PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Franko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Meranda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Franko looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Franko
vs
Meranda

181 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Franko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gustavo Meranda!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Meranda darts in and clinches Franko up against the cage.
Franko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Meranda is trying to pull guard but Franko turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Franko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Meranda has him pressed against the cage.
Meranda tries to pull guard but Franko holds him up against the cage and eventually Meranda drops back down to his feet.
Meranda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Franko smiles and moves away.
James Franko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustavo Meranda.
Meranda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Franko pinned against the cage. Franko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Franko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Meranda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Meranda shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Meranda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Franko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Franko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Meranda counters by moving into the clinch.
Franko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Meranda is trying to pull guard but Franko has him pressed against the cage.
Meranda jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Franko walks away with a smile on his face. Meranda gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
James Franko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franko tries to bum rush Meranda with a series of wild strikes but Meranda uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Meranda moves into the clinch.
Franko is trying to break the clinch but Meranda is controlling him.
Meranda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Franko smiles and moves away.

Meranda has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meranda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Meranda jumps guard but Franko stands there with Meranda around his waist. Meranda gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Franko is looking to break free of the clinch but Meranda has double underhooks.
Meranda tries to pull guard but Franko won't allow it.
Meranda tries to pull guard but Franko holds him up against the cage and eventually Meranda drops back down to his feet.
Franko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Franko tries to circle away but Meranda has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Meranda pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Meranda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Meranda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Franko defends it easily.

Meranda looking for a guillotine here but Franko defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Meranda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Franko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Meranda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Franko is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Meranda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Franko defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franko wants to stand but Meranda has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Meranda dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Franko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Meranda counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Franko thinking.
The crowd cheers as Franko lands an impressive looking overhand right. Meranda doesn't seem phased though.
Franko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Meranda.
Franko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Meranda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Franko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Meranda circles away quickly and effectively.
Franko misses with a jab, cross combination.

Meranda looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Franko!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Meranda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Franko, who protects the arm well.

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

Meranda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Franko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Meranda tries for a kimura but Franko is defending well.

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

Meranda swings around for an armbar but Franko sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Meranda's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Meranda looking for a guillotine here but Franko defends easily.

Meranda is looking for a triangle here but Franko uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Meranda manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Meranda is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franko is just riding it out for now. Meranda eventually gives up the hold.

Meranda wants to work for an arm triangle but Franko is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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

Meranda seems to be working for a kimura but Franko defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Meranda is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Meranda works his way into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

Meranda goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Franko has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Meranda but great work by Franko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Meranda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Meranda has taken the fight to the clinch.
Meranda fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Meranda fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Franko wants to get back to striking at distance but Meranda won't allow it.
Franko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Franko is trying to break the clinch but Meranda is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Franko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Meranda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Franko's efforts to push away.
Meranda is trying to pull guard but Franko has him pressed against the cage.
James Franko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustavo Meranda.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Meranda successfully pulls guard.

Meranda looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Franko passes into half guard.

Meranda actively working from the bottom here.

Meranda actively working from the bottom here.
Meranda wants to improve his position but Franko is controlling well.
Meranda keeps trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Meranda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Meranda looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Meranda actively working from the bottom here.

Meranda looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Meranda actively working from the bottom here.
Franko seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Meranda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Franko pulls his head out easily.

Meranda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gustavo Meranda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meranda is trying is best to control the position here.
Meranda wants to control but Franko is keeping busy.

Meranda looking for a kimura from the bottom but Franko passes into side control!
Meranda is trying to get back to half guard.
Meranda is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Franko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustavo Meranda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Meranda winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustavo Meranda!