PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Azevedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Frank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azevedo's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Puddle Of Mudd - Psycho . Frank is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Ball Game. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Azevedo
vs
Frank

179 cm
22
151 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

170 cm
22
160 lbs
6 - 7 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Master Lee's One Stop

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 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Azevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Tony Frank!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azevedo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Frank tries to close the distance and clinch up but Azevedo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Azevedo shoots in and drives through. Frank sprawls well.
Azevedo tries to bum rush Frank with a series of wild strikes but Frank uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've been hearing reports that Azevedo has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Azevedo misses with a hook. Frank ducked under it nicely.
Azevedo is looking to land body kicks.
Frank slips under a jab from Azevedo.
Azevedo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Azevedo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Thiago Azevedo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azevedo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Frank but Frank pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Frank throws a leg kick but Azevedo moved away.
Azevedo defending well as Frank loads up on a big left hand.
Azevedo ducks under a wild hook from Frank.
A slow jab from Frank misses its intended target.
Azevedo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Azevedo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Frank looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Azevedo tries to bum rush Frank with a series of wild strikes but Frank uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Frank takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Azevedo defending well as Frank loads up on a big left hand.
Azevedo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Frank manages to avoid it.
Azevedo throws a nice looking combination but Frank bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Frank waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Azevedo.
Frank staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo connects with a single shot there.

Frank has Azevedo up against the cage in a clinch.
Frank has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Azevedo after a bit of a struggle.
Azevedo working hard to break the clinch.
Frank throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Azevedo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Azevedo stops a takedown attempt from Frank.
Frank lands a left hand that snaps the head of Azevedo backwards.
Frank misses with a short punch on the inside.
Frank scores with a nice hook to the head.
Azevedo wants to get back to striking at distance but Frank won't allow it.
Frank misses with some punches.
Frank misses with a hook from the clinch.
Frank swings wildly with an uppercut but Azevedo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Frank throws a punch but it's blocked by Azevedo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo working hard to break the clinch.
Frank misses with the head strike.

Frank has hold of one of Azevedo's legs. Azevedo is fighting the takedown attempt but Frank gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Frank won't allow Azevedo to sweep him here.
Frank missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Frank accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Azevedo has his hands on Frank's head, controlling the position.
Azevedo is trying to control the position but Frank postures up.
Frank throws a big elbow that misses.
Azevedo keeping full guard, as Frank tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Azevedo looking to control.
Azevedo has his hands on Frank's head, controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thiago Azevedo wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Frank looks to throw the jab but Azevedo is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo lands a lovely overhand right.
Frank swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azevedo swinging wildly here.
Azevedo connects with a leg kick. Frank looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Frank scores with a nice head shot.
Azevedo swings for the body but Frank moves out of range.
Frank takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Azevedo fakes the leg kick and cracks Frank in the body.
Frank shoots for a takedown but Azevedo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thiago Azevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Frank.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Azevedo.
Frank pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Frank on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Frank dodges the punch combination from Azevedo.
Azevedo throws a sloppy head kick and Frank moves out of range easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Azevedo.
Some wild striking there from Azevedo.
Frank misses with an uppercut. Azevedo saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo throws a series of punches but Frank avoids them all with ease.
Azevedo misses with a leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Azevedo.
Frank is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Frank throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Frank pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Azevedo throws a body kick that misses.
Frank looks to throw the jab but Azevedo is out of range.
Frank looks to land a body kick but Azevedo moved away.
Frank takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Frank thumps Azevedo with a low kick.

Frank shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Frank working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azevedo gets full guard.
Azevedo keeping full guard, as Frank tries to pass.
Azevedo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Azevedo trying to control but Frank is having none of it.
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 Thiago Azevedo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Azevedo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Azevedo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Frank throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Azevedo tries to score with a low kick but Frank moves his leg out of the way.
Thiago Azevedo is winning the standup battle so far.
Azevedo punishes Frank's body with a nice straight punch.
Frank takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Azevedo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Azevedo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Frank tries to clinch up but Azevedo circles away and keeps his distance.
Azevedo throws a hook to the side of Frank's head but Frank sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Azevedo throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Azevedo staying out of range there.
Azevedo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Frank circles away quickly and effectively.

