PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jose Rozemblit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rozemblit comes to the cage accompanied by Pain. The crowd seem to be enjoying Franco's choice of entrance music: Born Slippy. Jose Rozemblit has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rozemblit
vs
Franco

190 cm
30
193 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

185 cm
30
190 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sex Panther! (160q recovery $149)

Meet the Future

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jose Rozemblit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rozemblit takes a swing at Franco's ribcage but misses.
Rozemblit keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rozemblit tries a low kick but Franco avoids it.
Rozemblit tries to move into range but Franco moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rozemblit shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Franco as he avoids it easily.
Rozemblit throws a lazy right hand but Franco sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rozemblit connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
An inside leg kick lands from Franco.

Franco closes the distance and clinches.
Rozemblit is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Franco is keeping busy.

Rozemblit gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Franco regains guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Franco wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rozemblit postures up in Franco's guard and throws a big left but Franco blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've been hearing that Rozemblit has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Rozemblit pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franco is keeping the position for now.
Rozemblit is working hard here to advance position.
Rozemblit wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Begbie Franco was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Franco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rozemblit throws a jab but it's blocked by Franco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rozemblit misses with a body shot.
Franco finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Franco throws a low kick but Rozemblit moves out of range easily.
Rozemblit thows a leg kick but Franco checks it
and Franco cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Franco throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rozemblit sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Franco throws a leg kick but Rozemblit checks it.
Franco avoids the body shot from Rozemblit.

Franco gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rozemblit to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rozemblit landing with the ground and pound.
Franco told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rozemblit stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franco swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rozemblit passes into half guard.
Franco is concentrating on defense, preventing Rozemblit from advancing position.
Franco is looking for a sweep. Rozemblit is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rozemblit landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Franco won't allow Rozemblit to pass to mount.

Rozemblit is working for a kimura but Franco is defending it quite comfortably.
Rozemblit thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franco's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rozemblit missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Rozemblit dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Franco throws a leg kick but Rozemblit sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rozemblit throws a head kick but Franco moves out of range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Franco!
Franco finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rozemblit checks a leg kick.
Rozemblit throws a combination that misses
and Franco counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rozemblit looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rozemblit is looking to chop away at Franco's legs.
Franco throws a big shot that misses.
A swing and a miss from Rozemblit.
Franco leaves Rozemblit with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Franco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rozemblit.
Franco throws a head kick that misses.
Rozemblit moves out of range as Franco strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rozemblit moves out of range of the strikes.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rozemblit. Franco shrugs it off though.
The fighters circling - Franco throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rozemblit moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Begbie Franco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Franco attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Franco with a nice cross.
Franco scores with a head kick.

Rozemblit closes the distance and pushes Franco back into the cage.
Rozemblit lands with a left to the head.
Rozemblit misses with some punches.
A right hand to the body from Rozemblit.
Franco gets underhooks to prevent Rozemblit's takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Rozemblit fails to land.
Rozemblit works on Franco's body with a couple of short punches.
Franco presses Rozemblit against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rozemblit throws a punch but it's blocked by Franco.
Franco can't find room to land a body shot as Rozemblit controls the action.
Rozemblit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Franco is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Franco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rozemblit will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Franco cracks the inside of Rozemblit's front leg.
Franco has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Franco there as he acknowledges the shot.
Franco defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rozemblit.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Rozemblit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rozemblit shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rozemblit fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rozemblit misses with a body shot.
Franco tries to score with a low kick but Rozemblit moves his leg out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Franco checks a low kick from Rozemblit.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rozemblit.
Rozemblit misses with a hook. Franco ducked under it nicely.
Franco throws a good cross that connects.
Franco showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rozemblit.
Franco stuffs the takedown.
Franco blocks a head kick by Rozemblit.
Rozemblit lands a jab to the nose.
Rozemblit throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franco's waist but Franco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rozemblit off to one side.
Rozemblit moves out of range of the body kick.
Franco moves out of range of the leg kick from Rozemblit.
Rozemblit throws the kick towards the body but Franco avoids it.
Begbie Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco is looking to slow Rozemblit down with leg kicks.
Begbie Franco seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rozemblit thows a body kick. Franco tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Franco throws a push kick but Rozemblit slaps the foot to one side.
Rozemblit misses the jab.
Rozemblit checks the leg kick.
Rozemblit scores with a punch to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franco chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rozemblit can pounce on him.
Rozemblit throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Franco tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rozemblit was well out of range. Poor timing from Franco.
Rozemblit looks for the body kick but Franco saw that one coming.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rozemblit throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Franco stuns Rozemblit with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Franco moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Begbie Franco will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Rozemblit's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rozemblit throws a nice outside leg kick.

Rozemblit gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Franco wants to break free but Rozemblit has control.
Rozemblit goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rozemblit.
Rozemblit tries for a takedown but Franco manages to get underhooks.
Franco misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rozemblit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Franco fails to land.

Franco breaks from the clinch.
Rozemblit will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rozemblit throws a jab but it's blocked by Franco.
Rozemblit is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jab from Franco.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rozemblit's calf.
Rozemblit looks to land a body kick but Franco moved away.
Franco fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rozemblit checks a leg kick.
Franco throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rozemblit tries to clinch but Franco is having none of it.
Rozemblit connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Rozemblit 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. Rozemblit is in Franco's guard.
Franco trying to control the position here.
Rozemblit trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rozemblit stands and throws Franco's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rozemblit lands an elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rozemblit is trying to move to mount but Franco reverses beautifully and ends up in Rozemblit's guard.
Franco not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rozemblit throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Franco stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rozemblit wants to clinch.
Franco steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rozemblit.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rozemblit looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A low kick from Franco is predictable there
and Rozemblit counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Franco walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rozemblit checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Franco connects with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rozemblit scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
A control attempt from Franco but he's now mounted!
Franco tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rozemblit looking to finish with strikes here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rozemblit trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jose Rozemblit.
I think Rozemblit has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Rozemblit!
After the fight, Jose Rozemblit 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.