PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Winfred French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

French
vs
Garcia

205 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

191 cm
22
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Winfred French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Garcia stuffs the takedown attempt from French. French gets slowly back to his feet.

French gets the takedown into side control.
French lands a nice forearm strike.

French is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Garcia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Garcia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but French wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Garcia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
French lands some shots froms side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia struggling a bit here.
French tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
French 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.

French thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Garcia is trying to control French's posture but French avoids it.
Garcia is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on French's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Garcia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. French is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Garcia tries to get to full guard but French has control of the leg.
French not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Garcia tries to get to full guard but French has control of the leg.
Garcia has hold of French's hands but French slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
French missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Garcia tries to get to full guard but French has control of the leg.

French is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Garcia sees it coming and defends easily.
Garcia is trying to maintain the position but French is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is trying to stand.
French thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Garcia's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Garcia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
French really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
French postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
French trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
French distracts Garcia with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Garcia looking to hit a scissor sweep but French is one step ahead there.
Garcia is looking to sweep but instead, French has passed into half guard.
Garcia looks winded!
Garcia trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French working over Garcia with some ground and pound. Garcia looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Garcia trying to control but French postures up.
French lands strikes from half guard.
French working over Garcia with some ground and pound. Garcia looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

French is looking for a kimura here.
French working over Garcia with some ground and pound. Garcia looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

French is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Garcia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time French.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winfred French 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.

French is trying hard to land a takedown here. Garcia sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Garcia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? French is fending him off so far but Garcia persists. Nope, French circles away and we're back to standing.
Garcia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Garcia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but French paws at him with a jab and circles away.

French has managed to clinch.

Garcia wants the takedown. French is fighting it off but Garcia persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in French's guard against the cage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
French 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.
Garcia is looking to advance position but French has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
French scores with a couple of good head shots there.
French scoring with strikes but Garcia is staying in there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

French looking for a guillotine from mount but Garcia is having none of it.
Winfred French overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Garcia is trying to escape the mount.
Garcia is breathing heavily.
French putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The referee warns Garcia that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
French lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Garcia hang on?
Garcia is bucking up trying to escape but French cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Garcia tries to hold on but French pushes him away.
French scoring with strikes but Garcia is staying in there.
French is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garcia can do to turn this around?

French goes for an armbar but Garcia turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Garcia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garcia trying to control but French is working from the bottom.
French looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Garcia throws a strike but French rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Garcia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. French is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French stands up over Garcia, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Garcia will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
French connects with a couple of short punches.
French distracts Garcia with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Garcia has momentary wrist control but French slips an elbow through the middle.
French chips away with some ground and pound.
French postures up.
French with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Garcia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
French postures up and lands a big shot to Garcia's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garcia's head.

French stands up from Garcia's guard - French perhaps looking for a knockout.
French fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

French looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. French connects with a nice short shot to Garcia's temple.
French scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
French looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winfred French dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

French feints and as Garcia raises his hands in defense, French changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Garcia is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. French presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Garcia has hold of one of French's legs. French is fighting the takedown attempt but Garcia gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
French bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Garcia's guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
French chips away with some ground and pound.
French wanted to stand there but Garcia had control of the position.
French scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
French postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Garcia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Garcia controls French momentarily but French frees himself.
Garcia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
French will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French lands a couple of digs.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells French's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
French throws a big right hand that misses.
French chips away with some ground and pound.
French in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
French chips away with some ground and pound.
Garcia looking to control but French passes into half guard.

French seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Garcia has recovered full guard.
French content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garcia's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
French cracks Garcia with a solid left hand.
French working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Garcia's head.
French with a nice head shot there.
French throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
French connects with a couple of short punches.
French working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells French's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
French works over Garcia with some ground and pound from guard.
French with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia trying to control the position.
French throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
French throws a big elbow that misses.
French postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Garcia fails with a takedown attempt.
Winfred French is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
French is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
French fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
French wants to clinch.
As French backs off Garcia throws a huge counter combo but French manages to avoid it all.

French darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
French takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rico Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Winfred French is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Garcia pushes French off looking to stand but French dives back in and keeps control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Winfred French showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for French, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Winfred French!