PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hermes Franca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peaky Blinder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franca kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train. Peaky Blinder will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Franca
vs
Blinder

168 cm
22
165 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
168 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Machine Fight Gear
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hermes Franca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Peaky Blinder!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franca throws a hook but Blinder blocks it.
Blinder has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Franca is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Franca fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Blinder sprawls well initially but Franca persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Franca is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Franca is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Blinder defends it well.
Franca throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franca is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Blinder defends it well.
Blinder blocking the ground and pound attempt from Franca.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franca wants to free his trapped foot but Blinder is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Blinder really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Franca. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Franca is looking to take a break and control but Blinder is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Franca is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Blinder is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Franca is looking for a kimura but Blinder is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Franca to get the leverage.
Blinder keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Franca moves into full mount! Blinder won't be happy about that!
Franca throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Franca looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blinder keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Franca 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.
Franca throwing strikes here but Blinder is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
We've been hearing good reports from Franca'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.
Blinder is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Franca looking to finish with strikes here!
Franca takes Blinder's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Blinder is in trouble.
Franca punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blinder wants to control his opponent's hands but Franca gets his hands free.
Franca trying to control.
Franca misses with a punch to the head.

Franca is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Blinder is defending well though. Franca let's go of the attempt for now.
Franca throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Franca gets his hands free as Blinder looks to control.

Blinder is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Blinder defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Franca's arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franca missing with strikes.
Franca keeps control of the position as Blinder tries to break free.
Blinder covering up well under a series of strikes from Franca.
Blinder turns into Franca and is now in his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blinder preventing the sweep.

Franca working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blinder doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blinder manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Franca lunges at Blinder with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Blinder's hand.
Franca checks a low kick from Blinder.
Blinder lands with a thumping leg kick.
Blinder misses with an attempted mid kick.
Blinder connects with a jab.
Franca throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Blinder sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blinder thumps Franca with a low kick.
Franca misses with an uppercut.
No joy there for Franca, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Blinder gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franca is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Franca trying to control but Blinder is working from the bottom.
Franca lands a couple of elbows.
Franca pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blinder is keeping the position for now.
Franca trying to control but Blinder is working from the bottom.
Franca throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blinder works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franca trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Franca trying to control but Blinder is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franca accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Franca throws an elbow that misses. Blinder uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franca's guard. Nice move by Blinder!

Franca throws his legs up looking for a submission but Blinder uses it to pass to side control.
Hermes Franca overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franca is looking to reverse the position.
Franca is being controlled here.
Franca tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blinder is looking to take a break and control but Franca is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Franca tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Blinder wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Franca gets back to half guard.
Franca is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Blinder's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Blinder's back!
Blinder is in bad spot here.
Blinder is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Franca off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Franca is striking well from the back but Blinder escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
Blinder avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franca.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Franca there.

Franca is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Franca trying to control the action but Blinder is working from the bottom.
Franca keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blinder is looking to improve his position.

Franca is trying to work for a kimura but Blinder is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hermes Franca dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Blinder scores with a nice body kick.
Franca checks a low kick from Blinder.
Blinder connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Blinder fakes the leg kick and cracks Franca in the body.
Franca fails with a takedown attempt.
Blinder is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Franca is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blinder can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franca loads up on a big right hand but Blinder slips the punch.
Blinder tries a quick counter leg kick but Franca is wise to it.
Blinder tries to score with a low kick but Franca moves his leg out of the way.
Franca has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Blinder.
That kick from Blinder tenderised Franca's leg. Franca is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blinder cracks the inside of Franca's front leg.
Franca throws out a loose jab but Blinder uses good head movement to avoid it.
Franca scores with a hook.
A big right from Franca misses.
Blinder turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Blinder thuds his shin into the meat of Franca's side.
Franca looks to land a right hand but Blinder moved out of range.
Franca scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Franca shoots for a double leg takedown but Blinder sprawls well. He's pushed Franca's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blinder tries to counter by closing the distance.
Franca takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Franca tries to clinch there but Blinder circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franca shoots in for a takedown but Blinder shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hermes Franca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice leg kick lands there from Blinder.
Blinder misses with a looping right.
Franca looks to land a left hand but Blinder moved out of range nicely.
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!
Nice defenses there by Franca.

Blinder clinches up against the cage.
Blinder misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Franca.
A short left from Franca.
Blinder trying to control the position but instead, Franca has worked for underhooks and has pushed Blinder into the cage.
Blinder with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Peaky Blinder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blinder throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Franca blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Franca misses with a hook from the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Blinder - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Franca working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Franca avoiding damage as Blinder throws knees to the body.
Blinder displaying some good clinch control by pressing Franca up against the cage.
Blinder tries to land knees in the clinch but Franca avoids the damage to the body.
Blinder doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Franca tries to pull guard but Blinder forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Blinder can't find room to land a body shot as Franca controls the action.
Franca tries to pull guard but Blinder won't allow it.
Franca is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hermes Franca is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blinder trying to land knees to the body.
Blinder scores with a knee to the head.
Blinder struggles to land a body shot inside as Franca controls his hands.
Franca throws a punch but it's blocked by Blinder.
Blinder tries to land knees in the clinch but Franca avoids the damage to the body.
Franca being controlled against the cage.
Blinder misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Franca tries to pull guard but Blinder forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Franca prevents a body shot from Blinder.
Blinder misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blinder blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peaky Blinder comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Franca 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hermes Franca!
An out of breath and clearly excited Hermes Franca thanked Machine Fight Gear for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).