PBP Commentary

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

Ibrahimovic
vs
Franco

190 cm
25
135 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Namunamu Clothing
Cold Blooded Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

Knox Energy

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zlatan Ibrahimovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chris Franco!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ibrahimovic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ibrahimovic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Franco.
Ibrahimovic lands the left hand.
Franco shoots in for a takedown but Ibrahimovic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Ibrahimovic. No joy for Franco on that attempt.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Franco.
Franco looks for a takedown but Ibrahimovic sprawls well.
Franco shoots in for a takedown but Ibrahimovic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ibrahimovic throws a right and a left that Franco avoids nicely.
Ibrahimovic lands with a kick to the temple. Franco shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Chris Franco has been cut.
Ibrahimovic definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Franco dives in for a single leg takedown but Ibrahimovic sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Ibrahimovic breaks the clinch.
Chris Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ibrahimovic throws a nice looking combination but Franco bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Franco shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ibrahimovic sprawls well. Ibrahimovic wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Franco gets slowly back to his feet.

Ibrahimovic gets caught napping as Franco dives in and scores a takedown. Ibrahimovic manages to retain guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Franco postures up in Ibrahimovic's guard and throws a big left but Ibrahimovic blocks it.
Franco wants to pass the guard but Ibrahimovic is keeping the position.
Franco postures up in Ibrahimovic's guard and throws a big left but Ibrahimovic blocks it.
Ibrahimovic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ibrahimovic tries to get out of the position.
Franco stays in close to Ibrahimovic's body and controls the position.
Ibrahimovic wants to stand but Franco is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco chips away with some ground and pound.
Ibrahimovic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Franco content to stall in guard here.
It looks like Franco might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chris Franco was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Ibrahimovic tries to sprawl but Franco drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Franco throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ibrahimovic wants to get back to his feet.
Franco tries to pass to full mount but Ibrahimovic defends it.
Franco content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahimovic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco stalling.
Franco looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Franco misses with a head shot. Ibrahimovic uses the momentum to regain guard.
Franco has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ibrahimovic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Franco controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Franco dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chris Franco's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ibrahimovic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Franco.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ibrahimovic!
Franco fails with a takedown attempt.
Whack! Ibrahimovic lands a heavy head kick that drops Franco. The ref tackles Ibrahimovic to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Franco was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Zlatan Ibrahimovic!
Our winner, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.