PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Philmore Butts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thierry Francois (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Butts
vs
Francois

170 cm
24
210 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

180 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Philmore Butts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thierry Francois!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francois rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Butts moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Butts misses the shot to the body.
Butts just misses with a punch to the body.
Butts misses with a two punch combination.
Butts takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Francois dives in for a single leg takedown but Butts sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Francois is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Butts gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Butts prevents the takedown attempt.
Philmore Butts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thierry Francois.
Butts wants to get back to striking at distance but Francois won't allow it.
Francois drops down looking for an ankle pick but Butts pulls his leg out and moves away.
Francois misses with a double jab
and Butts counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Butts throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've been told by Butts's head coaches at Slaughterhouse MMA (Redesigned) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Francois misses with an uppercut. Butts saw that one coming.
Butts throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Francois counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Francois throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francois postures up and lands a big shot to Butts's brow.
Francois won't allow Butts to get back to his feet.
Francois in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Butts is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Francois is controlling him.
Butts knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Francois on the ground.
Butts preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Francois throws an elbow that misses. Butts uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Francois's guard. Nice move by Butts!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Francois working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Butts doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Butts manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Francois looking for a guillotine here but Butts defends easily.
Butts wants to stand but Francois is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Butts stands and steps away. Francois gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Francois connects with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Butts. Francois does a little dance to reset his feet.
Butts misses with a two punch combination.
Francois slips under a jab.
A punch combination from Francois misses.
Butts misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Francois gets the takedown into side control.
Butts is working to avoid the ground and pound but Francois connects with a decent elbow.
Francois misses with the ground and pound.
Butts is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Francois asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Butts is working to avoid the ground and pound but Francois connects with a decent elbow.
Butts on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Butts tries to get out of the position.
Francois cracks Butts with a big elbow.
Francois fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Francois throws a strike aimed at the side of Butts's head but Butts avoids it well.
Francois working the head with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Francois creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Butts sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Francois scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Butts to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butts tries to escape but Francois is in control.
Francois fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Francois working the ground and pound.
Francois misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Butts is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Francois working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Francois lands some shots froms side control.
Francois lands an elbow.
Francois throws an elbow but Butts slips to the side and avoids it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Butts takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sloppy strikes there by Francois.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thierry Francois dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Butts scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Francois doesn't seem bothered though.
Butts looks to throw the jab but Francois is out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Francois.
Francois throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Butts lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Thierry Francois has been cut.
Butts moves into range and connects with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Francois keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Francois takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Butts throws a right and a left that Francois avoids nicely.
Francois throws a nice looking combination but Butts bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Francois shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Francois showed some decent athleticism there.
Francois lands with a punch from half guard.
Francois throwing shots but Butts is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butts wants to get back to his feet.
Francois slips a nice elbow through Butts's hands, connecting with Butts's forehead.
Butts pushes Francois off looking to stand but Francois dives back in and keeps control.
Francois sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Butts defending well though.
Francois throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Butts blocking the ground and pound attempt from Francois.
Ground and pound from Francois.
Francois looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Francois not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Francois working Butts over with strikes.
Ground and pound from Francois.
Francois looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Butts with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Francois has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Butts regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Francois.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francois in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Francois landing with the ground and pound.
Francois postures up in Butts's guard and throws a big left but Butts blocks it.
Francois in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Francois working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Francois throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Butts works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Francois throws a big elbow that misses.
Francois postures up and lands a big shot to Butts's brow.
Francois landing some decent shots from guard.
Francois throwing strikes from guard but Butts blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butts wants to stand and escape but Francois is having none of it.
Francois stands up over Butts, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Francois makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Francois lands a couple of elbows.
Butts wants to stand but Francois is controlling the position.
Francois keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Butts's head.
Francois scoring with some ground and pound.
Francois trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Francois postures up in Butts's guard and throws a big left but Butts blocks it.
Francois is in close to Butts's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francois throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Francois lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Francois makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thierry Francois has got the better of the ground game so far.
Butts avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Francois scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Francois throws a strike but Butts rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Francois had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Butts defends it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Francois working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Butts doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Butts manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Butts stands up from Francois's guard - Butts perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thierry Francois showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thierry Francois's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Butts throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Butts will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Francois keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Francois throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Butts's waist but Butts gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Francois off to one side.
Francois moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Butts misses with a double jab.
Butts connects with a good right hand that stumbles Francois. Francois circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Butts moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Francois scores with a sloppy right hand. Butts should have avoided that one.
Butts leaves Francois with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Butts stuffs the takedown attempt from Francois. Francois gets slowly back to his feet.
Philmore Butts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thierry Francois.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butts fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Francois looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Francois takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Butts fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Francois misses with a two punch combination.
Butts throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Francois.
Francois shoots in and drives through. Butts sprawls well.
Francois slips a jab and a cross from Butts.
Butts feints a jab promting Francois to slip. Butts then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Francois slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
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!
Francois takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Butts moves into range and connects with a jab.
Francois shoots in looking for a takedown but Butts manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Francois's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice uppercut lands for Butts. That snapped Francois's head back.
Nice sprawl there from Butts as Francois shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butts scores with a shot to the body.
Butts lands with an uppercut that bounces Francois off the cage and back into range.
No joy there for Butts, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Butts tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Francois was well out of range. Poor timing from Butts.
Butts looks to score with a jab to the body but Francois is just out of range.
Nice cross by Butts.
Butts throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Francois fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Butts manages to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Butts.
A looping hook to the body misses from Butts. Francois does a little dance to reset his feet.
Francois slips a jab from Butts.
Butts throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butts throws a good cross that connects.
Francois tries to land a front kick but Butts steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Francois keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Francois closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Butts's guard.
Francois missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Francois throws a big elbow that misses.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Butts manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Butts has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Francois wants a takedown.
Francois is working for takedown but Butts is calmly controlling the position for now.

Butts's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Philmore Butts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francois drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Butts scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Butts takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Francois has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Thierry Francois is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Francois dodges the punch combination from Butts.
Francois takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Butts throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Francois cracks Butts with an open hand slap.
Butts misses with a straight right.

Francois shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Francois showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Francois throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Philmore Butts showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Francois has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thierry Francois!