Frank clinches with his opponent.
Azevedo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Frank tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Frank misses with a short punch on the inside.
Frank can't find room to land a body shot as Azevedo controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frank has Azevedo pressed against the cage.
Azevedo is looking to break free of the clinch but Frank has double underhooks.
Azevedo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Azevedo takes a shot to the head.
Azevedo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Azevedo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Frank fails to land.
Frank fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Frank escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Frank throws a jab when Azevedo was well out of range.
Good shot there by Azevedo.
Frank takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Azevedo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Azevedo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Frank dives in and grabs Azevedo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Azevedo pushes down on Frank's head and hops out.
Thiago Azevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Frank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Azevedo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Azevedo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Azevedo lands a leg kick that knocks Frank off balance momentarily.
Sloppy strikes from Azevedo. Those never looked like landing.
Frank pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Azevedo lands with a good body shot.
A leg kick checked by Frank.
Frank missing with a left hand there. Azevedo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Frank misses with an uppercut. Azevedo saw that one coming.
Azevedo staying out of range there.
Azevedo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Frank eats them both and turns towards Azevedo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Frank throws a hook but Azevedo blocks it.
Frank avoids a punch combination nicely.
Azevedo throws a head kick that misses.
Frank checks the leg kick nicely there.
Azevedo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Frank throws out the jab.
Frank tries to close the distance and clinch up but Azevedo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Frank is looking to clinch but Azevedo is avoiding it.

Frank has taken the fight to the clinch.

Azevedo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Frank moves away.
Frank takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Azevedo ducks under a wild hook from Frank.
Frank drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nice defenses there by Azevedo.
Azevedo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Azevedo misses with the combination.
Azevedo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Frank closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Azevedo quickly recovers to half guard.
Azevedo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Azevedo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Azevedo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Frank is one step ahead there.
Frank lands a couple of elbows.
Frank lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Frank landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Frank postures up in Azevedo's guard and throws a big left but Azevedo blocks it.
Frank postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Azevedo trying to control the position here.
Azevedo trying to keep a closed guard but Frank is proving a slippery customer.
Frank scoring with some ground and pound.
Azevedo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Frank slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Azevedo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azevedo forces his way into half guard.
Frank wants to get back to his feet.
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 Thiago Azevedo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Azevedo thuds his shin into the meat of Frank's side.
Azevedo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Azevedo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Frank on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Azevedo. Azevedo obviously looking to wear him down.
Frank jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Azevedo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Azevedo tries a head kick but it misses.
Azevedo looks to land a combination but Frank avoids it well.
Frank dodges the punch combination from Azevedo.
Frank fails with a takedown attempt.
Azevedo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Azevedo.
Azevedo throws a low kick but Frank moves out of range easily.

Frank closes the distance and clinches.
Azevedo blocks a body shot from Frank.
Frank slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frank is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Azevedo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Frank throws a head punch that misses.
Frank taking a breather.
Azevedo tries to break the clinch but Frank is controlling the position.

Frank breaks the clinch.
Azevedo stuffs the takedown.
Thiago Azevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Frank.
Frank throws out a powerful jab.
Thiago Azevedo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Azevedo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Azevedo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Frank jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Azevedo shoots in and bounces Frank off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Azevedo won't allow Frank to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo stays in close to Frank's body and controls the position.
Azevedo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Azevedo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Frank will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Azevedo looking to sit in guard and control but Frank gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Frank connects with a couple of short punches.
Azevedo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Azevedo prevents Frank from standing back up.
Azevedo wants to pass the guard but Frank is defending well.
Frank trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Frank does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Azevedo is looking for a kimura but Frank is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Azevedo to get the leverage.
Azevedo moves nicely into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Frank is trying to control Azevedo's posture but Azevedo avoids it.

Azevedo is trying to get an arm triangle but Frank is defending well.
Azevedo trying to control the action but Frank is working from the bottom.
Thiago Azevedo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Frank wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Azevedo has hold of Frank's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Frank seems comfortable defending it but Azevedo has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Frank is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Frank is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Azevedo couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:10 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thiago Azevedo!
Thiago Azevedo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Tony Frank spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back! '.