PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nobunaga Shirow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Animals - House of the Rising Sun. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Shirow
vs
Franco

173 cm
19
164 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

175 cm
19
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nobunaga Shirow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Franco!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shirow misses with a takedown attempt - Franco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shirow fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franco manages to avoid it.
Shirow digs a good body shot into Franco's ribs.
Shirow swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shirow throws a right and a left that Franco avoids nicely.
Shirow scores with a jab to the head.
Shirow throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Franco doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shirow counters with a left and a right that stings Franco.

Shirow scores a takedown into full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franco tries to reverse the position but Shirow maintains control.

Shirow is working for a guillotine from mount but Franco frees his head quite easily.
Franco just holding on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is trying desperately to improve position.
Shirow wants to take Franco's back here but Franco is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Franco has given up his back.
Franco manages to reverse the position and now he's in Shirow's guard. Nice work there by Franco.
Shirow throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Shirow has his foot on Franco's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Franco works his way back into a safe position though.
Shirow not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Shirow keeping full guard, as Franco tries to pass.
Shirow trying to control the position.
Franco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Franco 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.

Shirow has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Franco is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Shirow.
Shirow manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Shirow gets full guard.
Shirow is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Franco looking to pass the guard.
Shirow wants to sweep but no luck.
Shirow controls Franco momentarily but Franco frees himself.
Franco pushing down on Shirow's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Shirow actively working from the bottom here.
Franco prevents Shirow from improving his position.
Shirow moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Shirow throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Franco is pushing down on Shirow's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shirow is fighting to maintain full guard but Franco has managed to sneak the leg through.

Shirow actively working from the bottom here.
Franco is thwarting Shirow's attempts to control the position.
Shirow avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franco.
Shirow is trying to stand.
Shirow pushes Franco off but Franco dives into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Franco working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nobunaga Shirow dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Franco dodges the punch combination from Shirow.
Franco doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shirow counters with a nice double leg into side control. Franco won't be happy with that.
Shirow tries to move into full mount but can't pass Franco's legs.
Franco is not content to let Shirow control the position.

Shirow wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Franco, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shirow tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franco is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shirow off and has taken his back!
Shirow trying to control but not successfully.
Shirow can't escape the position.
Franco wants to control but Shirow is keeping busy.
Franco is trying to stick to Shirow's back but Shirow is turning into Franco. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Franco's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Shirow.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Franco is on top in guard.
Shirow trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Shirow is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Franco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shirow is keeping the position for now.
Shirow is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shirow trying to control from half guard but Franco is working away.

Shirow is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Shirow looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shirow is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Franco is pressing down on Shirow's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shirow throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.
Franco is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Franco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Shirow thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shirow wants to pass the guard but Franco is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nobunaga Shirow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franco trying to control the position here.

Shirow 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franco misses with a takedown
and Shirow counters with a stiff right hand.

Shirow looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Franco!

Shirow is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Franco is surviving well by controlling Shirow's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nobunaga Shirow dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Shirow throws an overhand right that lands on Franco's shoulder, as Franco tries to avoid the shot.
Franco throws a head kick but Shirow moves out of range.
Franco has his takedown stuffed
and Shirow counters with a stiff right hand.
Shirow fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shirow throws a series of punches but Franco avoids them all with ease.
Shirow lands with a nice combination. Franco backs away looking to recover.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shirow closes the distance and clinches up with Franco, looking for a takedown. Shirow pushes Franco against the cage but Franco circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shirow gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Franco to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nobunaga Shirow. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Shirow keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Shirow is staying active underneath Franco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shirow manages to get to full guard.

Shirow 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. Oh but Shirow is tightening it up a little... Franco has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Franco reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Franco taps out! nice BJJ there by Shirow!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Nobunaga Shirow!