PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Francisco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maurice Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maurice Smith has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Francisco
vs
Smith

182 cm
24
142 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

161 cm
24
160 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Francisco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maurice Smith!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Francisco's guard.

Francisco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Smith trying to control but Francisco is working from the bottom.

Francisco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Francisco seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Francisco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Francisco wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith wants to control from the top but Francisco keeps moving.
Francisco really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Francisco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Francisco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Francisco tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Francisco is retaining full guard.
Francisco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Francisco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith forces Francisco back against the cage and clinches.
Smith digs a right hand underneath Francisco's ribcage. Francisco let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Smith has picked Francisco up - he's going for a ride! Smith dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Smith looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Francisco is not content to let Smith control the position.
Francisco landing strikes from the bottom.
Francisco gets back to full guard.
Smith trying to control but Francisco is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Francisco has wrist control.
Francisco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Francisco is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Francisco appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A chopping leg kick lands by Smith.
Maurice Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francisco tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Francisco gets back to half guard.
Smith prevents Francisco from improving his position.
Smith works his way into full mount!
Smith raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurice Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Francisco manages to avoid it.
Smith scores with a crisp jab that stopped Francisco in his tracks.
Smith throws a low kick, looking for Francisco's leg but Francisco calmly moves out of range.
Smith swinging wildly here.
Francisco feinted with a counter takedown.

Smith clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Francisco moved out of range nicely.
Francisco drops down looking for a counter takedown but Smith sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith swinging wildly here.
Francisco changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Smith throws a jab when Francisco was well out of range.
Francisco half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith cracks Francisco with a nice body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Smith lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Francisco is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smith's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smith's back!

Francisco is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Smith knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Smith for a finish.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet but Francisco has full control of the position and if anything, Smith has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control his opponent's hands but Francisco gets his hands free.
Smith is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Francisco is persistently looking for the submission but Smith is defending it well.
Smith wants to escape the position.
Francisco will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smith is still trying to improve position.
Francisco is trying to stick to Smith's back but Smith is turning into Francisco. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Francisco's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Smith.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith controlling from the top position.
Francisco trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Francisco has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith trying to control but Francisco is working from the bottom.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith postures up.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Francisco 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Francisco is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Francisco is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Smith is holding on to half guard well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Francisco is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurice Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Francisco in a clinch.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Smith stalling against the cage.
Francisco being controlled against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francisco tries for a takedown but Smith manages to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith tightens his grip and picks Francisco up, before dumping him to the ground. Francisco manages to land in guard.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smith won't allow Francisco to sweep him here.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Francisco has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Francisco trying to control the position.

Smith has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Francisco to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Smith is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Francisco pulls down on the head and he's put Smith to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Daniel Francisco!