and a cross from Schiraz.
James Night seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Night looks to land a combination but Schiraz avoids it well.
Night throws a head kick but Schiraz moves out of range.
Night throws a sloppy head kick and Schiraz moves out of range easily.
Schiraz misses with a straight left.
Night throws a head kick but Schiraz moves out of range.
Night moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Schiraz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Schiraz blocks a head kick by Night .
Schiraz fails to land the takedown.
Schiraz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Night sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Schiraz looks to land a left hand but Night moved out of range nicely.
James Night is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schiraz fails with a takedown attempt.
Night looks to land a combination but Schiraz avoids it well.
Night slips under a jab from Schiraz.
Schiraz blocks a head kick by Night .
Schiraz takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Franco Schiraz has been cut.
Night keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Schiraz throws a sloppy head kick and Night moves out of range easily.
No joy there for Night , who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Schiraz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Night 's guard.
Night preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Night utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Schiraz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Night wants to get back to his feet but Schiraz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Schiraz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Night wants to stand up but Schiraz is controlling him.
Schiraz throws a big elbow that misses.

Schiraz drops back looking for a leg! Night is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Night manages to kick Schiraz off! Schiraz jumps back into Night 's guard.

Schiraz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Schiraz throws a big elbow that misses.

Schiraz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Night wants to stand and escape but Schiraz is having none of it.
Schiraz throws a big elbow that misses.

Schiraz drops back looking for a leg! Night is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Night manages to kick Schiraz off! Schiraz jumps back into Night 's guard.
Night is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Schiraz is controlling him.
Schiraz throws a big right hand that misses.
Schiraz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Night works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franco Schiraz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Schiraz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Schiraz prevents Night from getting back to his feet.
Schiraz advances to half guard.
Schiraz working Night over with strikes.
Night is trying to stand up here but Schiraz is controlling him well.

Schiraz is trying to work for a kimura but Night is defending well.
Night wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schiraz is looking for a kimura but Night is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Schiraz to get the leverage.

Schiraz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Night doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Schiraz.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Schiraz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Night sees it coming and defends easily.
Night wants to get back to his feet.

Schiraz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Night doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Schiraz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schiraz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Night throws a nice looking combination but Schiraz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Night looks to land a combination but Schiraz avoids it well.
Schiraz slips a jab and a cross from Night .
Night tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Schiraz throws a series of punches but Night avoids them all with ease.
Schiraz misses with an uppercut.
Night moves out of range of the leg kick from Schiraz.
Nice body kick there by Night .
Night tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Schiraz avoids the head kick by Night .
Schiraz lands a really nice looking cross but Night seems unphased.
Schiraz misses with a low kick.
Night tries a head kick but it misses.
Night pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Night throws a left and a right that both miss
and Night takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schiraz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Schiraz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Night is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Schiraz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Schiraz tries for a kimura but Night is defending well.

Schiraz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Schiraz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Schiraz prevents Night from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Night is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Night is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Schiraz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Schiraz connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Night some visible discomfort.

Schiraz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Schiraz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Schiraz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Schiraz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Night wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schiraz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Schiraz working the ground and pound.
Night takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Schiraz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The strikes coming from Schiraz are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Schiraz has hold of Night 's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Night seems comfortable defending it but Schiraz has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Night is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Night is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Schiraz couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:07 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Franco Schiraz!
After the fight, Franco Schiraz was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.