PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brant Poole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hunter Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Poole
vs
Francis

182 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

175 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brant Poole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hunter Francis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Poole dives in and scores a takedown into Francis's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Francis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Poole scoring with punches to the head and body.
Francis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Poole!
Poole is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Francis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Poole is wriggling around trying to escape.
Poole tries to hold on but Francis pushes him away.

Francis goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Poole is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis pulls Poole in close to his closed guard and prevents Poole from doing any damage or advancing position.
Francis looking for a sweep. Not yet Francis, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hunter Francis was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Poole tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Francis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Poole misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Poole has Francis up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Poole fails to land.
Poole looking to stall.

Poole drags the fight down to the ground.
Francis trying to control but Poole is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hunter Francis hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Poole feints and as Francis raises his hands in defense, Poole changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Francis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Poole throws a big elbow that misses.
Poole wants to stand but Francis is controlling his posture from full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Francis holds on and takes a little breather.
Poole postures up.
Francis is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hunter Francis.
Poole tries to close the distance and clinch but Francis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
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 Brant Poole will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Francis tries to keep at a distance but Poole has taken the fight into the clinch.
Poole is trying to maintain a safe position but Francis gets an underhook and turns Poole into the cage.
Poole seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Francis is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Poole misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Poole just misses with a elbow thrown towards Francis's brow.
Poole throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Poole is looking to control Francis's arms but Francis gets an underhook and turns him. Now Poole has his back to the cage.
Poole tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Poole has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Francis uses from the top position.
Francis stays in close to Poole's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hunter Francis has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Poole tries to clinch there but Francis circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Poole closes the distance but Francis moves to the side

and Francis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Poole's guard.
Francis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Poole is keeping the position for now.
Francis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Francis has gone for a leg lock! Poole slips out almost immediately though and dives into Francis's guard.
Francis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Francis working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hunter Francis wasn't active enough on the ground.
Francis avoids the head kick by Poole.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poole looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hunter Francis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Francis is trying to maintain the position but Poole is very close to passing his half guard.
Francis is controlling Poole's trapped leg to prevent Poole from advancing to side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Francis can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
It looks like Poole is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hunter Francis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Poole thows a body kick. Francis tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Poole shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Francis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Poole is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Francis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Francis wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Poole is now in half guard.
Francis wants to control but Poole is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poole stands up and beckons Francis to join him on the feet.
Poole tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Poole shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Poole is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis wants to get back to full guard.

Poole is working for a kimura but Francis is defending it quite comfortably.
Francis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Poole is working away from the top position though.
Francis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Poole's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Poole's back!
Will Francis go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Poole trying to control the action but Francis just sinks the hooks in.

Poole preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Francis.
Francis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis trying to control.

Francis is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Poole is having to fend off submission attempts from Francis, who is looking to sink in the choke. Francis doesn't have the hooks in though and Poole manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Francis trying to keep a closed guard but Poole is proving a slippery customer.
Francis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Poole haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poole wants to get up but he can't break Francis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Poole in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Francis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Poole wants to stand but Francis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Francis controls Poole momentarily but Poole frees himself.
Poole would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Francis is trying to keep Poole in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hunter Francis wasn't active enough on the ground.

Poole scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brant Poole showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Poole 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brant Poole!