PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Franco Colombo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco Colombo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Colombo
vs
Lewis

181 cm
36
201 lbs
11 - 32 - 0

160 cm
25
191 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 11 - 32 - 0, fighting out of New York, Franco Colombo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven Lewis!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Colombo throws a head kick that misses

and Lewis counters by moving into the clinch.
Lewis looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Colombo tries to score a body lock takedown but Lewis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lewis stops a takedown attempt from Colombo.
Colombo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lewis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franco Colombo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lewis gets underhooks to prevent Colombo's takedown attempt.
Lewis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Colombo prevents it.
Lewis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Colombo prevents it.
Colombo has Lewis pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lewis manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Colombo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Colombo is working for takedown but Lewis is calmly controlling the position for now.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Lewis has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Lewis drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Colombo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Colombo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lewis after a bit of a struggle.
Lewis prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lewis is pressed up against the cage. Colombo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lewis down to the mat. Lewis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lewis circles away from the clinch attempt

and Lewis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colombo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Colombo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lewis is looking for a takedown.
Colombo goes for a takedown attempt but Lewis pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Franco Colombo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lewis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Colombo.
Colombo misses with a hook

and Lewis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Colombo jumps guard but Lewis stands there with Colombo around his waist. Colombo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis goes for a takedown attempt but Colombo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lewis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Colombo.
Colombo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lewis blocks a head kick by Colombo.
Colombo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lewis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Colombo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lewis as he avoids it easily.
Colombo wants to clinch but Lewis slips to the side

and Lewis moves into the clinch.
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 Franco Colombo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Colombo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lewis on the side of the head.

It looks like Steven Lewis has been cut.

Colombo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Colombo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lewis.
Lewis wants a takedown but no success here.
Lewis prevents the takedown attempt.
Lewis is pressed up against the cage. Colombo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lewis down to the mat. Lewis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lewis is breathing heavily.
Colombo lands a head shot.
Lewis avoids the head kick by Colombo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Colombo closes the distance but Lewis moves to the side

and Lewis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lewis.
Colombo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franco Colombo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Colombo has Lewis pressed against the cage.

Lewis has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Colombo regains guard immediately.
Colombo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lewis throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis throws a big right hand that misses.
Lewis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lewis throws an elbow that misses. Colombo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lewis's guard. Nice move by Colombo!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lewis working for a triangle but Colombo defends it easily.
Colombo wants to control from the top but Lewis keeps moving.
Colombo passes Lewis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lewis looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colombo is trying to control the action in half guard but Lewis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Lewis actively working from the bottom here.
Lewis is staying active underneath Colombo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Colombo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Colombo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Lewis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Colombo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Colombo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lewis keeps working.

Lewis actively working from the bottom here.
Colombo wants to take a breather but Lewis is having none of it.

Lewis actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lewis is staying active underneath Colombo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Colombo trying to mount his opponent but Lewis defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Colombo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Steven Lewis's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lewis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Colombo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Colombo throws out a powerful jab.
Colombo throws a head kick that misses.
Colombo throws a sloppy head kick

and Lewis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lewis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Colombo.
Colombo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lewis after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Colombo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lewis pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franco Colombo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Colombo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lewis after a bit of a struggle.
Lewis is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Colombo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Colombo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lewis after a bit of a struggle.
Colombo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lewis to keep the fight standing.
Colombo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lewis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Colombo goes for a takedown attempt but Lewis pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Colombo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Colombo wants to clinch but Lewis slips to the side

and Lewis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Lewis gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Colombo has Lewis pulled in close to control his posture.
Lewis throws an elbow that misses. Colombo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lewis's guard. Nice move by Colombo!

Lewis looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Colombo has picked Lewis up and slammed him! Lewis can't keep hold of the triangle and Colombo manages to pass to side control!
Colombo wants to control but Lewis is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Colombo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Colombo is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Lewis looks calm but he's in trouble here. Colombo gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Lewis is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Colombo lets go of the hold and Lewis can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Franco Colombo!