PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Scott Nolan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nolan
vs
Franco

217 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
17
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Scott Nolan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maximus Franco!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nolan drives through and clinches with Franco against the cage.
Franco looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Nolan breaks from the clinch.

Franco closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Franco scores with punches from side control.
Nolan manages to work his way to half guard, despite Franco's best efforts.
Nolan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nolan.
Nolan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nolan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Franco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
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.
Nolan wants to stand but Franco has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Nolan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Franco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nolan.
Nolan is trying to control the action in half guard but Franco is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nolan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Nolan tries to stand but can't do so whilst Franco controls his leg.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Franco can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nolan not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nolan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Franco blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nolan.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Nolan closes the distance and pushes Franco back into the cage.

Nolan wants the takedown. Franco is fighting it off but Nolan persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Franco's guard against the cage.
Franco is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Nolan dives into side control.
Nolan 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.

Nolan takes a little break here. Franco wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Nolan lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Nolan politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Nolan prefers to stall for the moment though.
Nolan scores with punches from side control.

Nolan stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Nolan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Franco steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Nolan.

Nolan shoots in and bounces Franco off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Franco is looking to stand back up but Nolan counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Franco.

Nolan is taking a breather. Franco says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nolan.
Nolan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
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. Nolan connects with a nice short shot to Franco's temple.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nolan controlling the action here.
Nolan seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Franco for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Nolan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Franco drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nolan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Nolan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nolan distracts Franco with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nolan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Franco working a defensive guard but Nolan manages to pass into side control anyway.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nolan decides to stand back up. Nolan steps back and let's Franco get back to his feet.
Franco is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nolan drives through and clinches with Franco against the cage.

Nolan manages to break the clinch.
Nolan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Nolan feints and as Franco raises his hands in defense, Nolan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Franco is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Nolan dives into side control.

Nolan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nolan trying to control the position but Franco is working away.
Franco tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Nolan presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Franco is squirming around, avoiding Nolan's attempts to control the action.
Nolan works his way to his opponent's back.
Scott Nolan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nolan looking for the choke from the back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Nolan controlling the positon.
Nolan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nolan is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Franco is defending well though. Nolan let's go of the attempt for now.
Nolan controlling from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Nolan's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Nolan controlling from the back.
Nolan lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Nolan.
I really don't envy Franco right now.
Franco is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Nolan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Nolan looking for the RNC.
Nolan connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Franco to escape the position.
Franco looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Nolan biding his time, controlling Franco.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Nolan dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Nolan drives through and clinches with Franco against the cage.

Nolan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nolan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Franco was covering up waiting for the punch and Nolan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nolan 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.
Franco looking to control but Nolan passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nolan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franco keeps working.
Nolan working over Franco with some ground and pound. Franco looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Franco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nolan wants to get back to his feet.
Nolan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nolan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nolan is keen to just control but Franco is a slippery customer.
Nolan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nolan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nolan drops an elbow to the side of Franco's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nolan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Maximus Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Franco is not content to let Nolan control the position.
Franco blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nolan.
Well, if Nolan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Franco is not content to let Nolan control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Nolan gets a takedown into half guard.
Nolan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nolan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nolan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nolan trying to control from half guard but Franco is working away.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nolan slips a nice elbow through Franco's hands, connecting with Franco's forehead.
Nolan thows a huge punch but Franco dodges it nicely.
Nolan is taking a breather. Franco says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nolan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nolan working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nolan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nolan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nolan trying to control the pace.
Franco is staying active underneath Nolan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nolan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nolan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Franco defending well though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nolan fails with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nolan throws a nice head kick!

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Nolan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nolan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Nolan!