PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Downs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Forane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank Forane has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Joshua Downs's chin.

Downs
vs
Forane

183 cm
22
151 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joshua Downs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Frank Forane!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Forane drives through with a takedown into Downs's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Forane sitting in guard here, content to control.
Forane in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Downs looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Forane passes into half guard.

Downs is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Forane pulls his head out easily.
Forane seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Forane not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forane keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Downs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Forane on the ground.
Forane not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Forane seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

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

Forane moves into the clinch.

Forane wants the takedown. Downs is fighting it off but Forane persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Downs's guard against the cage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Forane sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Forane accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Downs controls Forane momentarily but Forane frees himself.
Forane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Downs swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Forane drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Forane jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downs is trying to control the position but Forane postures up.
Forane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Downs swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Forane has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Downs is proving hard to escape from.
Forane is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joshua Downs just wasn't active enough.
Downs throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Forane is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Downs's half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Forane content to control rather than advance.
Forane moves into full mount! Downs won't be happy about that!
Forane throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Downs because Forane loaded up on that one.
Downs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Downs sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Forane with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Forane dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Forane pushes Downs up against the cage in a clinch.

Forane ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Forane no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Forane working a defensive guard here.
Forane looking for a sweep. Not yet Forane, not yet.
Downs with a flurry of punches that miss.

Forane throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Forane looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Forane working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downs trying to control but Forane is working from the bottom.
Forane looking for a sweep. Not yet Forane, not yet.
Downs is looking to stand up but Forane won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Forane preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Forane is trying to control the position but Downs postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Forane moves into the clinch successfully.

Forane pulls guard effortlessly.
Forane tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Forane trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Downs trying to control but Forane is working from the bottom.
Forane will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forane tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Downs trying to stand up but can't free himself from Forane's guard.
Forane pulls Downs in to control the position.
Downs won't allow Forane to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Downs is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Downs is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Forane throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Downs sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Downs moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Forane has Downs pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Forane pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Downs tumbling to the mat - Forane dives into Downs's guard.
Downs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Forane.
Forane trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Downs is trying to control the position but Forane postures up.
Downs keeping moving, preventing Forane from controlling successfully.
Downs has a closed guard, preventing Forane from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Forane postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Downs working for a triangle but Forane defends it easily.
Forane connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Downs throws his legs up looking for a submission but Forane uses it to pass to side control.
Forane is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Downs will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Forane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Downs gets caught flat footed, as Forane shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Forane slips nicely into half guard.
Forane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Forane thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Downs's head.
Forane is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Downs reverses the position - he's now on top in Forane's guard.
Downs stops Forane from standing up.

Downs got a little sloppy there for a moment and Forane has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Downs has managed to get both his arms back between Forane's legs - danger averted.
Forane has a closed guard, preventing Downs from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forane wants to sweep but no luck.
Downs prevents Forane from getting back to his feet.
Forane is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Downs will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Downs chips away with some ground and pound.
Downs wants to get up but he can't break Forane's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Forane is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Downs wants to stand but Forane is controlling his posture from full guard.
Downs trying to control but Forane is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Forane takes the fight into the clinch.

Forane pulls guard effortlessly.
Forane controls Downs momentarily but Downs frees himself.
Frank Forane has got the better of the ground game so far.
Downs wanted to stand there but Forane had control of the position.
Forane trying to control the position.
Forane has a closed guard, preventing Downs from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forane not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Frank Forane.

Forane moves into the clinch.
Downs blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Forane slows down the pace here.
Downs jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Forane walks away with a smile on his face. Downs gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Forane is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Downs's half guard.
Downs wants to sweep but Forane has passed to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forane throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Forane working away.
Forane is looking to take a break and control but Downs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Downs is looking to reverse the position.
Joshua Downs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Frank Forane is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Forane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Forane has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Forane!