PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francis Ford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Exlax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ford
vs
Exlax

185 cm
26
215 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

196 cm
28
194 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Namunamu Clothing

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Francis Ford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richard Exlax!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Exlax on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Exlax moves out of range as Ford strikes.
A little jabbing left from Exlax on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ford works the jab nicely.
Ford swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Exlax feints a counter leg kick.
Ford checks the leg kick.
Exlax throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ford throws a shot from downtown. Exlax moves away and avoids it.
Exlax uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ford.
It seemed like Exlax was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A clash of legs there as Ford blocks the low kick.
A slow jab from Ford misses its intended target.
Good leg kick by Exlax there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ford lunges at Exlax with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Exlax's hand.
Ford swinging wildly here.
A punch lands to the side of Exlax 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Exlax slips under a jab.
Exlax steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ford.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford misses with a hook.
Exlax swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ford jabs at Exlax's body.
Ford misses with a hook
and Exlax counters with a straight right hand.
Ford throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Exlax stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ford throws the left hand but Exlax avoids the punch easily.
A swing and a miss from Ford.
Exlax tries to bum rush Ford with a series of wild strikes but Ford uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Exlax connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ford. Ford circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Exlax staying out of range there.
Exlax ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ford misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Exlax.
Ford waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Exlax.
Ford changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ford misses with a straight right.
Ford throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ford throws a lazy uppercut
letting Exlax counter with a right hand.
Ford lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Francis Ford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Exlax ducks under a wild hook from Ford.
Exlax steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ford.
Ford keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Ford was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Exlax.
Exlax throws a right and a left that Ford avoids nicely.
Ford misses with a looping left.
Ford throws out a loose jab but Exlax uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ford is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ford tries to close the distance and clinch up but Exlax swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ford lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ford throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ford just misses with a punch to the body.
Ford throws a lazy uppercut
and Exlax counters with a one-two to the body.
Exlax jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Exlax throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ford fails with a takedown attempt.
Ford waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Exlax.
Exlax connects with an inside leg kick.
Ford throws a hook but Exlax avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Exlax has picked Ford up - he's going for a ride! Exlax dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Exlax trying to control from half guard but Ford is working away.
Exlax is controlling the pace.
Exlax trying to pass the guard but Ford defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ford moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Exlax trying to control the position from guard on top but Ford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ford escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Exlax gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Exlax controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ford keeping moving, preventing Exlax from controlling successfully.
Ford manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Exlax manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Ford dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ford misses with a straight left.
Ford ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ford takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ford throws a nice looking combination but Exlax bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Exlax! But no joy.
Exlax misses with a wild body shot.
Ford throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Exlax counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ford wants to control but Exlax is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ford might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Exlax is keen to just control but Ford is a slippery customer.

Exlax seems to be working for a kimura but Ford defends the submission attempt.
Ford trying to control but Exlax postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Exlax is trying to control. Ford wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ford is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Exlax uses his free foot to push down on Ford's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ford.
Ford bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Exlax is trying to keep Ford in close.
Exlax trying to control the position here.
Exlax keeping moving, preventing Ford from controlling successfully.
Ford preventing the sweep.
Ford stands and throws Exlax's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Exlax can't do much from the bottom here.
Exlax is looking to reverse the position.
Ford is looking to take a break and control but Exlax is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ford tries to stand but Exlax is controlling his head.
Ford trying to control the position but Exlax is working away.
Exlax tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exlax can't do much from the bottom here.
We've been hearing good reports from Ford's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Exlax holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Ford is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Exlax can do to turn this around?
Exlax can't do much from the bottom here.
Exlax tries to bench press Ford off him but Ford keeps the position.
Exlax gets back to half guard.
Exlax slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Exlax is pulling down on Ford's head. It's preventing any offense from Ford, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Exlax trying to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ford connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Exlax momentarily.
Ford connects with a good right hand that stumbles Exlax. Exlax circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ford throws a lazy right hand but Exlax sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A nice combination there by Ford.
Ford looks to throw the jab but Exlax is out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ford moves into range and connects with a jab.
A lazy left from Ford finds it's target.
Ford cracks a nice hook into Exlax's ribs.
Ford throws a looping overhand right but Exlax ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Ford dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ford moves into the clinch.
Ford swings wildly with an uppercut but Exlax uses good head movement to avoid it.
Exlax has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Exlax lands a body shot.
Ford misses with a body punch.
Ford fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Exlax misses with a knee to the head.
Exlax lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ford has Exlax pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Exlax manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ford goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ford throws a punch but it's blocked by Exlax.
Exlax misses with a knee to the head.
Ford lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Exlax unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ford lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Exlax lands an elbow inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Ford.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ford.
Ford blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Exlax swings wildly with an uppercut but Ford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ford is looking to control Exlax's arms but Exlax gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ford has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Exlax landing knees to the head.
Exlax blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ford lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Exlax misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ford.
Ford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Exlax unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Exlax lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Exlax leaning against his opponent.
Exlax blocks an uppercut.
Exlax lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ford is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Exlax is keeping busy.
Exlax pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Richard Exlax seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ford swings wildly with an uppercut but Exlax uses good head movement to avoid it.
Exlax works on Ford's body with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Exlax lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Ford fails to land.
Exlax scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ford working aggressively here.
Exlax is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ford pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Exlax controlling the action here for a moment.
Ford working aggressively here.
Exlax struggles to land a body shot inside as Ford controls his hands.

Ford gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ford sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Exlax is staying active underneath Ford, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Francis Ford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Exlax moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exlax is trying to control the position but Ford postures up.
Exlax pulls Ford in close to prevent any damage.
Exlax looking for a sweep. Not yet Exlax, not yet.
Ford controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ford passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Richard Exlax has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ford controlling from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Exlax is looking to reverse the position.
Exlax manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ford's best efforts.
Francis Ford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Exlax punching from the bottom.
Exlax strikes from the bottom but Ford passes into mount!
Ford looking to control and managing it successfully.
Exlax tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ford has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Exlax's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Richard Exlax.
I think Ford 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis Ford!
Francis Ford decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.