PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Francisco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lennox Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Francisco
vs
Rogers

170 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Paulo Francisco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lennox Rogers!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogers shoots in looking for a takedown but Francisco manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rogers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rogers tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Francisco swivels and escapes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rogers is defended easily by Francisco.
Paulo Francisco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lennox Rogers.
Rogers throws a series of strikes that have Francisco backpedaling.

Francisco fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rogers to the ground. Francisco is now in Rogers's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers can't keep his opponent in guard - Francisco advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rogers really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Francisco. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Francisco moves into full mount! Rogers won't be happy about that!
Francisco raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francisco wants to control the pace but Rogers is squirming around nicely.
Francisco lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Francisco content just to control the position here.
Rogers trying desperately to get to his feet.
Francisco punishing his opponent with strikes.
Francisco looking to control and managing it successfully.
The referee warns Rogers that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Francisco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is bucking up trying to escape but Francisco cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Francisco trying to control but Rogers is having none of it.
Francisco controlling the position easily from mount.
Rogers taking shots to the head.
Francisco has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Francisco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Francisco is working for a guillotine from mount but Rogers frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is trying to stand up.
Francisco scoring with strikes but Rogers is staying in there.

Francisco has hold of Rogers's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rogers manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Francisco is standing up, even though he is in mount.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Francisco.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rogers fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Francisco looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Francisco goes for a double leg but Rogers avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rogers continues to drive forward.
Rogers defending well as Francisco loads up on a big left hand.
Rogers fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Francisco avoids it really well and circles away.
Francisco looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rogers is fending him off so far but Francisco persists. Nope, Rogers circles away and we're back to standing.
Francisco has a takedown stuffed.

Francisco gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rogers to score an easy takedown into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Francisco dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Francisco.
Francisco swinging wildly here.
Francisco showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rogers.
As Rogers tries to get set, Francisco tries to push him back and clinch up but Rogers manages to avoid the attempt.

Rogers shoots in and gets a takedown into Francisco's guard.
Rogers would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francisco is trying to keep Rogers in close.
Rogers trying to control but Francisco is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francisco is trying to control the position but Rogers postures up.
Rogers landing with the ground and pound.
Francisco is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rogers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Francisco is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rogers preventing the sweep.
Francisco trying to control the position.
Rogers content to stall in guard here.
Francisco manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rogers manages to get himself to full guard.

Rogers throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Francisco escapes and throws Rogers's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francisco creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rogers sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rogers is trying to improve his position.

Francisco is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rogers is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Francisco trying to control the position but Rogers is working away.
Francisco is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rogers is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
You can see the frustration on Rogers's face as Francisco controls the position.

Rogers wants to control the position but that's not easy when your opponent is in side control! Francisco seems to be going for some sort of submission here. Hard to say what - oh, it's a Brabo choke! He's got it! Rogers is tapping! Wow, great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Brabo Choke). Paulo Francisco!