PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diego Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mace Windu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco comes to the cage accompanied by The Animals - House of the Rising Sun. Mace Windu acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Franco
vs
Windu

175 cm
20
165 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

170 cm
23
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mace Windu!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Windu tries to clinch up but Franco circles away and keeps his distance.
Franco avoids the head kick by Windu.
Windu moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Windu stuffs the takedown.
Mace Windu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Windu moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Franco keeps the fight on the outside.

Windu clinches with his opponent.
Franco goes for a takedown in the clinch but Windu prevents it.
Franco tries to pull guard but Windu holds him up against the cage and eventually Franco drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco is looking to break free of the clinch but Windu has double underhooks.
Franco takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Diego Franco has been cut.
Windu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Windu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Windu lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Windu lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Windu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Windu lands an elbow that stopped Franco in his tracks for a moment.
Windu with a knee to the head.
Windu with a knee to the head.

Franco has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Windu clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Franco looking to break Windu's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Windu remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Franco will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Windu covering up well and avoiding damage.
Windu has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Franco.
Windu is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Franco looking for the choke but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco is breathing heavily.
Franco somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Franco thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Windu has hold of Franco's arm. He needs to escape this position sooner or later but for now he's happy enough to control the position and prevent the submission attempts.

Franco working for the choke.

Franco is persistently looking for the submission but Windu is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franco looking for the RNC.
Windu just looking to survive in the bad position.

Franco goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Windu escapes and is now in half guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Franco keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Windu wants to free his trapped foot but Franco is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Franco dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Diego Franco's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Windu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Windu tries to close the distance and clinch but Franco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Windu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Windu moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Windu is looking to clinch but Franco is avoiding it.
Windu moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Franco takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Windu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Franco pushes Windu away with a front kick.
Windu is looking to clinch.
No luck for Franco with that takedown attempt.
Windu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Franco fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Windu is looking to clinch but Franco is avoiding it.
Windu throws a front kick aimed at Franco's knee but Franco avoids it well.
Windu tries to clinch there but Franco circles away.
Windu is breathing heavily.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Windu lands with an overhand left.
Franco keeps the fight on the outside.
Franco fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Windu tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.
Windu wants to clinch.
Windu is looking to clinch.

Franco looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Franco stands and throws Windu's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco controlling from side mount.
Windu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Franco. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Franco thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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.
An elbow from Franco crashes against the mat.

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

Franco wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Windu, who protects the arm well.
Windu prevents Franco from moving into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Diego Franco will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Diego Franco's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Windu tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Windu tries to clinch up.
Franco shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Windu takes the fight into the clinch.
Windu lands an elbow that stopped Franco in his tracks for a moment.
Windu looking to throw knees to the head but Franco is blocking nicely.
Windu tries a knee to the head but Franco blocks it.
Franco goes for a takedown in the clinch but Windu prevents it.
Franco fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Windu creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Franco's defenses.
Franco goes for a takedown in the clinch but Windu prevents it.
Windu lands a knee to the head.
Windu with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franco takes an elbow to the temple.
Windu lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco takes an elbow to the forehead.
Windu tries a knee to the head but Franco blocks it.
Windu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Good body shot from Franco.
Windu prevents the takedown attempt.
Franco tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Windu lands a damaging elbow.
Windu looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Franco is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Windu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Windu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Windu lands a damaging elbow.
Franco jumps guard but Windu stands there with Franco around his waist. Franco gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Franco can't break the clinch.
Franco can't get the takedown.
Windu lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Franco takes a knee right on the jaw!
Windu lands an elbow that stopped Franco in his tracks for a moment.
Franco wants to break free but Windu has control.
Windu lands a knee to the head.
Windu comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Windu gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Windu prevents Franco from breaking the clinch.
Windu lands an elbow inside.
Franco is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Franco looking to stall.
Windu lands an elbow that stopped Franco in his tracks for a moment.
Franco has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Windu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Franco tries for a takedown. No joy.
Windu tries to land a knee to the head but Franco blocks with his arms.
Windu gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Windu scores with a knee to the head.
Windu pushes off an throws an elbow but Franco leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Franco wants a takedown but no success here.
Franco changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Windu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Franco misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Windu is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Windu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Franco closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Windu to the mat! Windu manages to get full guard.
Franco connects with a couple of short punches.
Windu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mace Windu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Franco stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Franco swats away the attempt to clinch by Windu.
Windu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Franco closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Franco lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Windu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diego Franco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Franco stops Windu from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mace Windu.
I think Franco 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Franco!